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[ 2018 ] Is your dog really a service animal?

I have to think the peacock was a publicity stunt -- no one could be that clueless!

My peacock story goes like this: We live in an area of coastal Southern California where there was a flock of peacocks on an estate in the early part of the 20th century. Now wild peacocks are all over the peninsula. Arrived at a customer's home, briefcase in hand (we sell draperies and blinds) and peahens were all around and the peacock was on the front steps with his tail blocking my path to the door. I got closer and closer until I was right next to him and he didn't move. OK, I'll step over you like I step over our sleeping dogs. But as soon as I lifted my foot to step over his tail he freaked out, then I freaked out, so both of us are flapping about the porch trying to get out of each other's way while his harem scattered around us. Luckily this was in the pre-Internet era or my dance with a peacock would have gone viral I'm sure!
 
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Okay, so my son-in-law's brother-in-law (confusing enough?) has hamsters that he dresses in clothes and takes pictures. They are some kind of expensive little hamsters with more hair. They are pretty cute. And as strange as that guy is, he would probably take them on a plane as service animals. He is pretty attached to them, and he does have behaviors that are strange. I cannot say anymore, but needless to say, he is very different from anyone I have ever met. Nice guy, of course.
 
I spent time this last week at a TS where another guest had his emotional support ankle biter size DOG. He was drinking and talking to me at the pool bar. Seems his DOG emtional support dog was lousely tied to a pool chair 15+ feet away til he woke up from its nap and wandered under my chair to seek attention from its owner/patient .. dragging the lease on the ground .. it was NOT tied securely. Okay, I deal with FRUITLOOPS in my work ... and I rather be alone than attracted a stalker on a vacation stay. If that REALLY is an emotional support dog, the owner must have issues. If it is a FAKE SERVICE PET dog, the owner has issues. He got his pet bag ... pull out his 'service dog vest' and went to find his pet's folding bowl. I HOPED for anyone else to sit at the TIki bar or I was leaving.

And every time I encountered him and his 'support critter' ... it reinforced that he MIGHT needed a support dog might be correct. But THAT dog did NOT have ANY training to NEAR the LEVEL for service dog.

My pet doberman was better trained (she sat between me and ANYONE else in a room, slept on the floor between me & the door, allowed NO ONE to stick their face near mine in the car window (got rid of flirting cops VERY fast) and NEVER tried to eat off any table. My dog convinced one police officier who pulled over for spending to ask me as I sat in my car, "Is that your dog?". My response was "do I look dumb enough to have someone else's doberman in the rear seat in my car?" He told me to "GO" and wave me away ... I was speeding. I got no ticket. Cop was TRULY taken back ... he woke my puppy-dog up from her nap.

PS If you need an emotional support critter, might you not also need MEDICINE which usually does NOT MIX well with alcohol? And if no interference, would ALCOHOL be a good idea for just controlling your issues in life?
 
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I confess! When he was little, our son took his goldfish with him once when we went to our Smuggs timeshare!:D
 
vacationhopeful said:
I spent time this last week at a TS where another guest had his emotional support ankle biter size DOG. He was drinking and talking to me at the pool bar. Seems his DOG emtional support dog was lousely tied to a pool chair 15+ feet away til he woke up from its nap and wandered under my chair to seek attention from its owner/patient .. dragging the lease on the ground .. it was NOT tied securely. Okay, I deal with FRUITLOOPS in my work ... and I rather be alone than attracted a stalker on a vacation stay. If that REALLY is an emotional support dog, the owner must have issues. If it is a FAKE SERVICE PET dog, the owner has issues. He got his pet bag ... pull out his 'service dog vest' and went to find his pet's folding bowl. I HOPED for anyone else to sit at the TIki bar or I was leaving.

And every time I encountered him and his 'support critter' ... it reinforced that he MIGHT needed a support dog might be correct. But THAT dog did NOT have ANY training to NEAR the LEVEL for service dog.

My pet doberman was better trained (she sat between me and ANYONE else in a room, slept on the floor between me & the door, allowed NO ONE to stick their face near mine in the car window (got rid of flirting cops VERY fast) and NEVER tried to eat off any table. My dog convinced one police officier who pulled over for spending to ask me as I sat in my car, "Is that your dog?". My response was "do I look dumb enough to have someone else's doberman in the rear seat in my car?" He told me to "GO" and wave me away ... I was speeding. I got no ticket. Cop was TRULY taken back ... he woke my puppy-dog up from her nap.

PS If you need an emotional support critter, might you not also need MEDICINE which usually does NOT MIX well with alcohol? And if no interference, would ALCOHOL be a good idea for just controlling your issues in life?
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This brought back good memories about the female Red Doberman I had years ago. If we were out in the yard and someone came walking down the Street towards us She would stop what ever She was doing and track the person. Once I acknowledged the person as a friend or once the person was safely past my yard She would ignore them and go back to what She had been doing. She never growled and never snapped at a person but I had no doubts had she would react if someone tried to harm me or my wife.
 
mpumilia said:
How about this story? Come on! An emotional support hamster?

https://www.theblaze.com/news/2018/...er-to-flush-her-hamster-pebbles-down-a-toilet
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T_R_Oglodyte said:
And yet it apparently took her only minutes to decide to flush down the toilet that little creature that was so essential for her emotional well-being.

Right..... If we take the story at face values, as presented, I would say that her emotional issues are much bigger than the need for an emotional support animal.
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I must confess that I nearly lost my coffee, I was laughing so hard when I read this story in our morning paper. Not very empathetic of me, I know. But in my defense, I did say a little prayer that somehow Pebbles was able to swim to safety and emerge in the toilet of someone who wouldn't mistake him for a rat but would recognize him as a hamster and give him a new, loving habitat.
 
beejaybeeohio said:
I must confess that I nearly lost my coffee, I was laughing so hard when I read this story in our morning paper. Not very empathetic of me, I know. But in my defense, I did say a little prayer that somehow Pebbles was able to swim to safety and emerge in the toilet of someone who wouldn't mistake him for a rat but would recognize him as a hamster and give him a new, loving habitat.
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Anyone who would flush their loved animal down the toilet versus releasing it to the freedom of the world should not be traveling by themselves.
 
I have a reverse emotional support story. I crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2 last summer. The QM2 is a very traditional ocean liner so has a kennel for those traveling with their pets. During dinner one night the captain got on the PA system. Everybody stopped what they were doing and came to attention as one of the only reasons the captain would interrupt dinner would be to tell us to abandon ship. What he really wanted to do was ask if there was a veterinarian on the ship as a dog in the kennel was in distress. We didn't hear more though people were asking after the dog all evening. Finally we got an update. The dog was freaking out from being separated from its owner. So, Cunard allowed the pooch to move in with the owner. Kind of an emotional support cruiser.
 
hvsteve1 said:
...... Cunard allowed the pooch to move in with the owner. Kind of an emotional support cruiser.
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Seems the people were the dogs support persons, kinda reverse of support animal
 
http://time.com/5172085/dog-bites-child-southwest-flight/

I'm not a litigious person..... but I sincerely hope the parents of the child seek counsel and pursue both the airline and the owner of the dog for damages.
This situation is out of control. IMHO I'm not sure what it will take to bring some order to the chaos that exists, but we need something.

I'm a pet lover as well the owner of two large and powerful dogs with less than perfect social manners. Not to mention my JR terrorist. (the worst of the 3) My empathy level is as high as it could possibly go.

I do not blame the dog.....I blame the owner. I'll just assume this was not a 'service dog' but was of another category (which could include certain working dogs--dogs that are not necessarily people friendly).
In any case, it's time for a change and some sanity. No insult to pet lovers and those with companion/service animals. Just a wish for honesty and accountability.
 
taterhed said:
http://time.com/5172085/dog-bites-child-southwest-flight/

I'm not a litigious person..... but I sincerely hope the parents of the child seek counsel and pursue both the airline and the owner of the dog for damages.
This situation is out of control. IMHO I'm not sure what it will take to bring some order to the chaos that exists, but we need something.

I'm a pet lover as well the owner of two large and powerful dogs with less than perfect social manners. Not to mention my JR terrorist. (the worst of the 3) My empathy level is as high as it could possibly go.

I do not blame the dog.....I blame the owner. I'll just assume this was not a 'service dog' but was of another category (which could include certain working dogs--dogs that are not necessarily people friendly).
In any case, it's time for a change and some sanity. No insult to pet lovers and those with companion/service animals. Just a wish for honesty and accountability.
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I love ❤️ animals, they love me. I also get very high anxiety when I fly. I could get a letter that I need an emotional support animal but I never would.

I feel People that need a “trained” service animal truly need it and I would not diminish that because of my anxiety and panic attacks. I have learned other ways to cope and different methods of travel.

I feel the need of one should not put many in dangers and if emotional support animals are allowed they should be “trained”. Licensing should be required for all animals that are service animals or support animals.

You cannot drive a car unless you have a license to prove you can drive safely. A emotional support animal should be trained and licensed to prove they can service the owner without putting others safety in danger.
 
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oh dear! I just spent the last two days with friends and their friends with their "service" dogs. oy vey! I was taken aback when on a Facebook post, one guest asked if it would be ok if they brought their dog to the impromptu pitch-in dinner. Huh?
I didn't realize that they had traveled from out of town and their only other option would be to leave the dog in the hotel. The small dog was cute and seemed fine, but today I heard he nipped or attempted to bite a male guest and snagged his new trousers. OK, no service dog would behave this way.
Then, today, I saw the dog bite the male guest of honor at the reception. Utterly ridiculous that these people are trying to pull this stunt. Supposedly it is her service dog because she has trouble hearing. I didn't notice any hearing problem.
And, she was not the only guest with her dog. Another couple had their dog in a basket of the walker of the women. This dog minded his manners, but it does beg the question, you can't leave home without your dog? Apparently not. I guess if Paris Hilton travels with her dog, then Senior Citizens should also be entitled to this privilege.
I have a family member who is legally blind and has had a service dog for years. I've had friends who train them. I know how a service dog acts and how valuable they can be. I guess I'm not ready for the European attitude of brining your dog with you wherever you go.
 
Anyone notice the baby-looking like strollers for pets now? I saw two today with dogs in them and at first I thought it was baby inside and a converted baby stroller. One was actually a made for Dog stroller. Must say, very very cute indeed.

But its out of control really with the "ESA pets" everywhere -- see them in restaurants (ie at Chipotle, as takeout but still rather not so pleasant as someone eating in), at Costco and stores everywhere! My kids think pets, especially dogs are so cute and wonderful and whats the problem. I guess, sigh, just need to get used to the new wave.

I saw one at a college, I really don't think the dog was "trained" as a Service Animal, because clearly it was pulling its owner this and that and owner was in hallway with dog. So guess dog got bored in the class. :)
 
dewdrops said:
Anyone notice the baby-looking like strollers for pets now?
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When our older granddaughter who is now six was a baby I bought a pet stroller thinking it was a baby stroller at our annual development garage sale. Yes, I have my what was I thinking moments like everyone else. To make it even more of a total space cadet moment the neighbors I bought it from are in their late 40's and never had children so why would I even think they would have a baby stroller? Our neighbor's mother has trained companion dogs she takes to nursing homes and had gotten a newer, fancier stroller. I liked the idea that it zipped closed and paid no attention to the fact that there were no holes for a child's legs or that the pattern on the material was small dog bones until I got it home and looked at it for a while.

At that time our dog Missy was 16 and still going strong but over the next year age started catching up to her. Having that stroller for her was wonderful. She loved our evening walks to watch the sunset over a nearby lake and rather than have to leave her home we could alternate letting her walk for a while and riding in the stroller. When Missy passed two years later I gave the stroller to another neighbor in the plan for her dog who was starting to age. Our Missy was an abandoned dog we got when she was about a year to a year and a half old and her dog was a about 8 or 9 when she adopted her from a rescue group. She wanted to pay me but I refused and told her when she was done with it to pass it on to someone else. For the next couple of years every time that neighbor would see me outside when they were walking she always stopped to thank me profusely.
 
dewdrops said:
But its out of control really with the "ESA pets" everywhere -- see them in restaurants (ie at Chipotle, as takeout but still rather not so pleasant as someone eating in), at Costco and stores everywhere! My kids think pets, especially dogs are so cute and wonderful and whats the problem. I guess, sigh, just need to get used to the new wave.
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Not me! I will walk out if I see such a thing, after informing them of why I will not eat there of course (restaurant).
 
Last week, we were at Festival, the big flea market in Pompano Beach. A woman was walking around with a little fluffy white dog. The dog had a vest that had "service dog" written with what clearly was a magic marker or Sharpie. She went back and forth several times while my wife was in the produce market. The woman turned around and started walking away and the dog went up to one of the booths, lifted its leg and peed on the booth! Some service dog!
 
So You Want a Letter Saying You Need a Support Dog For Your Flight? Here's Why a Therapist Might Balk
By Hugo Martin/ Business/ Los Angeles Times/ latimes.com

"A regal peacock was barred from accompanying its owner on a United Airlines flight departing from Newark, N.J., in January, but not, well, for being a regal peacock. It was simply too large.

Another flightless fowl, a turkey, got the go-ahead two years ago to fly with its owner on Delta Air Lines.

And then there was the mallard, wearing velcro red shoes, that became an internet celebrity when the duck was photographed in 2016 flying with its caretaker in North Carolina.

The animals that flew didn’t cost their owners a dime and didn’t spend their time locked up in a cage. Instead, the critters were deemed necessary by a medical professional to provide emotional support, which meant they could cuddle up in the laps of their presumably anxious owners — just inches from other fliers.

“This thing has gotten out of hand,” said Jeff Younggren, a psychologist and clinical professor at the University of New Mexico, who has conducted several studies on the subject of emotional support animals....."

la-1527895840-cytezvl4v0-snap-image

The number of passengers flying with emotional support animals on the nation’s airlines has surged over the last year. United Airlines, one of the biggest carriers, has seen a 75% increase. (Michael Glenwood / For The Times)


Richard
 
The airlines should stop allowing "emotional support" animals. Stick with Assistance animals as defined by Federal Law.
 
I'm NOT going to go back and read all this thread. At MY house, I'M the dog's 'service animal'. Let the dog out. Let the dog in. Clean up her poop. Fix 2 good meals and snacks all day. Full exercise program- with personal trainer- ME.
 
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