Before I do that I would like to take time to talk about something that is important to me... my job. Not my job as a blogger or model for my blog or my babysitting skills but my job as a service dog.
I have trained many years to hone my tasks to keep ma safe. I am a medical alert dog. I can tell ma when something is about to happen to her, insist that she sits or rests, medication reminders and so on. I am very good at my job and I enjoy working.
If you are confused at what a service dog is, hopefully this infographic will help.
What is a service animal?
A. Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability.
What does "do work or perform tasks" mean?
A. The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. For example, a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert him when his blood sugar reaches high or low levels. A person with depression may have a dog that is trained to remind her to take her medication. Or, a person who has epilepsy may have a dog that is trained to detect the onset of a seizure and then help the person remain safe during the seizure.
However, if the dog's mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.
Why am I telling you this? I want to educate you for one and I want to tell you what ma did AGAIN!
Purchasing a vest does not make your pet a automatic service animal!
There is this misconception that if a person purchases a vest and a ID online, their pet is automatically a service dog. Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr are full of people posting their pets ID cards saying things like "now my baby can go everywhere with me" , "its official they are a service dog" "Try to stop me now" and more
The only thing that I see is someone who wasted their money for a phony ID. There is no legal validity to their certificates or ID's. There are so many companies popping up that sell these types of items and they are making a lot of money.
For those who know Ma , they know she loves RC Cola. She always travels with it and for most of the day you will hear her saying "where is my RC". When we fly she gets antsy because she doesn't know if she will be able to find it in the town we are headed to. She usually puts the call out to local friends if they can pick her up a 12 pack so it is there when she arrives.
With our upcoming trip she is starting to stress about where the RC will be . She isn't allowed to fly with it. So what did she do??
Yep, she sure did. She registered it as a service dog in training! The company didn't check anything, didn't ask any questions, didn't even know what the photo was of.
She went through each registry and certified her RC as a service dog, emotional support animal and even a therapy dog. It was the same as when she registered Sarah as a service dog. For those who don't know, Sarah is a HUMAN!
Now that we have the paperwork that states our RC is a actual service dog in training, I wonder if they will allow it on the plane. That is how many other non service dogs aka pets fly for free.
We sure hope that when we get on our flight that any other pets on the plane are well behaved. It doesn't bother me when another dog continually barks at me but it bothers ma. I just close my eyes and take a nap on the plane.
We sure hope that when we get on our flight that any other pets on the plane are well behaved. It doesn't bother me when another dog continually barks at me but it bothers ma. I just close my eyes and take a nap on the plane.
I will be headed to Phoenix Arizona next week.
Blogpaws is a 3-day conference jam-packed with educational sessions led by leading professionals, networking with influencers, a busy exhibit hall, exciting brand events, more influencers, and lots of pets
Visit Blogpaws.com to find out more.
See you there!
I have a severe anxiety disorder and thus an ESA. no training required but I am FULLY aware that my ESA is NOT a service dog. his only perk - the ONLY one is that he can fly with me for free. I admit I get really annoyed when I see fake service dogs, or folks who may or may not need an ESA but who have dogs that are so ill behaved they are creating chaos and making other turn against the process. Ruining it for the rest of us. This fake registration process will ruin it for those of us who actually need it. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThere are many people who have the actual NEED for a esa,such as you. I know that even though I am a trained service dog, I also give ma the sense of wellbeing or comfort knowing I am there. Knowing I will alert her something before she knows its happening.
DeleteESA's are also allowed in no pet housing and not just flying. That is why so many people who really do not need a esa register through the companies that send phony ID's. They don't want to pay for their pets to fly nor do they want to try to find a place to live that accepts pets.
As you said, this can ruin it for the rest of us. When people flash their ID cards so they can go shopping, out to eat, etc, the businesses start to expect it from everyone with a service dog.
Thank you for stopping by!
Whoa! Concats that you're going to Phoenix, Carma. Whoa! I guess I too can get certified as a service dog—or cat.
ReplyDeleteYou sure can! You could fly for free and come to bitey everyone in person.
DeleteHope you have a great time at the conference! We won't be able to make it this year, and I'm already sad that I'm missing out! It should be a great time, for sure!
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn't think I was going to attend neither. Last minute sponsor came to my rescue.
DeleteHave a wonderful time at the conference! Wish we were going so we could meet you in person!
ReplyDeleteOh boy what fun. Service dogs are so special
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
I got a dog because ir was recommended by my doctor for depression. He was an ESA dog and since he dies the end of January, I have been feeling the pain of not having him or a dog for comfort. I will get another rescue when I get back from my trip, also recommended by my doctor.
ReplyDeleteI love when you post about this topic be it teaches others about the true meaning of a service dog.
Glad you're coming to BP.
Oh dear dog... that is the weirdest looking "dog" I've ever seen! And yay! I still can't believe I'm going.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see you. I know you have been wanting to attend for a long time. Lets meet up and have our photos taken together!
DeleteWill you be bringing a flat Shiner to put in the photos??
bwaahahaha! Mom saw a story on TV about how easy it is to get a pet certified as emotional support pretty disgusting. Sorry we won't get to see you this year. My mom was going nuts at Global only Pepsi products. Thank goodness for Walgreens she at least had Diet Coke in her hotel room.
ReplyDeleteAw I wish you were going. I will miss seeing you.
DeleteSo happy you are going! Ohhh I remember the debate at BarkWorld quite well ;) Wasn't it a trip? (about Service Dogs)........too funny about the RC!!! Have a blast!
ReplyDeleteDakotasDen
I hope a episode such as the one at Barkworld never happens again. I do not think ma would keep her mouth shut next time.
DeleteWow, just wow, how do I get my paws on a service dog that also morphs itself into a cola?! Seriously though, thank you for posting this. It's important to remind folks how serious it is to impersonate a service animal. It belittles the integrity of the actual service animals, and the genuine medical or emotional needs of the human it's supporting. I get enraged when I hear of a person who falsifies documentation so that they can accessorize with their animal.
ReplyDeleteRC is a super service dog. :) Seriously though it take training to make a service dog. I guess people like to pretend they are disabled. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI really appreciated this article and the education of the importance of true and much needed service animals. Congrats on going to BlogPaws and please post pictures of your trip and the event!
ReplyDeleteI will post lots of photos. Thank you!
DeleteHave a super time in Phoenix!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding people that faking a service animal is not okay. It makes it so much harder for the folks who really do need the physical or emotional support of trained service animal. I have a friend who fosters service dogs in training and the amount of time, money, effort and energy that goes into training these pups is no joke. It upsets me greatly when people try to abuse the system and I really appreciate your post. See you at the conference! I am still kind of giggling about the RC Cola ;-)
ReplyDeleteFor those who know the time, money and training that goes into each dog and the fact that not every dog actually BECOMES a service dog, knows the companies who sell the fake items hurts REAL service dog teams. It is the companies like Free My Paws, NSAR, etc that need to be shut down. I see so many of my fellow handlers having problems because of a business insisting on seeing a ID to make sure the dog is "Certified".
DeleteMa tells them that I am a "certified" poodle. My vet records say I am a poodle, my grooming records show I am a poodle, and my looks show I am a poodle.
When a business ask ma for my ID , she hands them my business card. It has my face, my name and my website and it was printed with a professional company (VistaPrint). THAT is my official ID. BOL!!
Look forward to meeting you at the conference!
Great post. It makes my blood boil that so many people get their dogs classified as "service dogs" just so they can bring them inside cafes & fly in the cabin with them. It's so selfish, it makes a mockery of the important work service animals do & ruins it for those that are legit. As an aside, I didn't think service dogs flew for free anymore? See you in Phoenix!
ReplyDeleteLove & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Great post. It makes my blood boil that so many people get their dogs classified as "service dogs" just so they can bring them inside cafes & fly in the cabin with them. It's so selfish, it makes a mockery of the important work service animals do & ruins it for those that are legit. As an aside, I didn't think service dogs flew for free anymore? See you in Phoenix!
ReplyDeleteLove & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them