[nagdu] Fake Service Dogs

Tue Aug 4 04:26:56 UTC 2015

I really think we have a nice discussion going. 
Please correct me if I'm wrong but, the goal of any legislation for service dogs should be directed to handlers who misrepresent their pet as a service dog for a disability that does not exist. Individuals who are disabled do not need the hassle of proving their disability is real, their dog is 
Mitigating the disability, and the dog is individually trained to do work or preform tasks for the individual's disability. 
I want to share a recent experience I had. It was around two weeks ago. I just changed doctors. I see a physician in a medical group that is smaller. It's not some large and crazy clinic. I went for the initial intake which went fine. However, a woman arrived with a big dog while I was in the weighting room. The dog smelt really bad. It was so bad the nurse actually came out to see what was causing the smell.
The nurse was really nice and took me back in to another section of the office where I could weight. He told me he saw the dog from the window where the receptionist was sitting and felt I would be better off sitting in another place. I didn't argue because I felt like I was going to vomit from the stench of the dog. 
I could hear the woman say she needed a letter to keep her dog which is why she was at the doctors. She was upset because of some issue I'm not sure of. It was weird.
The nurse asked me if they could ask her to leave because of the poor condition of the dog. I told him as a service dog handler I know  I am expected to make sure my dog is under control, well groomed, and house broken. 
To be honest, I do not know if an entity could ask a handler to remove their service dog due to hygiene problems. I would assume so in a medical setting if it is impacting the health and safety of the patients.
When I was in training I was told this was the case. 
Anyone want to add their thoughts on this weird situation?
Bridget 

Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 3, 27 Heisei, at 10:28 PM, Cindy Ray via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I don't think we can always judge a person's dis ability by how the dog acts
> either. Someone may well have tried to train a dog to deal with their
> disability but may not have the true wherewithal to be doing it correctly;
> our trainers here have put a lot of time, effort, research into the work,
> but everyone who has trained her dog isn't necessarily someone who did
> likewise. There are lots of variables. I would hope that if the person needs
> to have the dog, someone will encourage her to get help with behavior
> modification; if not, then I hope correct channels will fix the problem.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J. via
> nagdu
> Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 8:28 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Julie J. <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fake Service Dogs
> 
> That's pretty harsh.   Personally, I'm glad we are past the days of 
> institutions.  I'm glad freedom and independence are available options for 
> all.   I've heard the horror stories about mental institutions and a few 
> about institutions for blind people.  I know I don't want to live that way
> because of a characteristic I have no control over.  I wouldn't wish it for
> anyone else either.
> 
> If a dog can help a person with whatever their disability is, then I'm glad
> for them.  I just want the dog to be well behaved so it doesn't create
> problems for me or others.  And because I want to be treated courteously, I
> also extend that to others.
> 
> Julie
> Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman's Quest to Train her Own Guide Dog is now
> available! Get the book here:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QXZSMOC
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S L Johnson via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 7:52 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: S L Johnson
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fake Service Dogs
> 
> Hi Dan:
> 
> Yes, it seems that all the nuts and crazy people are getting any old dog and
> claiming it is a service dog.  I say, lock the nuts up and keep their poorly
> behaved out of control dogs out of the public businesses and housing where
> the rest of us normal people want to live and work our real legal guide
> hearing or service dogs.  It was sure easier when the laws were not so
> liberal, when the only dogs allowed were guide, hearing or service dogs for
> physically handicapped.  Then it was obvious the person was disabled.  Now
> with all the mentally ill claiming they need service dogs, it is almost
> impossible for a business owner to know what to do or think.  I know in my
> area there have been some confusing cases of people claiming they were
> disabled veterans with dogs for their PTSD.  Some of them admitted to just
> putting service dog identification on their pet dogs because they had the
> right to be accompanied by a service dog.  Somehow the laws have to clarify
> this so any business or person will know who is really disabled and who is
> not.
> 
> Sandra
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Weiner via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 5:20 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Dan Weiner
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fake Service Dogs
> 
> Am I imagining it or is everyone and his brother claiming to have a
> disability and brinnging aa service animal or supposed one in places. It
> used to be we had to go through quite an effort to gain training with our
> guide or service dogs and then feel entitled to bring them with us virtually
> everywhere.
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning
> via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 5:17 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Marianne Denning
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Fake Service Dogs
> 
> In order to be a service dog it must be trained to do a task.  In the case
> of PTSD, for example, it may help the woman get out of a situation that is
> causing extreme stress or protect her from other people if they are pushing
> in too close.  If the dog does not have a task then it is an assistance or
> emotional support dog and that is not covered under ADA.  If it is business
> owners who are asking you then you can tell them they can ask if the dog is
> trained to do a task and what task is it trained to do. I have seen guide
> dogs that were trained at the best schools in the U.S. and they aren't
> behaving well either.  Just because a dog is misbehaving doesn't mean it
> isn't trained.  There are people who do not maintain t he training once they
> get home.
> 
> 
> 
>> On 8/3/15, Miranda Morse via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hello, In the last week I have been approached by two different 
>> individuals at different times about a woman in town who has PTSD and 
>> has a service dog.
>> Their claims are that it is a fake service animal because of the way 
>> it acts in public. It is a great dane and I have seen it in public 
>> before and I would tend to agree.
>> 
>> I would appreciate any suggestions on how to address this matter?
>> 
>> Miranda
>> 
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> 
> 
> --
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
> 
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