Fake Svc Dogs a Growing Problem
Clicky I find it sad that people feel the need to abuse the system. One would think they would be grateful they are physically well enough to perform their own tasks. Trained service dogs are s...
Forum Discussion
doxiemom11:
The issue with having vests available only through the organization that trains a service dog is that many service dogs do not come through organizations. Because of the long wait time and high cost, many service dogs are now trained by owners and/or basic dog trainers. My dog, for example, showed a huge inclination for helping me. I have congenital malformation of my knees. I was slowly unable to do the mountain hiking that I love. My dog began helping me more and more, leaning into me and adjusting his bracing to my needs. I have worked in the veterinary field for years, and one of my clients was at the clinic when I was chatting about this strange new behavior. She is a dog trainer, and offered to do an evaluation. It turns out he was helping me, instinctively. She worked with us both (mainly me...Cole knew what he was doing), and within a few months we were back to hiking my beloved mountains. I have another client who custom makes service vests for mobility dogs, as she was unable to find one she liked for her dog. Cole now has a custom made mobility vest which he wears when I need help. I have less need of his assistance since I have had bilateral knee replacement, which has helped, but could not completely repair my problems. I never would have been able to afford to pay for a service dog, and even if I could, the wait was years. By then, who knows where I would have been. My activity level was what kept me going, even with the problems I had. I know of several pretend service dogs, and I have taken the time to talk to these people. For now, however, I would prefer to keep things the way they are. I have had management confront me. I use these as education opportunities. I always keep a copy of the law and guidelines to hand over, am upfront about my issues, and am pleasant and friendly. Most days I am great, but some days I just need a little help, and I do not want to have the government putting my independence at risk. I have never used my problem as an excuse, never filed for disability, never looked for a hand out. I want to leave it that way!!
The issue with having vests available only through the organization that trains a service dog is that many service dogs do not come through organizations. Because of the long wait time and high cost, many service dogs are now trained by owners and/or basic dog trainers. My dog, for example, showed a huge inclination for helping me. I have congenital malformation of my knees. I was slowly unable to do the mountain hiking that I love. My dog began helping me more and more, leaning into me and adjusting his bracing to my needs. I have worked in the veterinary field for years, and one of my clients was at the clinic when I was chatting about this strange new behavior. She is a dog trainer, and offered to do an evaluation. It turns out he was helping me, instinctively. She worked with us both (mainly me...Cole knew what he was doing), and within a few months we were back to hiking my beloved mountains. I have another client who custom makes service vests for mobility dogs, as she was unable to find one she liked for her dog. Cole now has a custom made mobility vest which he wears when I need help. I have less need of his assistance since I have had bilateral knee replacement, which has helped, but could not completely repair my problems. I never would have been able to afford to pay for a service dog, and even if I could, the wait was years. By then, who knows where I would have been. My activity level was what kept me going, even with the problems I had. I know of several pretend service dogs, and I have taken the time to talk to these people. For now, however, I would prefer to keep things the way they are. I have had management confront me. I use these as education opportunities. I always keep a copy of the law and guidelines to hand over, am upfront about my issues, and am pleasant and friendly. Most days I am great, but some days I just need a little help, and I do not want to have the government putting my independence at risk. I have never used my problem as an excuse, never filed for disability, never looked for a hand out. I want to leave it that way!!
