pmundell

Unfortunately, the problem of fake service dogs in public places is increasing. I'm sure we've all seen dogs that are out of control or aggressive that are being misrepresented as service dogs. Because vests that say "service dog" or "working dog" are available everywhere, some people are tempted to pass off their pets as service dogs. This is not only inconvenient to the public, but does a real disservice to people who actually rely on their service or guide dogs for necessary assistance.

This is a hard problem to combat however. We don't want to make laws that place burdens on people with disabilities to have to "prove" they are disabled or reveal private information relating to their disability. In the long term, I think that education about the significant problems caused by fraudulent service dogs is the answer. But some form of ID that indicates that the dog is a bona fide service dog might also be an answer.

When I first began working at Canine Companions, I placed a great black Lab with a woman who had MS. As a trainer, I was focused on all of the amazing tasks that the dog could now do for her, like pulling her wheelchair, retrieving things that she couldn't otherwise reach, etc. However, after she had him about a month, she wrote me a very moving letter describing how her life had completely changed and it was due to the wonderful feeling of finally having a partner to go through life with. For the first time, she didn't feel as though she were all alone.

You're right, individual states are starting to recognize the problem and create laws that punish people who misrepresent dogs as service dogs. As an individual, you need to be somewhat cautious about questioning someone about whether they have a "real" service dog. While dogs accompanying someone in a wheelchair or someone who is blind are obviously working, some disabilities are not as apparent. Therefore a person might have a bona fide service while not having a visible disability. If you see someone with a dog that you suspect is not a real service dog, you can simply ask them, "is that a service dog" and hope that they reply honestly. It would be inappropriate to ask what their disability is.

At Canine Companions for Independence, we do not train dogs to use toilets, we train them to toilet on command. But yes, I can do that. However, it's easier to train a cat to use a toilet....

The case could certainly set a precedent for children who use service dogs. The question of service dogs accompanying children in school is a complex one. On the one hand, with proper training, the child can get real benefit from the presence of a service dog-- not only with physical tasks, but also socially. On the other hand, the presence of the dog in class, especially if the child is too young to reliably take care of the dog and ensure it's not disruptive, can create a lot of extra work for the teacher and other school personnel. Like many things, I think the right answer is to evaluate each child's needs on a case by case basis.