Denise - that was a great post - I know Lisa and she IS a caring person and I think it did come out wrong - I've done that myself -

your story touched me - I totally agree - the love of a pet can make a big difference in the well being of many poor and lonely people...the elderly...the indigent ...and people like me and you -

I'm far from well off - I would sell my car to take care of my girls if necessary...BUT....the flip side is many cannot care for a pet nor know how - but that can happen in ALL walks of life -

I live in a middle class neighborhood and recently had to call the Houston Animal Cops to rescue a VERY neglected white lab mix - they HAD money - just let him get worse and worse and left him in the yard to die.

If I showed you the pictures I took ....you would be physically sick

....So money or no money - it's all in the heart of the person that dictates how their pet is treated.

I agree. :thumbup:

I know you're right Villette, I regretted it after posting. I don't post very much but some things just grab you. I did not mean to sound sarcastic (believe me, it can be in my nature), This whole thread was talking about service dogs and I did my part to lead it astray. Since coming across this site one night while up with my daughter months ago, it has become addictive like everyone here says. I think it is because everyone seems to know everyone else, a place of caring friends concerned for each other and their furry bundles of love. I always seem to come in on posts that make me smile or laugh and others tug at your heart. Mostly I just go to work with not a lot of time for a social life, but do not feel all that deprived. I have a magnitude of friends I can talk and listen to if I feel the need right here on this site. Have found them to be more sincere and thoughtful than a lot of people you see face to face. So have a great day friends..hug a tree or something. Life is good...Yes, I am known for my rambling, but I digress.
Hugs,
Denise

That was a nice post and I confess to getting off topic too - we usually DO say things out of passion sometimes that don't come out quite right - and I understand totally. We love ya !

Omg...wired...what a painful horrific childhood. Thank God he saw fit to send you some Angels! Animals feed starving hearts every day.....


Francie

Amen.

I posted a long, long reply to this thread and it didn't post -- of course.

I'll not repeat it but will post this link and encourage you to see that there is some positive notes about pets.

This is a link to the newspaper that I photograph sports for. The article is about what is happening at one of the shelters here in Houma, my hometown, 20 miles from where I now live.

http://houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...KING/509010318

Register so you can read it. You won't get spam, I promise.

Lisa

I cannot believe my eyes.

Does anyone know if 'service' animals and 'therapy' animals are considered the same? I really want to have Mia & Max get trained for therapy. My FIL had parkinson's and really had no love for animals before, but when he got bad, he had an imaginary 'cat'. Obviously, was one of my persians that he had had quite a disdain for in 'real life', but he would get down on the floor, call this ones name and play with the imaginary cat.

My Mother had alzheimers and we had a similar experience. I would love to be able to bring them into nursing homes/hospitals for the elderly as they are small and most that we've encountered in both are large dogs.

Any suggestions?

thanks

Therapy dog and service dogs are not considered the same.

Service dogs are trained to do specific service for people that have a disability. Even if you have a dog that can qualify as a service dog, it isn't one unless you or someone that owns the dog is in need of that service.

Therapy dog are trained and tested(obedience and temperment) so they can provide confort/therapy to people in places such as nursing home, hospitals, etc...

Maybe she didn'tr mean to be mean but it hurt my heart to hear someone talk about other people like that. I was also a child with second handed everything and all i had for friends was the little stray puppies my mom and dad would pick up on the side of the road. That is why i am such a dog lover today. I can relate to animals sometimes a lot better than people because they were the only friends i had as a child sometimes.I hope Lisa searches inside herself and hopefully she didn't mean the things she said. I'm still considered poor to some people. but i am living like a Queen as far as i'm concerned. I have food, clothing, hot water money to take care of my dogs and myself. I thank my Sweet Lord for that every day.He is my King and will make things right for these poor unfortunate people who I consider to be my brothers and sisters

Yorkiagility is correct and another difference is only service animals are granted access as humans are since they are assisting a disable person. Therapy dogs do not have the same public accesss privileges.

I just hope that any of you considering to making your dog a service dog that you don't take advantage of that to let your dog into all places that service dogs are allowed if you DON'T need them.

I think it is a wonderful service for those in need, but if we all go out and take advantage of the system that was set up for the disabled, it is the disabled that will suffer.

I am trying to train my baby for a therapy dog, to help lift the spirits of those who need it... yes my dog will go into places that a pets normally don't go... ie:hospitals, nursing homes.. but it won't be for me per say, it will be for those that my lilly brings a smile to their face.

I am just getting started in this, she is just a pup.. and I am starting the training.

Anyways, I just had to voice my .02 since I get the feeling that things that are ment for those that need it, may be taken advantage of by those who don't.

When you are disabled, you appreciate things more, your abilities more when you get them back if you are lucky enough, and having walked a mile (should I say w/c'd a mile (100's of miles) in a disabled person shoes) I can really relate to those in need, and felt the need to speak up... we don't want to ruin it for those who need it, please remember that.

Generally when a storm like a hurricane approaches, people have time to move out of the danger zone... you can post in your home you have pets in case of a fire ect... please don't take advantage of what was set up for those in need, if you don't need.

off my soapbox.....

VERY WELL SAID - minniemn....I DO think dogs provide us with many things and Service Dogs are invaluable to those who need them - I think you just hit a great point (which accounted for the joke by me) that ....YES for certain people they are fantastic .....but turning a dog into a Service Dog just so one can bring them everywhere makes it harder for those who really need them as assistants in their lives.

Good luck in your training !

From reading some of the replies, some members may have the idea that I have a silver spoon in my mouth. Let me say that I do not.

I will not go into the drama of what my family went through during my childhood because I don't feel the need to sow my sob stories. We were not a well-to-do family. We didn't have anything extra. We didn't go on vacation. We did not evacuate for storms. Yes, we had dogs in my childhood but looking back should we have had them? Probably not, in all honesty.

Now -- to be back on topic . . . I would like to applaud Minnie for her response. I've stated the same on other occassions.

Lisa

Thanks Lisa and Villette, I remember talking about this before, I can't remember who with (I suffer from CRS... can't remember s***) anyways... I posted and didn't know if I should duck, or not... but it is just my opinion, and who am I anyways? Just another yorkie lover... animal lover. :)

I have CRS too but it comes and goes.... :D I think we've had many threads about this - I haven't posted in any myself or then again maybe I have...man...that CRS is hitting again. :)

Gandhi said, "The morality of a country can be judged by the way it treats its animals."
I find it reprehensible that people are being forced to leave their pets behind regardless of their socioeconomic status. I find the inaction of that person who (JMO) unfortunately runs this country also reprehensible. He is the president of the free world - if he wanted those people to have water and food, they would. Plain and simple. I work with some veterans who are also appalled at that evil man's (again, JMO) failure to mobilize the resources available to air drop food and water and to evacuate those in New Orleans. The guys here tell me the military has the ability to erect massive sheltering structures in a matter of hours, the ability to have done plenty, but chooses not to. Perhaps it is this regime's view as well that the people there are not worthy.
Back to the topic - it is not up to me to judge the form, nature or validity of a person's disability. Nor is it up to me to judge whether or not or how their animal might be of "service" in living and functioning with said disability.

Kim, keep up the good work.
Dana

Well said Tucks Mom. I agree 100%. I think service dogs are wonderful. I used to take my Brittainy to see my clients at Freedom Village in Florida. I didn't have yorkies then. This is a place for assisted living, when i used to be a CNA and workd for homehealth agency.I have a buldging disk now and can't lift. I am a Christian and I am also a Democrat! Some preachers think this is inpossible.oops! off subject. I have thought about taking my sugar to nursing homes because she is so loving to everyone.Loves to give kisses. Would that be a service dog?

Big Dog- that would be a therapy dog... service dogs help the blind, people with ms... ect (they help with many disabilities) Therapy dogs, visit hospitals, nursing homes ect to visit with the people there, and bring a smile to their face....

Tucks mom- I am in no way judging the validility of anyone having a service dog for their disabilities... I am how ever being judgemental of those who have a service dog just so they can take their dogs into all places, where most dogs can't go, when the owners are not disabled. That is what my .02 was about.... service dogs do a great service to those that need them, but those that get their dog a "service dog" status so they can take them wherever they want to is just plain wrong.

I would never judge a disabled person, 'service dogs" are for them, not for those who just want to bring their dogs where ever they want to, and use the title to be able to do it legally... (but totally unethical)

If you certified Sugar and took her to nursing homes she would be considered a therapy dog NOT service dog.

That was a good site!Good to hear the pets are getting care. Hope eventually they get back with their families.

She loves people so much and The dissabled and elderly in the nursing homes seem to love all the dogs. I think she would make an excellant therapy dog.

I disagree that making your dogs service dogs would somehow "ruin it" for the "truly" disabled. There is no detriment to anyone...there is NO negative to anyone making their dog a service dog. There is not a "limit" or some such thing on the number of service dogs allowed in this country or anything. The law is broadly stated to allow "anyone with a qualifying disability" to have a service dog. It is so broad because we all know the healing and intuitive qualities as well as the unconditional love and how valuable that is to a person's health. This has been scientifically proven.

To state that you would be taking this privilege away from someone else somehow if you did it is simply not accurate.

I believe well behaved and trained dogs should be allowed everywhere and we have a law in place that allows all disabled people, no matter how severe, to have their dogs assist them in any way they can. There is no harm in taking advantage of what that law allows for the benefit of you and the dog.

I was agreeing with Tucks mom about our leader, but thats just my opinion, I do believe service dogs are wonderful. I was in a shelter once with a blind lady and a one year old child and she had a Lab service dog. He was great with her and that baby. Don't know what she would have done without him.

There is no one on here who would suggest that anyone be so dishonest as to lie about their dog being a service dog. I just think that people do not realize what a "qualifying disability" includes and that they and their dogs can benefit from the healing powers of having them with them all the time.

I know this is true from the comments that have been made whenever I address this issue here and people who thought it was "only seeing eye dogs" who qualify.

I feel it is my duty as a dog lover and a human being who wants to make life as comfortable as possible for anyone suffering from a life altering disability on a daily basis, no matter what it is, to let them know about this law.

In light of the tragedy of all the pet deaths in the wake of this disaster, I felt again the need to remind people that it can benefit their beloved pet as well in some emergency situations.

If you have a qualifying disability, wouldn't you want to make your dogs and or dogs service animals so that in the event of a natural disaster for which there was no ability to pre plan and prepare, you could save your dogs' life?

There are people on here everyday who talk about "sneaking" their dogs into places and I do not negatively judge those who do this, and neither has anyone else, so why the uproar and negative posts about service dogs? I am confused. :confused:

I am also in agreement regarding our unfortunate and so out of touch President. It has only added to this tragedy. If it had been Florida or Texas the repsonse would have been much different. So sad.

Amen to that