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PSA for peeps
7 years ago
I know for the most part fluffles around here are very open about service dogs but just needed to word vomit a bit cuz I'm still stressing out.
By no means should you ever try an invalidate someone's service dog. If you think someone has a fake one be brave and just freaking ask if they're an ADA approved type of service dog. Anyone who's ever had to do anything to get a service dog correctly/even an ESA correctly will be able to plainly state yes or no. If someone looks confused gently ask about if they know the difference. Seriously... Education is the biggest thing people need on this not passive aggressiveness.
I say this because someone saw me go into a store with my service dog. He has his own cart because FDA doesn't allow service pups in carts (for valid reasons) and mine is small and gets tired/cold feet/does better on longer outtings in his basket. Why not carry him? Simple, I can't, my back doesn't allow me to carry him for long periods of time.
Said stranger left a note on my car complaining about "people like you" trying to pass off "your pet" as a service dog... Like dude no. I did a lot, An F-ing lot, to first get my pooch as an ESA by the correct means, no online pay and get papers shipped. Then never intended to have him become a service dog but through a series of events he proved to have that ability and allowed me to live a much much better life... Had they taken the two seconds to ask they would have learned. YES he's a real service dog. Heck I'd even tell him his specific tasks... Not all disabilities are visible... I plaster his identifiers everywhere because he's suppose to be recognized as such and left alone unless I allow it (if I'm having a good day I will so I can educate people about how most have jobs that make saying hello a strict now and then go into how some are even alert dogs who if you distract can harm the person by missing a que).
I know a lot of people with service dogs too... For different reasons... All of which are different from my own and they even agree this person was out of line.
By no means should you ever try an invalidate someone's service dog. If you think someone has a fake one be brave and just freaking ask if they're an ADA approved type of service dog. Anyone who's ever had to do anything to get a service dog correctly/even an ESA correctly will be able to plainly state yes or no. If someone looks confused gently ask about if they know the difference. Seriously... Education is the biggest thing people need on this not passive aggressiveness.
I say this because someone saw me go into a store with my service dog. He has his own cart because FDA doesn't allow service pups in carts (for valid reasons) and mine is small and gets tired/cold feet/does better on longer outtings in his basket. Why not carry him? Simple, I can't, my back doesn't allow me to carry him for long periods of time.
Said stranger left a note on my car complaining about "people like you" trying to pass off "your pet" as a service dog... Like dude no. I did a lot, An F-ing lot, to first get my pooch as an ESA by the correct means, no online pay and get papers shipped. Then never intended to have him become a service dog but through a series of events he proved to have that ability and allowed me to live a much much better life... Had they taken the two seconds to ask they would have learned. YES he's a real service dog. Heck I'd even tell him his specific tasks... Not all disabilities are visible... I plaster his identifiers everywhere because he's suppose to be recognized as such and left alone unless I allow it (if I'm having a good day I will so I can educate people about how most have jobs that make saying hello a strict now and then go into how some are even alert dogs who if you distract can harm the person by missing a que).
I know a lot of people with service dogs too... For different reasons... All of which are different from my own and they even agree this person was out of line.
