[nagdu] {Disarmed} Fake Service Dogs, Real Problem | Cesar Millan

Fri May 24 15:04:40 UTC 2013

Hello friends.
I came accross this article and wanted your thoughts. I know may have pushed legislation that denies a companiy to ask for cerification of a service dog. One issue that has encouraged businesses and such to ask for verification is due to the fact that many abuse and claim their dog is a service dog- a dog who has no training. The dog will behave inappropriately,making it more difficult for those who have legitimate guide dogs. Further, the handler who takes his pet friend and claims the animal is a service animal, has no training themselves as to how to a service animal as well as the laws and do's and don'ts of public mobility. This makes it  again much more difficult for us I feel. Whay are your thoughts? Is there any programs or action being taken to try to make it more difficult for people to abuse the system?
Best,
James
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DOG TRAINING
Fake Service Dogs, Real Problem

By Brian Fischler

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website defines service animals as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. That’s a very clear, concise definition.

So why does an online ad elsewhere read, “Identification for your service dog will reduce conflict. Get yours before the law changes!”

It’s never surprising what you can find for sale online. A Google search produced a multitude of different service/emotional dog kits for sale from several different small companies. These kits will provide tags for your dog claiming they are a service or emotional dog, identification for you and your dog as a service dog, and a service dog vest.

What is shocking is that even major online retailers offer links to companies selling these dog kits. Even more shocking is that anyone can just as easily purchase a harness for their dog of the type that a blind person would use with their guide dog.

It’s hard to comprehend that people would fake a disability to take their dog on vacation with them. “I receive plenty of calls from people who do not have disabilities, but are going out of town and need to take their dogs with them. They are looking to find out where they can get certification,” says Jose Lopez, director of communications for The Lighthouse of Broward County, Florida.

Becky Barnes, past president of Guide Dogs Users, Inc., has also fielded calls over the years from people looking to get their dogs certified as service dogs. To this, Becky explains, “The best way to get certification is to go through a proper training program. The law does allow for individuals to train their own dogs to be service dogs, but I wouldn’t recommend it, as the individual needs to be matched with the appropriate dog.”

Purchasing a service dog certification or an official looking ID through one of these companies doesn’t make your dog a service dog, and these companies are causing havoc for legitimate service dog handlers.

Lopez said, “People with legitimate service dogs are being questioned more than ever, and their fear is that they will have to carry around identification stating their disability.” Barnes added, “Currently, the ADA states that business owners are only allowed to ask if the dog is a service dog, and what they are trained to help with.” The current law doesn’t require service dog handlers to carry around any special identification.

Barnes also added, “I think the fear of service dog handlers is that they will be questioned even more. Right now our rights are very clearly stated by the ADA.

Bev Klayman, manager of admission services for Guiding Eyes for the Blind has her suspicions about illegitimate service dogs. “I’ve seen dogs with service dog tags misbehaving and acting aggressively in public. The general public cannot differentiate between dogs that have been legitimately trained to be service dogs (and those that have not). These illegitimate service dogs are causing scenes and causing a bad representation of service dogs.”

One area where service dog handlers are running into a lot of trouble is with the airlines. With heightened security at airports, service dog handlers are receiving even more scrutiny. On a recent trip to the airport, Becky was told by the clerk at the check-in counter, “That’s not a service dog. Service dogs don’t wag their tails!”

It definitely is never dull for service dog handlers. You never know what you will hear next. Considering the times we live in, one would expect to get hassled at the airport, as a little bit of a hassle goes a long way to making us feel safe and secure. So you could imagine Jose Lopez’s surprise on a recent flight when he was flipping through the Sky Mall magazine, and what did he come across? An advertisement in the magazine selling a service dog kit to take your dog with you wherever you go!

Becky Barnes said, “Currently, these companies aren’t breaking any laws. “With service dogs there doesn’t seem to be a white and black area but a huge gray area.” She added, “Discussions have begun to make it a misdemeanor to misrepresent your dog as a service dog. Unfortunately, it is being taken as seriously as pirating music.”

[Note: while it is not illegal for companies to sell items to identify service dogs, in many states it is illegal for someone to pretend to have a protected disability in order to gain access for their pet dog in places where it would otherwise be banned. — Ed.]

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Publish Date: September 19 2012
Tags: Leadership, Dog Training, Americans with Disabilities Act, dogs, fake service dog, service dogs, Training

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