[nagdu] What about registering service dogs with the DOJ?

[ncbootman at gmail.com]

    I agree completely. Make the penalties for misrepresentation or 
interference regarding service animals stiff enough that it makes a 
difference. Any "registration" system can be abused. Currently, it seems 
such laws tend to be misdemeanors. It should be a felony with a penalty that 
hurts. .

-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Hingson
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 8:40 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] What about registering service dogs with the DOJ?

Again, why?  This is really about you and me having rights, not the animal.
The present regulations under the ADA offer a way to  determine whether or
not an aanimal fits the requirements.  If there is a suspicion that the
animal is not a service animal then something can be done.

I submit that the penalties for fraudulent representation by individuals of
service animals is the real problem.  We need federal and state laws changed
to make it a felany to misrepresent and interfere with legitimate service
animals.  I do NOT want ANY new identification process for me or my dog.
The problem and burden of proof should not be with me nor you.  The burden
should fall and the criminals.

There is abundant proof that owner trained animals can and do function well
as guides.  How are they going to be included in any identification process?
If the standards of the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools are
used how will non-accredited schools such as Pilot Dogs going to be
represented?  Do we want the NFB to be the gating organization?  I think no
to all of these things.

Put the burden on the criminals and make the consiquences stiff.  If we want
true first class citizenship then let's demand that we be treated
appropriately and not segregated off through some additional identification
or classification process which only serves to again make us seem different
and not part of the norm.


Best,


Michael Hingson

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mardi Hadfield
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 5:30 AM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] What about registering service dogs with the DOJ?

First of all I am not in favor of any type of certification. I do think
registration identification might be the way to go.If the DOJ could be in
charge of handing out a specific type of service dog tag at a fee of say,
$10 to register your service dog.Say you must have a letter from your doctor
that you do indeed have a disability and a certificate from your trainer,or
in the case of an owner trainer,a log of the hours of training you
accomplished and a list of the tasks the dog does to mitigate your
disability,and or maybe the Canine Good Citizen test in order to register
with the DOJ.If you have a School trained dog and wanted to register with
the DOJ, maybe the school ID would be the only proof you would need for
registration.This would not be mandatory, but only if you wanted to register
your service dog.I don't think that people who fake their dogs would go
through all that for a registration ID tag.This would Identify a DOJ
registered service dog.There might be some fakes that get through but it
would certainly cut down on them.If the tag were to get lost, a fee of
$5 could be charged to get a replacement tag.This is merely a suggestion.
Mardi and Shaman and Neechee,GDIT.

--
http://wolfsinger-lakota.blogspot.com/
http://wolfsinger2-thegoldendragon.blogspot.com
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