I've seen it all now...."service" dogs

Totally off thread but on the subject of socialised dogs, I recall being in a senior ranks bar one lunchtime and one of our number started asking if anyone had seen his dog (a chihuahua, small even by breed standards, I've seen bigger rats! He swore it was his wife's, but we weren't convinced.).

As we started checking under tables and chairs somebody came in from the dining room carrying a plate with said mutt lying quite placidly between two slices of bread!
 

fureverywhere said:
Debby I agree, some dogs can be socialized very nicely. Soph was a nightmare the first year, completely dependent on me and a horror on leash. Then by year two she got better. So good she could go to the dog park and play off leash. Still skittish with strange humans but great with small dogs. Dogs her size and bigger she was afraid.

We had a bunch of good years and she could run trails with me off leash. She would run after a deer or goose, then come right back to Mami. Eeeesh, I remember her leaping in the water after the geese. I'd have a towel in the car to clean her up before I brought her home. But she had a good time and lots of exercise. Then a few years later she regressed.

She attacked a few dogs without being provoked. She's in her golden years now. I keep her away from any creatures other than the ones in our home. We walk late night to avoid other dogs. Callie knows to stay out of her way when she goes moody. Poor baby, if she were human she'd be on major meds by now. But I love her still.
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Lucky Sophie to have a mum who loves her despite her crochetty personality! And to think there are some folks who dumped their senior dog to get a new puppy! Makes me want to tear out 'somebody's' hair and I'm not talking about me when I say that! I've always loved my senior dogs. I suppose our dogs are like us, frisky as puppies, unreasonable as 'teens', great companions and helpers in their middle age and sometimes cranky and creaky when they get old. But they still love us right and they deserve the best we can give them because they gave us their best for so many years.
 
Wrigley's said:
Exactly.

So, technically, she is a sick woman.
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I'm not sure about the lady with the pomeranians because we don't really know her story do we? But in all seriousness, mental illness of all sorts keeps people from succeeding at life to one degree or another and really isn't something to be laughed at.
 

The same type of person that pretends a dog is a service animal is the same type of person who borrows a neighbor or relative's handicapped sticker for their vehicle.
 
jnos said:
There are two types of "service" type dogs. The ones jujube described. I know someone who is soon to get one--18 year old autistic who will have the dog to go to the store, etc. He lives with his family but needs help to cross streets safely (among other things).

There is another type that is a comfort dog or cat, I'm not sure if they're allowed in stores/restaurants, but they are allowed in non-pet government or HUD housing. This is likely the lady with the three pups, although I doubt you could qualify for more than one.
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Those are called Emotional Support Animals or ESA's. As you said, they have some privileges but not the same as "service" animals.

Then there are Therapy Animals, which is a good thing. They are the dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. that are taken to schools, hospitals and nursing homes. They need to be certified by a reputable agency in order to get into the facilities. They do a lot of good with upset children and agitated or withdrawn elderly persons. At our library, kids can check out a "reading dog" to read to. Kids love it, the dogs love, win-win.

I went to a service dog graduation ceremony once, where the dogs and their new owners were "graduating" from the last stage of the rigorous training. One of the dogs was going to be a "court dog". When children are brought in to be examined for physical or sexual abuse or neglect, the dog will be there to comfort them. During depositions and if the child has to testify in court, the dog will sit beside the child at all times. Hugs and kisses will be available at the drop of an ear. There will be a comforting expanse of fur to hide faces in if needed. Quite often the child will "tell" the dog something he/she wouldn't say to adults. I have a real hard time comparing this kind of dog to a Pom dressed for Easter, when it comes to providing a "service".

Which bring up the question: aren't almost all pets "emotional support animals"? You come home from work, exhausted, worn out from the drive, your boss chewed you a new one at work and you are DONE! Your dog meets you at the door.....OH BOY! MY FAVORITE PERSON IN THE WORLD IS HOME!!! I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!! YOU ARE A GOD!!!" and you just HAVE to feel better. Of course, it's a 50-50 thing with cats......it's either "OH BOY, THE PERSON WHO FEEDS ME IS HOME! LET ME RUB SOME FUR ON YOUR PANTS LEG TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!" or it's "OH, HAVE YOU BEEN GONE? I DIDN'T NOTICE. WELL, DON'T JUST STAND THERE, FEED ME! NOW!!!"
 
When Callie is a bit older I think he'd be a great dog for visiting seniors or the read to a dog program at the library. He's still kind of young and rambunctious sometimes. But if he had enough exercise beforehand he'd be terrific. He loves nothing better than a bunch of people showing him some love. I can also see him laying in the library with his big ol' head on someone's arm while they read to him.

Your dog meets you at the door.....OH BOY! MY FAVORITE PERSON IN THE WORLD IS HOME!!! I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!! YOU ARE A GOD!!!" and you just HAVE to feel better. Of course, it's a 50-50 thing with cats......it's either "OH BOY, THE PERSON WHO FEEDS ME IS HOME! LET ME RUB SOME FUR ON YOUR PANTS LEG TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!" or it's "OH, HAVE YOU BEEN GONE? I DIDN'T NOTICE. WELL, DON'T JUST STAND THERE, FEED ME! NOW!!!"

Even if you come out of the bathroom it's the second coming " YOU'RE BACK I KNEW YOU WERE COMING BACK OUT LET ME LICK YOU AND KISS YOU AND I"M SO VERY HAPPY YOU CAME BACK OUT!"
I'll repost one of my favorite videos
 

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