Among Friends

[CalminHeart]

IMO, those women should have left the dog at home. At the store, they must have known the dog was not happy and should have been taken home before shopping. 

My dog is a therapy dog because of who he is to me. I care more about my dog than his company when I know he'll be overwhelmed.  

My neighbor doesn't go anywhere without her dog. Sadly, she leaves him in the car with a bowl of water and air flow when she shops. I tried talking to her once after she did it in the summer heat and she blew up. 

Unless the dog is certified or very well trained (which he obviously wasn't), he/she should have been left at home. 

[CalminHeart]

---

@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.

---

Just to add.  I know people who have therapy/emotional support dogs for PTSD and other traumas.... veterans and victims of crimes, abuse, etc.  

[Imaoldhippie]

Those 2 women were being cruel to the dog.  Obviously it had no training and was most likely scared and confused.  They are lucky I was not there I would be said something to those two mindless women.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

---

@CalminHeart wrote:

---

@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.

---

Just to add.  I know people who have therapy/emotional support dogs for PTSD and other traumas.... veterans and victims of crimes, abuse, etc.  

---

~~~~~~~~~

@CalminHeart   Thank you for expressing this! 

[ThinkingOutLoud]

---

@JoyFilled Warrior wrote:

---

@@Kachina62 wrote:

@JoyFilled Warrior.  In addition to deceiving your apartment complex you exercised dishonesty which is why nobody can now use that designation.

---

~~~~

wow.  big ouch, "deceiving?"  "dishonesty?" @Kachina624?

I dont understand yr response. At all.

How can you possibly, possibly be the judge of "deceiving?" (except to assume "deceiving" "dishonesty" was your off-handed comment, reaction here).

wow.  Without even knowing there was any bonafide ESA distinction, (revealed to me by Apt Mgt), I answered ALL the Apt Complex & ESA criteria totally honestly, & in my ignorance, & was accepted by both professional entities. Afterall, yes,  THEY are the "professionals" abt this; neither you nor I.

I considered both of them the "experts" and left it entirely to them to decide.  And they decided.  Accepted.

Had I not answered honestly & passed their respective criteria,  surely, I would have paid the fees for my Emotionally Support Animal Sweetie.  What?  You think I'd drop her off at some Pound?  HECK to the NO!   

wow.

---

Ya, right. This is just a poor attempt at trying to rationalize/justify a lack of integrity on your part.

[CelticCrafter]

@JoyFilled Warrior   as an FYI, it's Emotional not emotionally.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

@CelticCrafter   Thank you for the correction. 

[drizzellla]

---

@geezerette wrote:

Some stores are starting to crack down on their animal policies.  Some no longer allow "service" dogs because of the perceived ambiguous definitions.  Seeing eye dogs only in many stores now.

However, actual enforcement of that rule seems to be lacking.  So just having a rule doesn't seem to have made much difference.

---

I can't help but wonder if the store had issues previously . Costco has a large about 6 feet by 4 feet sign about service dogs at the entrance before you enter the store.

I have seen seeing eye dogs in Costco. But often wondered how the dog would help the person find items in the store or lead the person. Especially since the items are often moved around. But guess that the owner and dog have worked that out. 

[occasionalrain]

I like seeing dogs in stores, the ones pleased to be there. I've no issue with a person's dog in their hand bag, where's the harm in that?

My issue is with children running around in stores and restaurants. They could cause someone to fall or topple a display. I've never seen a dog running about in a store. They're in a purse, the cart or on a leash.

The stores in which I shop don't seem to care about dogs being there unless someone complains and it seems few If any complain. I never would.