ESAs are not "service dogs" under the ADA title. [adata.org]
That's another avenue that's abused and gives legitimate animals a black eye.

Nobody is "pretending" anything other than the people who think it's ok to bring their untrained animal into an establishment that should be animal free.

Too much of this going on, whether you want to believe it or not.

@Qualia i didn't say they emotional support dogs were service dogs. i just said they were not fake service dogs. they are not delegitimized as a thing just because they're not service dogs. if they're wearing a vest they're fraudulent and should be reported. but the comments on the facebook page make it sound as if there should be no such thing as emotional support dogs! and i am sorry, but i have not seen any fake service dogs around and i see a lot of service dogs. all the ones i've seen are well behaved, obviously doing their jobs and helping their owners. that doesn't mean no one is abusing the system, but if it were rife, i think i'd have seen it.

g

@genessa Being in dog world myself I probably hear and see more of it than you.
But I suppose I can't count personal observation having any weight with you, the wayward husky in Meijers, the leash pulling GSP in Joann's just off the top of my head in the last few months.

@Qualia i am sure it happens. being in the dog world, you would see it more -- and that means you may see it as rampant because you're focused on it. i never said it didn't happen.

g

Did you read the link?
Why do people do this? Of course there are bigger problems but this is a growing trend, probably as a result of idiotic entitled trumpanzees.

The dog in the article above is now damaged because of another dog where is wasn't supposed to be. Hundreds of hours lost.
People with legitimate service dogs should not have to be concerned about idiots bringing their feral animals into a grocery store.

@Qualia Yes I understand fully and I too believe it is shameful but with just a few weeks before midterm elections I seem to have dropped all my minor or personal peeves and focus on loosing our nation. I am so wrapped up in the news cycle now as well as what is happening. I still must accept that churches in my neighborhood indeed preach politics of the right, my dog must be registered and not allowed into certain buildings,, that too many people still use pesticides on their lawn and this kills my dog. I do understand fully but at this point in time, i am concerned about the loss of our freedom to even speak up. I am not trying to disagree and I apologize it that is the way it comes off.

@EMC2
We're definitely on the same page politically and I too take great exception to lawn nazi culture with pesticides. (I live next to one!)

But if things like this strike you as too "princessy problems" in the grand scheme, sure I get it, except that it affects those with legitimate need for service dogs.

@Qualia l am thinking of my oldest daughter who is a pit bull rescue home and yet she believes Trump and is voting for him. And I say to her, treat the nation as if it were one of your dogs. Show that real love. She gets so upset over the bad rap bulls receive and this is my stimulus for my comment.

@EMC2 Bull breeds are a whole other topic.
10 times out of 11 the "it's how they're raised" type insists on owning them.

Their bad rap is there for a reason, just like my breed the doberman in the 70's. I would never discount someone's bad experience with one from that time period. They were too much dog and still retained a great deal of sharpness then, until the breeders softened them in essence "taking them back". That said they weren't a game dog like a pit. Mine was created to be a personal protection dog and companion.

Pits are "game dogs", bred to go after other animals for sport, and one never knows when the drive and at what or who is going to be the recipient.
Where would one find a long line of responsibly bred pits? From breeders who take their dogs back with contracts in place? ?
I know people get lucky with them but you couldn't give one to me for free, well maybe pay me a million dollars ? because that's what the insurance should be.

I should make clear I've a sort of "farmer" x "animal husbandry" POV on domestic animals. People do dumb things with them.

@Qualia Six years ago I rescued a Florida Black Mouth Cur, the SPCA tagger her as a Redbone Coonhound. She is a hunter and a wild woman but gently as her lover is, me.. People see her , such as Fed EX ,etc and will not get out of their vehicle until I walk out and show them she is cool. I feel sad for the dogs that are treated as service dogs and are not. Let the dog be who it is and never will it be NOT humans best friend

That's different.

My boy isn't scent trained but 'tells' me when I'm out of glucose Rx. Found this out quite by accident as I'm not terribly great at taking that one. He licks my feet when elevated, leaves them alone when normal.
(I'm borderline diabetic)

@Qualia for a long time I just thought my butters was being pushy and wanting attention. She would lick my hands all the time. We were walking in town on a busy road one day when she licked my hand. The light we were waiting for changed and as I tried to go out into the cross walk, she refused. I tried to convince her but the next thing I knew I was laying on the ground with her standing over me. The police had come and had their guns drawn and pointed at her. She was an American pit bull terrier and they thought she had hurt me. All ended well but I started listening to her better after that. She also started getting me snacks all the time. Lol even when I don't need them! I think she may have been trying to fatten me up!

this shit is rife and needs to be illegal.
Too many willfully stupid, entitled people have dogs, and "too much" dog.
I've seen it too. It's everywhere; grocery store, JOann FABRICS . Awful.

@Qualia the worst is when they bring them to a restaurant..uuuuggggh???

@Charlene oh not seen that yet. Although there are open airs around here that are dog friendly.

@Qualia it's disgusting..that restaurant would lose business if the mutt peed or pooped..I'd for sure walk out..