Yorkie Service Dogs I read about this topic on this Yorkie talk site, that people were tired of being asked to leave a place of business or cafe etc. Well I have to Yorkies and they are 3lbs and 5lbs. and I got tired of it also. My dogs are so trained in obiedence that they work just on a signal from the hand.So the next best thing I did was have my 2 Yorkies ceritified as Therapy dogs. Now they go everywhere with me. The best thing is when I'm in a restaruant and no one can say a word to me. My dogs are cleaner than the people go to eat at some of them. Tucker and Lexi are the best little Yorkies; |
How did you get them certified as Therapy dogs? What kind of paperwork or testing did they have to go through? |
does being certified as a therapy dog mean they can go in restaurants?? i thought it was only service dogs.. welcome to YT!! |
TELL US MORE PLEASE!!! I've been so lucky ... I'm surprised almost daily at how welcome my little guy is everywhere ... of course I don't take him to restaurants or grocery stores ( yet ;) )... but the fact is I've stopped eating out almost altogether and I order groceries online and have them delivered lol ...:p .. I ran into a woman at the mall today whose little mini pin is a therapy dog too ... she had her certified by K-9 citizen something or other ... ??? I need to do this so he can travel on my lap on the airplane and go out to eat too! |
I sure hope that none of you do this. The most important piece of information you need to know about therapy dogs is what they are not. Therapy dogs are not service or "assistance" dogs. Service Animal means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, perform their tasks by invitation. --- They are invited and go to hospitals, nursing homes, etc. to perform their wonderful work as therapy dogs. And, they are often invited to schools to educate young people about the work that they do. Hospitals and some nursing homes require a lot of paperwork before a therapy dog sets foot in their facility-- and this same facility will allow any person with a disability to enter with his or her service dog. If you are able bodied and don't have a disability -- you are not allowed to take your dog (even a therapy dog) anywhere that other people's dogs aren't allowed. ----------- If you have a therapy dog - and have found that people will let you take it into public places -- it's only because they don't really understand the difference. They may let you and your dog in - not knowing they shouldn't, but if you aren't handicapped - your dog shouldn't be there. ------------- I sure hope people don't take advantage of the wonderful work that service dogs and therapy dogs do --- to find a way to get their pets into places where they aren't allowed. This is not being a responsible pet owner - and it's certainly is not being a responsible or honest person. We have had people here on YT with disabilities who use service dogs that have said people's falsifying what their dogs are only makes it more difficult for the handicapped people who really need them. Hopefully - none of us will stoop this low. Carol Jean |
:welcome4: to YorkieTalk. |
I have to agree with Carol Jean on this .....I think it's great if someone has a certified Therapy dog - and actually works in the community - :thumbup: but I disagree with making a dog a "Service" (or Therapy) dog just to take them shopping etc. It takes away from the real service dogs who are needed for the handicapped.... There are plenty of dog friendly places and more opening every day - I think we all need to think of those who are truly handicapped before making a decision like this - If EVERYONE made their small dogs Service Dogs - what's the point of the REAL ones ? The Handicapped of the world already have it rough - let's not make their lives harder. |
and PS...Our yorkies ARE cute and small - but it shouldn't give them special treatment - how would you guys like to walk into a restaurant and see nothing but small dogs at the tables ? I personally would LOVE it - but most people would NOT love it. There should be a VALID REASON someone has a Service / Therapy Dog - and being able to take them in restaurants is not one of them. Sorry to the original poster of this Thread - but we all need to do our part with our small dogs ...and trying to beat the system shouldn't be a priority. Besides.....Due to their size - we already ARE able to take them plenty of places if we choose ....no need for certification unless there is a reason for it. |
Ok vette and Carol Jean .. point well taken ... but I really want to do this ... My dog is so great with people ...SO friendly and well-mannered... he is such a love ... I'd LOVE to be able to take him to the Children's hospital or nursing homes .. I feel selfish not sharing him with people who could benefit from his warmth and sweetheartedness!(is that a word?) I can't even tell you ( prolly don't need to) how many people stop me when we're out somewhere ... and smile SO BIG when he kisses them ...Mostly older folks and little ones ...Yesterday an elderly couple at the mall played with him for 10 minutes and thanked me profusely for " making their day" ... ANother woman with a little boy whose sister is allergic to dogs ... asked me to let him pet ozzie for a bit ... " he never gets to play with dogs and he loves them" she said ... The bonus part would be having him on my lap on the plane and some special treatment in places where dogs can't usually go ... |
What some of you are referring to is an Emotional Support Animal. Not a therapy dog. Legislation has been put in place that would allow some people with an emotional need or mental illness the right to house an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) in “no pet” housing. In other words, if my landlord doesn’t allow pets in my building but I have an emotional need for the animal, be it a dog, cat, gerbil…if I can provide the proper documentation he has to let me have the animal. This has also been a saving grace for many college students who deal with Mental Illness and would not otherwise be able to live on their own in a college setting. These ESA’s are being allowed to accompany their owners when they go other places as well. Sometimes something as small as a gerbil makes all the difference in the world. The Emotional Support Animal legislation has not been put into place so that people who are miffed over not being able to bring their doggie’s into cafes now have some sort of “legit” reason to bend the rules. I am one crazy chick. My formal diagnosis is: Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychosis NOS, Acute Anxiety…and a couple of other personality disorders that like to tag along. I struggle everyday of my life with many medications and side effects from those drugs, the effects of intensive weekly talk therapy and the endless fear of not knowing what tomorrow will bring. I have a wonderful support system and my life has been stable now (without hospitalization) for three years. But it is not easy. I work so hard to live a “normal” life, to not have hallucinations, to remember to take my meds…even when they make me gain 50 pounds and cause my hair to fall out. It’s HARD. Dog have always been wonderful support to me and help more than I could possibly express with my anxiety. I would love to have an ESA, but I cannot. I could probably drop one of my medications entirely if I had an animal at home with me all the time. But, I cannot. Because people think it is a joke. I have been waiting and waiting to move for months now. Why am I moving…because I want to have my little Yorkie. Because I love dogs, but also because they reduce the quantity and severity of panic attacks that I have when I am home alone. My landlord does not “buy into” the “whole Emotional Animal Support thing” because he knows of people who pretend to have “therapy animals” for the sole purpose of sneaking them into cafes and boutiques in our areas. He will bring me to court if I try to have an ESA in my house. I consider it a slap on the face to people like me, who suffer from severe and debilitating mental illness every day, who could really benefit from an Emotional Support Animal…who can’t have one or are laughed at because it’s basically a joke due to the abuse of this new legislation. It’s horrible that someone would pretend to have an emotional/mental disorder because they think that it’s not fair that they can’t bring their Yorkie everywhere with them. That is like pretending to be handicapped so that you can park closer to the mall because it’s more convenient for you. When I had my little doggie a few years back, she came everywhere with me that I could possibly take her. I did get kicked out of a Wal-Mart once, but I honestly thought I could take her there. I understand that these animals are like our children…but there are people out there with a legitimate need for support from their animals. Just think about it. The more people abuse the ESA, the less people with a legitimate need can benefit from Emotional Support Animals. I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad, I’m just trying to shed some light on the fact that there are some people who need there animals…not just because it’s super annoying to have to leave them home sometimes...but because they simply fall apart sometimes when they are alone. Think about the person who, out of nowhere, thinks there house is about to burn down or starts to have trouble breathing and panics…this person could really use the presence of an animal. Just, be nice. Find another way. Don’t abuse this…it really could make it hard for other people. Thank you. And, again, I love it here. I love all the people here, I think you are all the sweetest people around and the love that you all obviously have for your animals makes me smile every time I come here. I’m not trying to make anyone mad, I’m just trying to show you the flip-side to this coin. :( Edit to add: I realize that some of yo uare talking about certifying your dogs as therapy dogs...I assure you, ceritfying your dog as a "therapy dog" when he really is not does the same thing when it comes to making it harder for people with a legitimate need. It all ends up under the same catigory. |
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and Natsky - ALL THE BEST TO YOU - You are one of the reasons I posted as I did - IF THERE IS A LEGIT Reason - YES they're awesome and a huge help to the handicapped & Disabled - but if this is abused by people who just want to 'take' their dogs out ...then they really need to rethink their reasons and remember what the Certification is really for. |
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Thank you very much. Looking back on what I posted I'm a bit embarrassed. I didn't mean for it to be a sob story...I am truly blessed in my life and am happy and glad to be alive! But there are tons of people who's struggle would be greatly diminished if they were allowed an ESA. So many people have laughed at me....LAUGHED at me about this!! They think people who try to have ESA's are just trying to get a "free pass" to take their dogs everywhere. AAgghg..it drives me crazy. But I don't blame anyone for wanting to bring their poochies everywhere...who wouldn't want to!! They're all so cute and make such good shopping and dining companions! |
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Let me also say "Shame on people" who laugh or abuse the system and I can only say "what goes around, comes around". People have to move from "it's about me" to helping change the way we view our animals in our everyday world by legal means (get legislation changed) and not abusing a system that is trying to help people overcome many difficulties. Now I will say this in regards to flying with your small animals - shame on the airlines for trying to make a lot of $$$ by charging $80 one way to fly your pet with you. Good gracious, if I am not over on the allowed carry on luggage then why should I have to pay $160 round trip to fly a 3 pound dog that will fit under the seat. It is situations like this that cause people to try and cheat the system. I also know that many times I would love to take one of my little ones when I am doing my errands but I can't because of different stores I run in and out of. I totally get that the rules should be the same for everyone. I love that members here would like to learn more about having their dogs be certified therapy dogs and working through the process. I think it is wonderful when people do this so they can bring joy and happiness to people in hospitals or senior homes. Maybe one day, as a society, we will all understand the true value of animals in our daily life and the wonderful things they do to help us enjoy living. Maybe then I will no longer have to rescue one more dog. |
Cindy - GREAT Post and very well said - You're so right about the airlines -they want to make a buck off people and DO because they CAN. But it doesn't mean people should try to beat the system just because we don't agree with it. Which goes right back to making a dog a Service dog unless someone really is disabled. You just brought up some very interesting things for people to think about when they hear the words ...Service vs Therapy Dogs. This has been an enlightening thread - :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: and Cindy......I too wish you NO MORE Rescues.... but we both know that won't happen in our lifetime.:( :( :( |
No more rescues would be nice...sadly, I think you guys are right, we\'re a long way off. I think before our culture gets to a point where we can value animal life, we\'re going to have to learn to value ourselves and each other. People can\'t even treat other humans with respect, how can we imagine people would treat animals with respect. We treat animals like they are things...and we all know how people treat "things". When I think about how some people treat animals...it hust rips me apart. Can you imagine, just being neglected and abused and disposed of?? It\'s a shame and it\'s criminal and I don\'t think I\'m being dramatic when I say that stronger charges should be brought against people who mistreat animals. :( |
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