ESA Recognition
 

It's a shame ESA's aren't recognized for the good they do their owners. Gidget gives me so much emotional support. She goes with me everywhere. We go to church 3 times a week, she goes with me when I visit a nursing home near us, she goes grocery shopping, certain restaurants in the area let me bring her in and don't question her status. She's always in a rolling carrier and zipped in so she can't get out and brother anyone. She never barks or whines. Most people don't even realize a have a dog in the carrier. Because of her I no longer take Zoloft. BUT because she doesn't perform a specific task for me, she can only be recognized as an ESA. It's very frustrating.

Congrats! And I mean!, Congrats! for getting off your meds! Any time healthy things, eating, working out, better outlook, can stop us from taking meds! it is wonderful!


Katy came to me at THE best time....kinda. Ha Ha
We picked up Katy on a Saturday Night and the following Wend morning, my husband lost his job. Still, no money coming in.


I had asked, right away, if he wanted me to sell her....NO! He said. And for MY Health and Happiness, SHE HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING!


She is not only the regular puppy fun! But a great distraction from worry. Seriously. She has made a huge difference in how not having money coming in, has been for me.


Granted. I am stress eating. I have restless, sleepless nights. But every day I am out there walking my puppy, smiling and laughing with her, several times a day!


AND! For those of you that sew......another PLUS; You know all that fabric you have in tubs, all those craft items, lace and buttons and such.....I AM DIGGING INTO MINE FOR KATY! Ha Ha So THAT is a very positive thing too!


I am glad that most places of business, now, don't say anything when you come in with a dog. And the employees make a fuss over Katy when she goes. She is helping me/us thorough a rough time.....and that plays heavy on emotions.....


Like Gidget, Katy has a little carrier and I just set that down in my shopping cart...or take the Stroller to the Mall. She is very well behaved.



So Yes. I am with you on this.


I will say though.....I have seen people in stores with some OUT OF CONTROL DOGS, BARKING AND PULLING ON THEIR LEASHES, and I do not like that! Once at Golden Coral, buffet, a family had an out of control Pit Bull TIED TO THEIR TABLE while they went and got their food. It was pulling the table across the floor and barking LOUD! Um? No. One of you all, not one, could stay with your dog......go when the others got back?

Thanks, Marna. If I take her some place and am told she's not allowed because she's not a service dog, then we don't go back to that place. A well behave dog is not allowed in some places, but an out-of-control child has no problem staying in the restaurant, store, etc. There's something wrong with this picture. Have seen children standing up in booths at restaurants, screaming and having a tantrum, getting down on floor and crawling under seats and parents having to drag them back, still screaming and crying. When I take Gidget to the nursing home, I can lay her on a patient's bed and the patient will pet her until I pick her up and put her back in her stroller. Or she'll lay in a patient's lap and let the patient pet her. Again, she'll stay here until I pick her up and put her back in her stroller. She's had no training to be a therapy dog. It's just her nature. She loves people.

I agree.....I have never been told Katy could not come....but if I were....


Out of control children are bad! Out of control Parents and young adults....quite another. Seems to be more and more and more of these, ey?

It’s not necessarily the place of businesses fault but if they are a restaurant or sell open food they can get closed down or fined a lot of money letting dogs in that aren’t service dogs so they don’t really have an option. I know what you are saying though.

I've seen dogs in restaurants and wonder sometimes if they are really service dogs or are just being passed off by the owners as service dogs. If the owner says they are service dogs then the restaurant can't make them leave.

Sadly those people who lie are the ones who ruin it for the actual service dogs. I would not be surprised it they have to come up with better laws because of this at some point. I have seen many people in yorkie groups who lie and buy dresses and everything else that say service dog when they aren't. I believe in karma so I would hate to get the karma for lying about that stuff.

It would be great if well behaved ESA dogs could be allowed in places like restaurants. ESA dogs perform an emotional service for people who might otherwise be isolated when what they need most is to be able to lead normal lives.

Can't they get in trouble for doing that?

Yes. And I don't mind that. I have not taken Katy to a Restaurant.
There was suppose to be a push to STOP pets that are NOT Service Dogs....but I don't see that happening if a dog is well behaved.

If they are NOT laying down, UNDER the table and quiet....they are NOT Service Dogs. If they beg for food, are out in the isle, if they bark.....NOT SERVICE DOGS.

I breed GSD and two of our puppies were TRAINED REAL Service Dogs. I know the Training that goes into these dogs.



You can go to the Federal Service Dog website and read the Laws there. I do not have the link right now.


Support Dogs are NOT Service Dogs and do not have the same privileges. However, there are few people in today's world that care if a WELL BEHAVED dog is in a store or shop.

Let's all be honest. Although never proved/never admitted outloud.....MOST people that own dogs are 'supported' by their dogs in one way or another. Cats too. :rolleyes::teeth:

I do think there needs to be a category for Psychiatric services dogs.

It’s hard to prove it with the laws set in place but there I believe is supposed to be a big fine but not completely sure.

The issue is it’s very hard under the laws to call out fake service dogs.

Sadly even though we Know that, it’s not something a restaurant owner can necessarily call out. If the dog is being a distraction and misbehaving the restaurant owner is allowed to ask them to leave but most business owners feel that would cause a seen or with social media could fear that person would try to destroy their business.

I never said support dogs were service dogs. I know most of the laws surrounding service dogs. I won’t push the buttons at stores though that say no dogs allowed except service dogs. I just won’t take them in. Our Walmart has that sign and I still see people do it but I am a rule follower for the most part. A lot more places are getting outdoor eating areas that are dog friendly because the pet world is becoming bigger.

Falsely claiming a dog is a service dog is considered fraud and is illegal.
Lately most airlines, and many other places ask for some type of documentation. Generally it is a document from their physician regarding their disability or documentation for a formal service dog school.
These letters address the disability act standards as well as the air carrier laws specifically.
Like many things it may seem unfair but it is unfortunately the law that requires specific behaviors.

I just came home from Westminster Dog Show and the airlines was much more formal and specific with with my Service Dog and there were a number of show dogs flying as well that were very well behaved. My disability is more recognizable than some and I have less problems than some other folks. But they will only allow so many dogs on a flight.

There is. IF the dog performs a SERVICE to a person with a Health (mental included) Problem.....it is a Service Dog. However, I do not think, 'just being there with you', is considered a Service....even though we know that 'just being there' truly is a Service for many.

You all might get a Laugh out of this Educational Video....very short.
I put this on my Working German Shepherd Dogs, Service Dog page.....
I still giggle when I see it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Vb7y8Omf8

If a person is asked if their dog is a "service dog" and the owner says "Yes" I didn't think they could be asked for proof. A restaurant owner near me said he always took the word of the owner. Of course, if the dog barked, was fed from the owner's meal, then he would tell the owner not to come back. But he never questions the service dog status unless he is given a reason.

And yet.....
There are videos, websites, 'drs', backpacks and...... so that people are ABLE to fake it.


I have owned, trained and did some competing with Equine (horses, ponies, donkeys) and I STILL think Mini Ponies as Service Animals is the STUPIDEST THING! They are flight animals and so big! And NOT house brakeable. How this ever became legal, I will NEVER understand!


I think a lot of the Airlines Crackdown are people PUSHED that issue to included Peacocks and Turkeys..... more animals I know a bit about, <sighs> NOT Service Animals! And I have trained a lot of different birds! Ha Ha Who could blame the Airlines?



What a thrill that you were able to go to Westminster!

They can’t necessarily. They can ask what tasks the dog does but that’s it.

Just having Gidget with me seems to keep me under control. Sometimes I feel like I'm having a panic attack -- tightness in my chest, some lightheadedness, and a feeling of anxiety. When she look at me with those big brown eyes and wants to be in my lap, I gradually get back to normal. Without that, I would be on Zoloft again (which I don't want to take). So just her presence is a service to me.

Gidget is really a good girl! Indeed, many places still don't welcome pets and ESAs unless it's a trained service dog. This is understandable and reasonable, as some untrained dogs don't know how to behave probably in public and make some troubles for others. Although ESAs cannot accompany owners to anywhere like a service dog, at least, they can live with us and travel with us in the cabin. With more and more apartments setting "no pets" rules, landlords would evict our pets but it's illegal to refuse ESAs and service dogs under the FHA. My emotional support Yorkie helps me reduce lots of anxiety and stress though he cannot go along with me tp many places.

[QUOTE=Nikula;4799667]Gidget is really a good girl! Indeed, many places still don't welcome pets and ESAs unless it's a trained service dog. This is understandable and reasonable, as some untrained dogs don't know how to behave probably in public and make some troubles for others. Although ESAs cannot accompany owners to anywhere like a service dog, at least, they can live with us and travel with us in the cabin. With more and more apartments setting "no pets" rules, landlords would evict our pets but it's illegal to refuse ESAs and service dogs under the FHA. My emotional support Yorkie helps me reduce lots of anxiety and stress though he cannot go along with me tp many places.[/QUOTE

I'm with you on the emotional support they give us. We have several restaurants in our area that have outdoor seating. When the weather is nice and warm, these are wonderful for being able to eat at a restaurant. These places allow animals in the outdoor seating area.

In my neck of the woods, any place that has outdoor seating allow dogs, but they must be on a leash.

Here too. But I do not think the dogs can go in when the food is ordered, so getting the food could be an issue if the person was alone with their dog.

We have restaurants with outdoor seating, they take your order at the tables. I live in a tourist town, ski lodges / hotels, kayaking, canoeing, white water rafting, so there are many fine restaurants with outdoor seating and they all allow dogs. I do the drive thru of fast food places, Taco Bell, Wendy's places like that, they all have outdoor seating. I have the stroller with me. Of course I do this only in warm weather.