[NAGDU] “service dog” off leash

[Danielle Sykora]

Service dogs can be off leash, but only in two situations:

1. The handler's disability prevents them from using a leash. The only
situation I can think of this being an issue is if the handler has
severe limitations in the range of movement in their hands/arms, that
makes holding a leash and/or clipping on a leash difficult or
impossible. A hands-free leash is an option, but this would not work
if the person can not clip the leash on/off, especially if the dog
needs to perform long distance retrievals or something similar.
2. The tasks the dog performs requires the dog to be off leash. For
example, a mobility dog retrieving an object at a distance or a
seizure response dog needing to go get help from another person when
their handler is having/just had a seizure.

Regardless of the reason, the dog needs to be under control even when
it is off leash. You could accomplish this with voice control only,
and I suppose you can also use an E-collar in combination with verbal
commands. Also, the dog should still be walking in a tight heel as if
it were on leash. It should not be walking around at a distance from
the handler.

The dog sniffing you is not appropriate behavior. Yes, dogs aren't
perfect and can make mistakes, but the handler should have corrected
the dog verbally and called it back to her.

Because you are allowed to ask what tasks a dog is trained to perform,
I think it would be within the law to ask what tasks the dog performs
that requires it to be off leash. Though not specifically stated in
the ADA, I would think it would be also acceptable to ask the handler
to put their dog on leash because of local leash laws, and to ask if
their disability prevents them from doing so if they refuse (though of
course not asking any details about the nature of the disability).

Danielle and Thai


On 10/11/17, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> The only two questions you can legitimately ask are is this a service dog?
> What service does it perform? That does seem weird to me. I should think you
> would want it on a leash to be cetain of contact.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nancy VanderBrink
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 9:12 AM
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Nancy VanderBrink <vandyvanderbrink at outlook.com>
> Subject: [NAGDU] “service dog” off leash
>
> Hi all,
> I encountered something odd & concerning in the grocery store.  A woman came
> up to me accompanied by a dog that was wearing a vest.  I did not have my
> dog with me at the time because I had taken an Uber and I was getting
> groceries.  Her  dog comes up and starts sniffing my pants. I noticed that
> the space between her and the dog was quite large so I out of curiosity
> asked if the dog was on a leash. She said no the dog was not and that it was
> a service dog that detected seizures.
>
> I was concerned because it’s a dog after-all and having no leash in a
> crowded grocery store seemed odd.  My husband said later I should have asked
> where she got the dog but she could’ve said it was owner trained.
>
> It may actually be a service dog and be legitimate but the reason I am even
> mentioning this in the first place is that I don’t see how she can claim to
> have full control of the dog when it is not on a leash. Someone actually
> said that they thought that the leash ordinance would come into affect in
> the situation and the police could be called but I have a funny feeling they
> would hesitate to do anything because she could sue.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Nancy
>
>
>
> Please forgive the typos as this message was most likely generated using
> voice dictation Nancy Irwin
>
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