News and Features Editor
People
are passing pet dogs off as service animals to get them into grocery stores,
restaurants, and on planes. This deception is creating a problem for those who
actually need trained service dogs to act as their ears, eyes, and arms.
Many
people require specially trained animals due to various disabilities. Because
service dogs are permitted into otherwise off-limit areas, there has been an
increase in the number of people passing off their pets as service animals.
This has become confusing to business owners because ADA law states that a
business owner can only ask, “Is that a service dog?” and “What is it trained
to do?” These violators hurt those the laws are designed to protect because individuals
who actually require service animals are facing increased questioning and
discrimination.
Jeannette
Hill, who is currently training a service dog, has been affected by these service
dog imposters. Some have become skeptical of her efforts and do not believe the
puppy she is training will actually become a service dog. They believe she is
just trying to get her pet into public facilities. Others have become angry
that people are passing off pets or improperly trained dogs as service animals.
Hill says these people support her efforts because, “They want people to be
able to have a correctly trained service dog.”
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| Ferdinand, Hill's dog in training |
Service
dogs that make any kind of disruption in public may be ejected from a business;
therefore, these imposter, untrained animals may cause problems when around
other animals. Although service animals are trained, there is still a chance
that a confrontation with a non trained dog may lead to violence. For those in
wheel chairs, there is virtually nothing the person can do to restrain their
dogs.
Service
dogs must perform tasks benefitting someone with a disability in order to be
allowed public access. The problem is that anyone can go online and buy fake
service dog products. This includes identification and certification which are
not required by law. Allowing dogs, and many other animals, to be passed off as
service animals. At the North Carolina State Fair, a family was allowed to
bring their “service monkey” inside the fair, although the law only considers dogs
as service animals.
There
is currently an active petition against fake service dog products by Canine
Companions for Independence. And for those who do not know, or blatantly
disregard the law, passing off a pet dog as a service dog is a federal crime
that can involve a fine or federal fraud charges.
