[nagdu] What you may not know about service animals

[debby phillips]

Ginger, this is good information.  Twice this week, I have 
encountered "service dogs".  The first one was on the bus on the 
way to work one morning.  A lady got on with her dog.  Neena 
seemed a little distracted and restless, so I asked someone if 
there was a dog on the bus.  They said that yes, there was.  The 
person who had the dog said, "Oh, it's my service dog." Being 
nosy and also interested in what service this dog might be 
performing, I asked.  She said that she suffered from PTSAID, and 
that the dog helped her when she began to have panic attacks.  
The second one was just this afternoon.  A guy got on the bus, 
definitely smelling of alcohol.  He had his little dog with him, 
and told the driver that it was a service dog.  The driver didn't 
ask him any questions at all, just allowed him on the bus.  
Again, being nosy and also interested, I asked.  The guy said, 
"He keeps me from killing myself".  In both cases, the question 
for me is: would these dogs be considered service dogs or 
emotional support animals? The lady was polite, had her dog well 
under control, and did not allow her dog to come near mine.  The 
guy disappeared from the bus when he saw me and Neena getting 
off.  Interestingly enough, I haven't seen any service dogs real 
or otherwise, until I've been traveling with Neena.  What a 
complicated horrible mess this all seems to be.  The Spokane 
Transit Authority has told its drivers, according to a friend of 
mine who is a bus driver, that they may only ask if the dog is a 
service dog oh not.  They are not told that they can ask what 
task the dog performs for them.  So they don't ask any questions 
at all.    Peace,    Debby and Neena