Among Friends

[Venezia]

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@threecees wrote:

I have seen a dog in my gym waiting patiently while it's owner did her exercise.

Not a problem to me. 

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@threecees - But that's not the same thing as dogs being in a grocery store around food that others will be buying.

Fresh produce is open air; not wrapped or behind glass.  Dogs love to sniff things - it's the nature of the animal and you can't blame them for that.  But the owners should leave their dog(s) at home while shopping.

[Lucky Charm]

My heart skips a beat when I see a service dog.

I want to say something like *Thank you for your service*.  ETA:  To the trained service dog.

I know you're not supposed to *make* over one and I respect that.  (So hard to do though!)

If it's just someone's pet dog and I can tell because they're usually beaming about their pooches presence being in a store.  (It's just something I can sense sometimes.) 

Well, I ignore them.  

Dog and owner.

[qvcaddition]

@Venezia 

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@Venezia wrote:

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@threecees wrote:

I have seen a dog in my gym waiting patiently while it's owner did her exercise.

Not a problem to me. 

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@threecees - But that's not the same thing as dogs being in a grocery store around food that others will be buying.

Fresh produce is open air; not wrapped or behind glass.  Dogs love to sniff things - it's the nature of the animal and you can't blame them for that.  But the owners should leave their dog(s) at home while shopping.

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Veggie bins in super markets are usually higher than a dog unless a great dane, but even if a dog didn't sniff it, i hope people would wash their veggies good before eating or cooking.

I have not seen big dogs in stores, just little ones occasionally, not often.

[Buffalogal47]

Service animals, such as guide dogs for the blind or those who detect epileptic seizures or other medical conditions are the only animals who should be permitted in stores and restaurants. So-called emotional support animals are no more than pets and should be left at home. 

[Itsjustme4]

@kitcat51. YES!  I'm allergic to dogs! And cats.  They trigger my asthma.   It seems lately that dogs get more consideration than people.  I'm against dogs in stores, especially grocery stores.  And how about on planes?  I can't get seated next to someone bringing a cat or dog onboard for health reasons.  I think the airlines should ask that question when you book so they can keep the animals away from people who are bothered.  When you can't breathe nothing else matters.  

[AuntMame]

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@qvcaddition wrote:

My dog is now to old to be a Kaiser hospital volunteer anymore.  She is a bonafied or was service volunteer dog, before everyone could get something online for five bucks.

It cost me over 200.00 dollars to get an approval for her to be trained to go in a hospital or nursing home to let patients pet her if they wanted.

There was 2 weekend of training and one month at Kaiser. 

She did this with me as volunteers for a few years and the Drs. and nurses and patients that had animals and missed them, loved for these dogs to visit.

She still has her Kaiser membership card, just like a member would like myself.  

I do not consider her an emotional dog for me, although she is my best buddy.  We grow old together.  She is 17 and I am 88.  We did not abuse the privilage.  She was not considered a Service dog, but considered a volunteer to visit homes and hospitals.  

Now in some ways through the years, everyone has an emotional animal.

We both went through a lot of training.  One thing, no matter what, a dog is not allowed to sit in a grocery cart.  A kid with a dirty diaper is, but not a clean animal.

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That is so sweet!  Good for you and your pooch! Those hospital dog visits mean so much to patients, especially young ones. Well, older ones too!

People don't realize how much time and effort goes into training hospital-visiting dogs, or how much effort goes into preparing them for visits. 

Years ago we auditioned one of our super-friendly-love-sponge dogs to be a visiting pooch at a children's hospital. (Alas, he failed. Because he skittered slightly when someone came toward him with an IV stand. He was a rescue and we think he had been beaten. Hence, fear of sticks.)

We were told that, in addition to special training, we would need to take him to a nearby vet school an hour before each hospital visit. To be checked out by a vet, and also to be bathed with antibacterial soap prior to schmoozing with patients. 

It is really a huge commitment. But I've seen visiting dogs in hospitals and nursing homes and their presence brightens so many faces and lives. Thank you for your service!   

[Cakers3]

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

My heart skips a beat when I see a service dog.

I want to say something like *Thank you for your service*.

I know you're not supposed to *make* over one and I respect that.  (So hard to do though!)

If it's just someone's pet dog and I can tell because they're usually beaming about their pooches presence being in a store.  (It's just something I can sense sometimes.) 

Well, I ignore them.  

Dog and owner.

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@Lucky Charm  The person with a service dog may not have been in the military. A simple smile can mean much to another person.

[Lucky Charm]

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

My heart skips a beat when I see a service dog.

I want to say something like *Thank you for your service*.

I know you're not supposed to *make* over one and I respect that.  (So hard to do though!)

If it's just someone's pet dog and I can tell because they're usually beaming about their pooches presence being in a store.  (It's just something I can sense sometimes.) 

Well, I ignore them.  

Dog and owner.

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@Lucky Charm  The person with a service dog may not have been in the military. A simple smile can mean much to another person.

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@Cakers3 

Sorry, I wasn't clear about that. 

I meant I would love to go over and pat a service dog on the head and say *thank you for your service*, to the dog for being such a help to someone who's disabled.  

I've gone back and edited.

[Love to Run]

This is from the ADA website:

To determine if an animal is a service animal, you may ask two questions:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

You may not ask these questions if the need for the service animal is obvious. Examples include when a dog is guiding an individual who is blind or is pulling a person’s wheelchair. In addition:

• You may not ask about the nature or extent of an individual’s disability
• You may not require proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal
• You may not require the animal to wear an identifying vest or tag
• You may not ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the task or work

Under the ADA, it is training that distinguishes a service animal from other animals. Some service animals may be professionally trained; others may have been trained by their owners.  However, the task that the service animal is trained to do must be directly related to the owner’s disability.

The handler is responsible for the care and supervision of his or her service animal. If a service animal behaves in an unacceptable way and the person with a disability does not control the animal, a business or other entity has the right to ask that the dog be removed. A business also has the right to deny access to a dog that disrupts their business or poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others. For example, if a service dog barks repeatedly or growls at customers, it could be asked to leave.

Service animals in-training are not specifically addressed in the ADA.  However, some state laws may afford service animals in-training the same protections as service animals that have completed their training.

[Cakers3]

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

My heart skips a beat when I see a service dog.

I want to say something like *Thank you for your service*.

I know you're not supposed to *make* over one and I respect that.  (So hard to do though!)

If it's just someone's pet dog and I can tell because they're usually beaming about their pooches presence being in a store.  (It's just something I can sense sometimes.) 

Well, I ignore them.  

Dog and owner.

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@Lucky Charm  The person with a service dog may not have been in the military. A simple smile can mean much to another person.

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@Cakers3 

Sorry, I wasn't clear about that. 

I meant I would love to go over and pat a service dog on the head and say *thank you for your service*, to the dog for being such a help to someone who's disabled.  

I've gone back and edited.

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@Lucky Charm  Got it.

But just don't. Even making eye contact with the service dog can be distracting for the dog since some eye movements by the owner can mean certain commands.

It would be nice to be able to acknowledge the dog,  agree . However the dog is 💯 focused on the owner and may even be in the middle of a task.

It has been suggested on service dog sites to ask the owner if one can approach the dog but personally I would not.

Overall still a wonderful program and what a career being able to train them.