topic Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs??? in Community Chat

Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Photo Donna — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:08:47 GMT

I had heard about this -- but saw one at a restaurant yesterday. It barked and wandered all around the owner. A friend was with me. She sent me a link last night that took me to a website selling the vest the dog was wearing.

Why are people doing this?

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

brii — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:13:31 GMT

I've never heard of it...

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Photo Donna — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:19:06 GMT

My friend said she has seen this when she went to California to visit friends. It is a way people are stretching the truth to allow their pets full access to accompany them to restaurants, stores, etc. where pets are not normally allowed.

They are fake service dogs!

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

minkbunny — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:22:27 GMT

An emotional support animal (ESA) is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit, such as alleviating or mitigating some symptoms of the disability, to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability.

Emotional support animals are typically dogs and cats, but may include other animals. In order to be prescribed an emotional support animal by a physician or other medical professional, the person seeking such an animal must have a verifiable disability.

To be afforded protection under United States federal law, a person must meet the federal definition of disability and must have a note from a physician or other medical professional stating that the person has that disability and that the emotional support animal provides a benefit for the individual with the disability. An animal does not need specific training to become an emotional support animal.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

brii — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:23:54 GMT

On 6/14/2014 Photo Donna said:
My friend said she has seen this when she went to California to visit friends. It is a way people are stretching the truth to allow their pets full access to accompany them to restaurants, stores, etc. where pets are not normally allowed.

They are fake service dogs!

That's terrible.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Photo Donna — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:30:27 GMT

On 6/14/2014 brii said:
On 6/14/2014 Photo Donna said:
My friend said she has seen this when she went to California to visit friends. It is a way people are stretching the truth to allow their pets full access to accompany them to restaurants, stores, etc. where pets are not normally allowed.

They are fake service dogs!

That's terrible.

yep -- they are not recognized by the ADA. You can use this to get them in a building that does not allow pets -- but not in restaurants. And there are a LOT of fakes -- especially when it is so easy to get equipment online to use to get the pet outfitted to look like it is official.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Preds — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:31:45 GMT

Some people take advantage of everything. Sad that they have to do that when others really need it.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

brii — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:32:08 GMT

They are just going to make it harder for somebody who really needs a service animal.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Photo Donna — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:35:35 GMT

On 6/14/2014 brii said:
They are just going to make it harder for somebody who really needs a service animal.

that is exactly what we were thinking -- Preds -- it is very sad!

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

lynnzzz — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:44:48 GMT

My nephew has PTSD and turned his dog into a "" support dog""!

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

151949 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:51:02 GMT

My friend has a friend who has one of these dogs, she takes her in restaurants and on airplanes. The dog is very well behaved but if you actually read the law about this it does not include the right to take the dog everywhere and anywhere you go. By law - this does not allow any special access to places like grocery stores and restaurants. It does force owners to allow a person to rent in a no dogs apartment . We went shopping once and she brought the dog into a restaurant and the person in charge asked her to take the dog outside - she said She is a service dog - and he answered What kind of service does she do? Then he showed the owner a copy of the law saying it does not allow access to restaurants.

So now my friend is trying to get one of these for her dog - and geeze louise - her dog is a nipper so that should be interesting.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Photo Donna — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 12:56:40 GMT

Here is a link to the info https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet

I think people trying to pass off a dog as a true service dog should be fined -- it is going to make it more and more difficult for those who really do have a service dog.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

151949 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 13:08:22 GMT

On 6/14/2014 Photo Donna said:
Here is a link to the info https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet

I think people trying to pass off a dog as a true service dog should be fined -- it is going to make it more and more difficult for those who really do have a service dog.

I completely agree with you!!

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

brii — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 13:09:37 GMT

On 6/14/2014 Photo Donna said:
Here is a link to the info https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet

I think people trying to pass off a dog as a true service dog should be fined -- it is going to make it more and more difficult for those who really do have a service dog.

they should be fined...

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

violann — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 13:35:27 GMT

An insult to both the animals who are rigorously trained to serve as AUTHENTIC service animals AND the legitimate users of their services. You bet the phonies should be fined!

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

ROMARY — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:16:55 GMT

My first thoughts were that it's ok if and when a person truly needs a 'friend'/support to be with almost everywhere. With a doctor's note and/or some type of permit. As long as the dog is trained not to bite, nip, growl, bark, etc. And as long as it is trained not to potty everywhere, too. As far as cats, I doubt if a cat would like to be caged in a carrier and taken everywhere all day long.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

ROMARY — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:18:30 GMT

Oh, and they should be very clean, too. As with service dogs. They are always very clean and well mannered.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

kittyloo — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:24:37 GMT

all kinds of people are getting them. a person I know has a bad case of phorisis, (patchy skin) and she got into a no dogs rental with her "service" dog.

She's a total user though.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

Lacey1 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:30:16 GMT

This is a rising problem. Anyone can buy some kind of official-looking vest for their pet online, to pass them off as a service dog. People are trying to pass off their pets as service/support dogs to go camping, on planes, restaurants, etc. It's so confusing for business owners to try to figure out their legal obligations, that it's easier to just let these animals in-these people know that and it makes it easier to abuse the system.

Re: Emotional Support Service Dogs???

bikerbabe — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 14:34:32 GMT

They are not all fakes so let us please clear up this misunderstanding. Yes some are not properly trained and there are bogus websites where you can pay to get support dog gear. Some are legit and properly trained. There are emotional support and psychiatric service dogs for example for veterans with PTSD and TBI who suffer anxiety attacks when trying to integrate back into society. The dogs can help tremendously.