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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>NYS Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Combat Service Dog Fraud<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By Seth Voorhees<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tuesday, February 23, 2016 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>http://www.twcnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2016/02/23/people-faking-trained-service-dogs-rochester-lawmakers--.html<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- They are critical in helping the blind, visually impaired and others with disabilities. But did you know some people try to fake the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>fact that they have a trained service dog? It's something that's caught the attention of state lawmakers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For Rene Latorre, man's best friend is much more than a dog. He's her guiding eyes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"Bear is my guide dog who's three years old," said Latorre. "He's gone through extensive training. So he's very helpful in getting places, finding doors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in and out, getting me around obstacles."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To Latorre, and others with visual impairment, the job of a service dog is pretty important, and one that only a specially trained dog can do. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"Misrepresentation of service animals has always been illegal. You shouldn't be doing that. You can't be doing that," said Latorre.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Latorre works for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, an agency which receives a fair share of calls regarding people who try to pass<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>off untrained pets as guide dogs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"I get calls a lot from business owners who either have experienced people coming in with a dog who's very poorly behaved and they're wondering if a dog<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>is really a service dog, or what they can do about it," said Latorre.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There's enough concern about fake guide dogs that New York lawmakers have proposed legislation to combat the fraud.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"This is really about the pets and animals used to help these people," said Senator Joe Robach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Robach is a co-sponsor of legislation, which, if approved, would result in fines for those who violate it. The bill hasn't passed yet. Robach calls it<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a work in progress.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"You know this is sort of like someone parking in a handicapped spot who's not handicapped. This is sort of the same thing. We're trying to discourage<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>it, bring awareness to it," said Robach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"People are very attached to their animals. I don't think they realize the effect it's going to have on those of us who do have service animals," said<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Latorre.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those issues are reason enough, for Latorre and others with visual impairment, and their companions, who act as another set of eyes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"More needs to be in place to prevent that from happening," said Latorre.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>