I Know It's A Service Animal....But Is This Acceptable?

Mizzkitt

Mizzkitt

Member
Location
Ontario
To start I will say that I think service animals for the blind and hearing impaired perform a great service. A big thumbs up to those who train these valuable animals.

But wondering how others feel about dogs that are trained to help people with PTSD which seems to becoming more and more the norm.

I ask because yesterday in Costco a woman had a rather large dog in the shopping cart, dog was dressed to the 9's in a frilly dress with matching ribbons in the hair. I assume it was a service animal because I doubt it would have been allowed in the store any other way.

I admit that I did not like the fact that the dog was sitting in the cart, took up most of the room and the few groceries were sitting where you park a kid.

Am I wrong in thinking that should not have been allowed. That a proper leash should have been used. Someone has to use that cart afterwards.

Thoughts?
 

I am not exactly a germaphobe Falcon but I sure don't want my food landing on a spot that housed a dog's butt prior :D
 

As a veteran, I profoundly support service dogs for PTSD and a myriad of other ailments that are service related.
A service dog would NOT be 'dressed' with a dress and ribbons!! I'd wager that this 'lady' called it a service dog and probably had some sort of paperwork - I've read that you can get the paperwork on eBay.
I am a dog lover - some dogs are better behaved in public than many kids. But I loath people that abuse service animal rights.
 
We have a huge problem with pretend service dogs here. There was a big article about that in our local newspaper the other day.
And the one's that are hurt the most are those people who have true need from these service dogs.
Our legislature is working on some kind of law to get relief from people who just don't care about what they're doing.

A bill that would fine people who fraudulently represent their pets as service dogs may finally have some bite at the Hawaii Legislature.
Sen. Russell Ruderman (D-Puna) introduced Senate Bill 2461, which in its latest version poses fines of $100 to $500 for violations. The bill passed third reading and crossed over to the House on Tuesday despite concerns from state agencies
Click to expand...
 
HipGnosis said:
As a veteran, I profoundly support service dogs for PTSD and a myriad of other ailments that are service related.
A service dog would NOT be 'dressed' with a dress and ribbons!! I'd wager that this 'lady' called it a service dog and probably had some sort of paperwork - I've read that you can get the paperwork on eBay.
I am a dog lover - some dogs are better behaved in public than many kids. But I loath people that abuse service animal rights.
Click to expand...

I agree, service dogs are a wonderful thing for those who really need them, but people have abused this terribly and everyone suffers for it, especially those who rely on these animals, including those with PTSD, like many of our veterans. People who bring their companion dogs or 'emotional support' dogs everywhere including public transportation and planes are making it difficult for all concerned. and many of them do just pay for their paperwork online and it is not legit.

I agree that a dog wearing a dress and ribbons is not a service dog. I have seen some people with dogs in supermarkets, but they usually are in shoulder bags on on a blanket in the shopping cart. Dogs can have feces on their feet, etc., so it's not very healthy to have them in a food cart. In my opinion, if it's a service dog, it should have a vest indicating that and it should be walking on the ground on a leash.
 
Olivia said:
We have a huge problem with pretend service dogs here. There was a big article about that in our local newspaper the other day.
And the one's that are hurt the most are those people who have true need from these service dogs.
Our legislature is working on some kind of law to get relief from people who just don't care about what they're doing.
Click to expand...

Same problem here. A law will soon be introduced to make using a fake service dog an offence, but it still doesn't solve the problem of identifying which ones are fake to begin with.

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-hotels-fake-service-animal-scam-1.4567432
 
Sorry, but I don't see a dog in a cart as a big deal -- children's dirty hands probably have more germs than the dog, and I don't see how some lady with a dressed up dog in her cart is hurting others who need service dogs. Unless the dog was threatening you, I don't see why it is your problem. Unless we have walked a mile in that lady's shoes, we can't know the importance the dog has to the lady.

I lived ten years in Germany, where dogs were allowed just about everywhere, including restaurants, and nobody died of some godawful dog disease -- most canine diseases do not transfer over to humans, anyway.
 
I don't mind where dogs go as long as they don't bite me or go to the bathroom near me. I do think all service animals should have a vest or collar identifying them as such. I know one lady who lives in her car, rather than go to drug rehab like she's suppose to, who had 2 pit bulls she claimed were her service dogs. A month or so ago one of them died so now she just has the one I guess. I hope my tax dollars didn't buy those dogs for her. And I say that only because she was not properly caring for her dogs nor feeding them right. I think service dogs are fine for women as well as men to have as long as the dogs are properly cared for.

When I see a dog in a grocery cart I want to see a blanket under it and so far, that's how it's always been.
 
Butterfly said:
Sorry, but I don't see a dog in a cart as a big deal -- children's dirty hands probably have more germs than the dog, and I don't see how some lady with a dressed up dog in her cart is hurting others who need service dogs. Unless the dog was threatening you, I don't see why it is your problem. Unless we have walked a mile in that lady's shoes, we can't know the importance the dog has to the lady.

I lived ten years in Germany, where dogs were allowed just about everywhere, including restaurants, and nobody died of some godawful dog disease -- most canine diseases do not transfer over to humans, anyway.
Click to expand...
I agree with you totally. A service dog can also be dressed in any manner, too. There is no dress code for service animals. Germany must be a great place. I'd go there if I could. Dogs are usually more clean than many people. Most or all food is in packaging in stores anyways so what's the big deal anyway...

Also there are many women with PTSD, too, from war and sexual assault and other severely traumatic experiences which is far beyond the normal experience people have. So I suggest to get used to seeing women with service dogs and therapy dogs; they are all considered service dogs. Having some compassion for them would be a good replacement for intolerance.
 
.

Grocery stores here also provide smaller/taller carts...
which are perfect for seniors. The sign on these carts
say no children allowed [hopefully that includes animals.]
These carts are so popular that to be sure I get one,
I grab one from the parking lot as I enter the store.
 
KingsX said:
.

Grocery stores here also provide smaller/taller carts...
which are perfect for seniors. The sign on these carts
say no children allowed [hopefully that includes animals.]
These carts are so popular that to be sure I get one,
I grab one from the parking lot as I enter the store.
Click to expand...

I've seen those smaller/taller carts but it didn't dawn on me they were for seniors. I'll have to grab one and give it a try.
 
HipGnosis said:
As a veteran, I profoundly support service dogs for PTSD and a myriad of other ailments that are service related.
A service dog would NOT be 'dressed' with a dress and ribbons!! I'd wager that this 'lady' called it a service dog and probably had some sort of paperwork - I've read that you can get the paperwork on eBay.
I am a dog lover - some dogs are better behaved in public than many kids. But I loath people that abuse service animal rights.
Click to expand...
The same applies for handicap parking!!
 

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