[NFBF-L] Support Pets under Investigation was ESA Doctor Under Investigation

Thu Oct 27 12:10:24 UTC 2022

Dear Debbie, Alicia, & Florida Federation Family,

                We appreciate your support as we move forward to stop the misappropriation of our civil rights to be accompanied by our service dogs. We want everyone to know we have also filed a criminal complaint with the Florida Attorney General alleging Support Pets LLC is in violation of the Florida Communications Act which is a tiered felony from third degree to first degree, carrying terms of imprisonment of twenty years and fines of $500,000 for each count of electronic of fraudulent or deceptive business practices carried out through the use of electronic communications, such as internet and email communications. We will keep you abreast of these developments as they unfold!

Fraternally yours,

Marion Gwizdala

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debbie Malone via NFBF-L
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6:55 PM
To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Debbie Malone <dmalone510 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBF-L] ESA Doctor Under Investigation

Great job! Great advocacy!

On Wed, Oct 26, 2022 at 6:36 PM Alicia Betancourt via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Thank you for sharing this. I have seen lots of jobs advertised for this fraudulent thing and I just scratch my head. I’ll be sharing this on the Facebook page for deaf blind and my personal page!

Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> 

  _____  

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> > on behalf of marion.gwizdala--- via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 1:38:49 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l at nfbnet.org> >; flagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:flagdu at nfbnet.org>  <flagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:flagdu at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: marion.gwizdala at verizon.net <mailto:marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>  <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net <mailto:marion.gwizdala at verizon.net> >
Subject: [NFBF-L] ESA Doctor Under Investigation 

Please share this as widely as appropriate. For more information about the programs and services of Advocates for Service Animal Partners, please contact ASAP at                                               <mailto:advocacy411 at gmail.com> advocacy411 at gmail.com                          

ServiceAnimals.info

office: 386-ASAP411

Follow us on Facebook.com/asap411

If you are experiencing an active accessibility denial, call our Hotline: 855-ASAP211

ESA Doctor Under Investigation!

Advocates for Service Animal Partners has been listening to the concerns of those who use service and assistance animals to mitigate their disabilities. One of the frequent complaints we hear is how the proliferation of fraudulent online certifications of service and assistance animals negatively impact our lives. Such bogus letters issued by online companies, signed by licensed health care practitioners, and issued to unscrupulous individuals who misappropriate our civil rights to bring their untrained animals into public places where pets are prohibited and dodge legitimate pet restrictions and fees by housing providers call into question our right to be accompanied by our service animals. ASAP has taken a stand on this issue and our position is being taken seriously.

A few states have criminalized the provision of such fraudulent certifications. According to Pennsylvania statute § 405.5(1) entitled, “Misrepresentation of entitlement to assistance animal or service animal”, “A person commits the offense of misrepresentation of entitlement to assistance animal or service animal if the person intentionally misrepresents to another that the person has a disability or disability-related need for the use of an assistance animal or service animal in housing”. On July 29, 2022, Advocates for Service Animal Partners filed a complaint on behalf of a woman who received an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) certification letter from Dr. Frank J. Welch, a medical doctor licensed by the state of Pennsylvania after completing an online questionnaire on the Support Pets website. Dr. Welch never examined the woman and never even spoke with her. Nonetheless, within hours of completing the online survey, she received a letter signed by Dr. Welch stating, “I am a licensed doctor who has evaluated the emotional profile of [REDACTED] and has determined that [REDACTED] qualifies to have an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for [REDACTED] psychological disability recognized by the DSM-V.” We have been notified by the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation, Board of Medicine that they have opened an investigation of Dr. Welch for violation of their state laws and disciplinary action against Dr. Welch’s medical license. We are also urging the Pennsylvania Attorney General to investigate Dr. Welch and file the appropriate criminal charges against him. 

          Frank Welch is also a licensed medical doctor in Florida. In July 2020, Florida enacted a law criminalizing the provision of such fraudulent certifications. Advocates for Service Animal Partners has also filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Health, Board of Medicine against Dr. Welch for violating Florida’s law. We will keep you posted on how these complaints pan out! 

Sincerely,

ADVOCATES FOR SERVICE ANIMAL PARTNERS INC.

Marion Gwizdala

President/CEO

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-- 

Debbie Malone

NFB of Massachusetts, At-Large Chapter President

 <https://inclusioneducation.com/> InclusionEducation.com

Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R> 

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