topic Re: Question about therapy animals in Among Friends

Question about therapy animals

drizzellla — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:49:48 GMT

@Mersha got me thinking, after seeing her post.

Are there any rules about Therapy animals?

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to Costco. An older gentleman in a scooter forgot where his Costco card was. He checked all his pockets and compartments in his wallet. And then went through them again before he found the Costco card. Quite a line had formed to enter the store.

But it didn't matter, because right after you scanned your Costco card, 2 middle aged ladies were trying to reason with their therapy dog. Apparently the rather large mid sized dog did not want to ride in the cart. And the dog was winning. They stood right in the middle of the entrance isle, so no one could get around them because of the displays at the entrance.

Finally they took the dog out of the cart but then the dog would not move. It just stood there not moving. After watching this "show" what seemed like forever, my husband finally wormed his way through the TV isle.

Do therapy dogs get any training? The dog didn't seem to be trained and the women didn't seem to be trained either. Made me wonder why they would pick a Saturday afternoon at Costco to take out their therapy dog.

Re: Question about therapy animals

katie1859 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:59:27 GMT

Therapy Animals is quite different than ESA ( emotional support

There are programs and each state has its own protocols

Look by your locations then by the organization that processes the animals

There is a criteria that has to be followed

Re: Question about therapy animals

ThinkingOutLoud — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:05:11 GMT

I thought therapy animals have to wear a vest that indicates such. Any other animal should be left at home.

Re: Question about therapy animals

Kachina624 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:11:34 GMT

The only dog trained and certified is a service dog, the kind that's trained to lead the blind or perform other service for a disabled person. Their selection and training are extensive, and they'd never behave like the dog you saw in Costco.

Therapy dogs receive some training and must be docile and friendly. They are the dogs that visit hospitals and nursing homes or let children read books to them in libraries. They have a calming effect on people.

Emotional support animals are for the most part, a sham. They receive no training and can get a certificate by mail order. They include all types of animals and supposedly make their owner feel better just by being there. Many transportation sources and commercial enterprises have booted them out.

Re: Question about therapy animals

TheMemphisVette — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:16:47 GMT

costco on a saturday is a sure bet for some kind of challenge encounter

Re: Question about therapy animals

reiki604 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:22:41 GMT

Service animals are highly trained at specifc tasks to provide safety for their owners. Whether it be leading a blind person safely or alerting for epileptic or diabetic emergencies.

Emotional support animals are simply beloved pets.

Re: Question about therapy animals

qvcaddition — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:30:05 GMT

@Kachina624

@Kachina624 wrote:
The only dog trained and certified is a service dog, the kind that's trained to lead the blind or perform other service for a disabled person. Their selection and training are extensive, and they'd never behave like the dog you saw in Costco.

Therapy dogs receive some training and must be docile and friendly. They are the dogs that visit hospitals and nursing homes or let children read books to them in libraries. They have a calming effect on people.

Emotional support animals are for the most part, a sham. They receive no training and can get a certificate by mail order. They include all types of animals and supposedly make their owner feel better just by being there. Many transportation sources and commercial enterprises have booted them out.

You are correct. My Dog was a Therapy dog and trained as such to visit hospitals and nursing homes. She had to go for two weeks for training and also to see if she was a calm dog to be able to do it. She passed and we went once a week on our assigned day to visit patients. She was assigned a uniform and leash and a Kaiser card with her picture as Kaiser members.

Another thing, dogs are not allowed to be placed in grocery carts, even Therapy dogs.

Re: Question about therapy animals

bmorechick — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:37:04 GMT

@Kachina624 You are spot on with your reply. On my work campus, there was a building that trained service dogs and therapy dogs. The animals were refrained from interacting with folks working on the campus. They were amazing to watch.

I did part of my psych internship in a nursing home and yes, the animals are so loved by the folks who live there and for the most part, they tolerated all the petting and holding well. That's a good thing.

Emotional support to the point where you can't go to the store without your animal? Yes, that's a sham.

Re: Question about therapy animals

qvcaddition — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:39:47 GMT

@drizzellla

@drizzellla wrote:
@Mersha got me thinking, after seeing her post.

Are there any rules about Therapy animals?

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to Costco. An older gentleman in a scooter forgot where his Costco card was. He checked all his pockets and compartments in his wallet. And then went through them again before he found the Costco card. Quite a line had formed to enter the store.

But it didn't matter, because right after you scanned your Costco card, 2 middle aged ladies were trying to reason with their therapy dog. Apparently the rather large mid sized dog did not want to ride in the cart. And the dog was winning. They stood right in the middle of the entrance isle, so no one could get around them because of the displays at the entrance.

Finally they took the dog out of the cart but then the dog would not move. It just stood there not moving. After watching this "show" what seemed like forever, my husband finally wormed his way through the TV isle.

Do therapy dogs get any training? The dog didn't seem to be trained and the women didn't seem to be trained either. Made me wonder why they would pick a Saturday afternoon at Costco to take out their therapy dog.

Yes. Therapy dogs do get training. My dog was one and two weeks of training. They are assigned a badge, a outfit and leash. Mine was a Kaiser therapy dog and also had a Kaiser card as a human member does. She could also go to nursing homes. It cost me over 200 for her to become a Therapy dog. Outfit and paperwork, etc.

As I stated in another post, dogs are not allowed in carts, not even Therapy dogs. I think its against the law.

I don't think these women knew that, plus I don't believe their dog was a therapy dog.

Re: Question about therapy animals

KBEANS — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 18:50:23 GMT

They have training for therapy dogs but it's not the same as service dogs.

The therapy dogs are themselves very relaxed and chill animals 😊 and that rubs off on their owners, or those they provide therapy for example children, special needs individuals and hospital patients.

That's my take on them! We used to have therapy dogs come in to our school and sit with the kids when they read. It was so beautiful to see.

We inherited a service dog when a friend died. He was very well trained, behaved and had a wonderful temperament.

Jake was trained for a Veteran by a trainer for the VA. and given to our friend. He was of service to him for 14 years!

When we went out we never pretended that he was our service dog but he was still registered as one.

He didn't know that though...
The problem was he never went off duty, after his original owner died.

We got tips from the vet and a dog trainer we are familiar with.

We tried everything but he always yearned to do something for my husband, and every time my husband moved he would move with him.

If my husband left to go out, he would turn to me and wait for me to move and want to help.

I started carrying him with me to show him he didn't have to perform any chore for us, and we would tell him to stay, and that he didn't have to get up, and that it was his time to relax.

He did like when I carried him! 😀

We were also told to expose him to lots of people and other dogs. We would allow them to pet him and show him affection, and play so that he would get intergrated into regular life.

He was older when we got him and set in his ways. He got somewhat better as time passed, and I think he finally realized he didn't have to work for us!

But honestly, never truly seemed to relax.

Jake just passed this March 7. He was 17 and 3 months and we had him 3 1/2 years.

We we're really lucky to have this special guy!

I miss him so much! ♥️

Re: Question about therapy animals

Meowingkitty — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:49:38 GMT

I've seen people with kids doing basically the same thing. Holding up people at the entrance because the kid was being difficult. I'd rather deal with the dog.

Re: Question about therapy animals

willowbark — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:01:40 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
@Mersha got me thinking, after seeing her post.

Are there any rules about Therapy animals?

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to Costco. An older gentleman in a scooter forgot where his Costco card was. He checked all his pockets and compartments in his wallet. And then went through them again before he found the Costco card. Quite a line had formed to enter the store.

But it didn't matter, because right after you scanned your Costco card, 2 middle aged ladies were trying to reason with their therapy dog. Apparently the rather large mid sized dog did not want to ride in the cart. And the dog was winning. They stood right in the middle of the entrance isle, so no one could get around them because of the displays at the entrance.

Finally they took the dog out of the cart but then the dog would not move. It just stood there not moving. After watching this "show" what seemed like forever, my husband finally wormed his way through the TV isle.

Do therapy dogs get any training? The dog didn't seem to be trained and the women didn't seem to be trained either. Made me wonder why they would pick a Saturday afternoon at Costco to take out their therapy dog.

Sounded like the therapy dog need therapy because of them.

Re: Question about therapy animals

kaydee50 — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:23:45 GMT

Don't know about what training any dogs need but dogs go everywhere! Airplanes, buses, subways, supermarkets, etcc., etc, etc. I often feel sorry for the dogs.

Re: Question about therapy animals

drizzellla — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:39:05 GMT

The only reason I thought it was a therapy dog was that it clearly did not act like a Service dog. And I thought Costco only let Service dogs and maybe Therapy dogs into their store. The sign before you walk into Costco does not mention allowing emotional support dogs into the store. And the ladies had already walked into the store and scanned their card. So the ladies were allowed into the store with their dog.

I really felt sorry for the dog. It looked like it was being pushed and proded and I am sure that is why it refused to move. Still wondered why they thought going to Costco on a Saturday afternoon was a good idea.

Re: Question about therapy animals

drizzellla — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:51:09 GMT

Thanks for all your replies. I appreciate all the information.

We have a neighbor who is blind. He has walked around the neighborhood with his guide dog for many years. So everyone knows and talks to him. He even knows who he is talking to, just by hearing our voices and he remembers what street we live on.

@KBEANS I was happy to read that the service dog you inherited lived to be over 17 years old. Wish our dog lasted that long. He was not a certified service dog but he provided a wonderful service by just being present. We only had him 6 years (he was a rescue) but a much loved member of the family.

Re: Question about therapy animals

San Antonio Gal — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 19:59:59 GMT

@KBEANS - Jake sounds like such a wonderful companion and I know you miss him terribly. Sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you were able to enjoy him for the 3.5 years. RIP Jake.

Re: Question about therapy animals

Sooner — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 20:03:16 GMT

I think only trained service dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants. Everything else is a potential disaster waiting to happen. And no, dogs don't need to go shopping.

Re: Question about therapy animals

ellaphant — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 20:11:02 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
The only dog trained and certified is a service dog, the kind that's trained to lead the blind or perform other service for a disabled person. Their selection and training are extensive, and they'd never behave like the dog you saw in Costco.

Therapy dogs receive some training and must be docile and friendly. They are the dogs that visit hospitals and nursing homes or let children read books to them in libraries. They have a calming effect on people.

Emotional support animals are for the most part, a sham. They receive no training and can get a certificate by mail order. They include all types of animals and supposedly make their owner feel better just by being there. Many transportation sources and commercial enterprises have booted them out.

Totally agree. I was at a museum exhibit opening years ago. A woman was making a huge scene about her toy poodle in her purse being allowed in. Awful

Re: Question about therapy animals

qvcaddition — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 20:27:24 GMT

@willowbark

@willowbark wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
@Mersha got me thinking, after seeing her post.

Are there any rules about Therapy animals?

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to Costco. An older gentleman in a scooter forgot where his Costco card was. He checked all his pockets and compartments in his wallet. And then went through them again before he found the Costco card. Quite a line had formed to enter the store.

But it didn't matter, because right after you scanned your Costco card, 2 middle aged ladies were trying to reason with their therapy dog. Apparently the rather large mid sized dog did not want to ride in the cart. And the dog was winning. They stood right in the middle of the entrance isle, so no one could get around them because of the displays at the entrance.

Finally they took the dog out of the cart but then the dog would not move. It just stood there not moving. After watching this "show" what seemed like forever, my husband finally wormed his way through the TV isle.

Do therapy dogs get any training? The dog didn't seem to be trained and the women didn't seem to be trained either. Made me wonder why they would pick a Saturday afternoon at Costco to take out their therapy dog.
Sounded like the therapy dog need therapy because of them.

Read my post about my Therapy dog and training.

Re: Question about therapy animals

chrystaltree — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:31:54 GMT

That was not a therapy dog or a service dog. That was just a pet and they maybe are calling it an emotional support animal. For a while people were passing off their pets as emotional support animals. You could print a fake card off the internet and vests but that's over now. Businesses know better.