[Nyagdu] FW: [Njagdu] NYS Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Combat Service Dog Fraud

[Tracy Carcione]

From: Njagdu [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch
via Njagdu
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 8:22 PM
To: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Ginger Kutsch
Subject: [Njagdu] NYS Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Combat Service Dog
Fraud

 

NYS Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Combat Service Dog Fraud

By Seth Voorhees

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/rochester/news/2016/02/23/people-faking-trained-s
ervice-dogs-rochester-lawmakers--.html

 

 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

fact that they have a trained service dog? It's something that's caught the
attention of state lawmakers.

 

For Rene Latorre, man's best friend is much more than a dog. He's her
guiding eyes.

 

"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

in and out, getting me around obstacles."

 

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.  

 

"Misrepresentation of service animals has always been illegal. You shouldn't
be doing that. You can't be doing that," said Latorre.

 

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

off untrained pets as guide dogs.

 

"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

is really a service dog, or what they can do about it," said Latorre.

 

There's enough concern about fake guide dogs that New York lawmakers have
proposed legislation to combat the fraud.

 

"This is really about the pets and animals used to help these people," said
Senator Joe Robach.

 

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

a work in progress.

 

"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

it, bring awareness to it," said Robach.

 

"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

Latorre.

 

Those issues are reason enough, for Latorre and others with visual
impairment, and their companions, who act as another set of eyes.

 

"More needs to be in place to prevent that from happening," said Latorre.

 

 

 

 

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