Exploitation of Service Dogs May Create Challenges for the Disabled

Of course everyone wants to bring their dog with them wherever they go and let them enjoy the outdoors. However, many places such as stores and restaurants don't allow them to frequent with their owners, with the exception of a disabled person who has a service dog. Believe it or not, this exception has let dog owners to take advantage of the service dog law. The law states that it's illegal for a business owner to request a person with a service dog what kind of disabilty they have. The only thing a business owner can ask is whether or not the dog is a service dog and what type of tasks can the dog perform.

What many of these dog owners do to overcome the barrier of not being able to bring their dogs with them, is go online and buy a service dog vest for $30 or even badges that read "Medical Alert Service Dog" or "Hearing Alert Service Dog" and then walk into places pretending their disabled, so that they could bring their dog with them. It's unbelievable that people would stoop to such a level by taking advantage of people with disabilities and service dogs to be able to bring their dogs with them.

While there's those pet owners who fake that they have service dogs, there's others who have letters written by their doctors saying their dog provides emotional support; however, these dogs aren't trained to be calm and perform the tasks that real service dogs can provide such as: picking up items that a person in a wheelchair drops or identifying when a person is about to have a panic attack and performing an act that will soothe them. Dogs that are claimed as service dogs for emotional support, really aren't service dogs - they're pets.

Pet owners abusing the service dog law can be charged with a misdemeanor, face up to 6 months in jail, and a fine of $1,000. Since many pet owners are abusing the service dog law, the Coalition of Assistance Dog Organization is taking repercussions by lobbying to change the Americans With Disabilities Act's definition of a service animal.

It's unfortunate that there are people love their dogs so much to stoop to such levels, because it only makes life more difficult for people with real disabilities.