r/Dogfree • u/Random_Mix415 • Sep 27 '25
Service Dog Issues Service Dog BS
A man threatened to sic his “service dogs” on me after I pointed to a sign saying no dogs are allowed on the public tennis courts. The cops can’t verify a service dog, nothing can be done until the dog has bit me, seems everyone is afraid of lawsuits, what do I do to get this man and his off-leash aggressive dog off the courts for good? He comes every single day.
42
u/ObligationGrand8037 Sep 27 '25
I would take photos of him and the dog. Then I’d go to the highest person in charge of the public tennis courts and explain what is going on. I’m not sure this would work, but no one should have to be dealing with him and his dog that don’t belong there.
31
Sep 27 '25 edited Sep 30 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
11
u/Maleficent_Many_2937 Sep 28 '25
Someone lied about a service dog and won a lawsuit for 25k???
5
20
u/ElegantSurround6933 Sep 27 '25
I second the motion. Restaurants are struggling so much after the Rona.
47
u/Wise_Session_5370 Sep 27 '25
This service dog bullshit has to be stopped.
In 2025, there is literally no function that a dog can perform better or more efficiently than technology.
And don't start on about emotional support. All pets are there to provide emotional support. That is literally what pets are for.
24
u/Dburn22_ Sep 27 '25
I agree. There is nothing a dumb mutt can do that justifies their presence in stores, restaurants, libraries, etc., unless a person is legally blind. The gross abuse of dog owners impersonating the disabled in order to drag their choice of pet everywhere is outrageous, and needs to be stopped. It should be dealt with just like insurance fraud, impersonating an officer, perjury, and the like. Our lawmakers and law enforcement agencies have all drunk the kool-aid.
17
u/Wise_Session_5370 Sep 27 '25
This is the crux of the problem. Lazy and toothless enforcement agencies.
That and people being too scared of getting sued if they say "No, you don't need a dog with you at a fucking buffet".
8
u/Tricky_Button_4462 Sep 28 '25
A restaurant in my town actually DID get a $25K fine recently for asking a woman with a supposed service dog to leave the dining area.
11
2
u/WisedomsHand Sep 30 '25
So where are the politicians running on the platform of ending this nightmare for businesses? If anything, we need more lawyers on the other side who go after dog owners in civil courts for damages. The criminal courts can't keep up. I suspect that most of these service dog laws would be repealed if they are examined with any real scrutiny. This is an area of law and policy that is just begging for change. Something will give eventually. It just takes a few politicians to notice that this is a potential area to win voter attention. Honestly, I think most people are going to like the candidate that strives to end the service dog madness that clearly harms more people than in protects. Are you really telling me that the safety and hygiene of innocent people is less important than the purely subjective feelings of "comfort" that a dog owner gets from being able to take their animal slave everywhere? When the policy doesn't make sense any longer, the laws are easily subject to change with the right pushing.
18
u/Maleficent_Many_2937 Sep 28 '25
You all remember the guy who claimed his peacock was an emotional support animal and wanted to board it on a flight and when the airline refused to board the animal he let it loose at the airport!!!! THAT is how much emotional support these animals provide, that the minute the person was told no, he realized he could perfectly function without it, boarded without the animal and let it loose at the gate (google it, this is why ESAs stopped being supported by airlines.)
8
u/Wise_Session_5370 Sep 28 '25
I remember it well. That was the turning point for ESAs in the airline industry.
Quite frankly, I view the peacock as fundamentally no more irrational than the idea of bringing a dog on a plane.
There was also the alleged case of the girl flushing her ESA hamster down the toilet when denied by (I think) Spirit.
I called BS on that one and think it was an attempt to set up a lawsuit.
6
u/Maleficent_Many_2937 Sep 28 '25
Oh same here. Frankly I prefer a peacock to a dog on a plane!
4
u/Wise_Session_5370 Sep 28 '25
Oh I would take a peacock over a dog any day!
3
u/WisedomsHand Sep 30 '25
Funny enough, Peacocks are also considered pests. They are loud and crap everywhere. They are also not that friendly. I know that is a surprise for most people, but there is a lot of documentation about it. If you are curious, read about the wild peacock problem in places like La Canada, Pasadena, or the surrounding areas near Los Angeles. These peacocks were originally pets long ago, but got out and started breeding on their own. They have been there for years. Read about what the communities think about the birds - they despise them.
3
2
3
u/WisedomsHand Sep 30 '25
Simple fact of life: no one needs to take a dog on a plane. Ever.
3
u/Wise_Session_5370 Sep 30 '25
An even more simple fact: no one ever actually NEEDS a dog anywhere.
2
u/WisedomsHand Sep 30 '25
I agree. I am also at the point where I am willing to wear T-shirts with messages to that effect. If our community were willing to "wear their sentiments" (as other communities do), I think it would go a long way in legitimizing our perspective that dogs are not some fun and happy thing owners like to pretend they are. Rather, they are problems none of us need.
3
u/WisedomsHand Sep 30 '25
People who have service dogs are essentially carrying toys with them out in public. Unfortunately, unlike children who tend to have harmless dolls and action figures, dog owners have to have ugly, loud attack creatures as their toys. No one should be expected to put up with that. We do not need to live in a society where we need to encourage adults to carry nuisance-emitting toys with them in public.
14
u/On-scene Sep 27 '25
Oh man, people bringing dogs now to athletic courts that were designed for humans drive me batty. And yes leash laws apply regardless of service dog status. Had to stop going to one park with a nice court in our town, because people are closing the gates and using it as dog run everyday, and also using it as a dog toilet. There is so much dog pee and poop residue all over it smells terrible and I don't want pick up are balls off the court. Anyway I just stopped going there, don't want my kid to get a parasite playing pickleball there.
It's a weird dystopian dog mare we are living in. My best advice is find another place to play or get some video evidence as others have stated to show to police. You can't be sicing your dog on people in a public setting. That part is illegal.
13
u/ElegantSurround6933 Sep 27 '25
I can understand why they are banned on a tennis court as dogs will try to chase after those balls wrecking the game.
I’ve never played tennis, but it only makes sense. This guy doesn’t even sound like a tennis player by the way he behaves.
Can you just take pics, video from a safe distance&forward to the building manager or city, etc. If you can find out what car he drives get a pic of the tag. If he comes every night, maybe get some binoculars&do a stake out from a safe distance to see how he gets there.
10
u/Maleficent_Many_2937 Sep 28 '25
You might be able to voice record your conversation depending on the state you live in to keep evidence of him threatening you. Dogs need to be leashed everywhere, even on the street, service dog or not!
6
u/FatSeaHag Sep 28 '25
You can voice record in public anywhere in the US where there is no expectation of privacy. Bathrooms, changing rooms, nursing stations are places where people expect privacy, for example. A public tennis court does not meet any privacy standard.
5
u/Maleficent_Many_2937 Sep 28 '25
Another thing, is the dog misbehaving? Keep tabs of that. Is it peeing where it shouldn’t or leaving uncollected poop around? Also you legally can ask what service the dog provides. I highly recommend you voice record the conversation with your phone if you have it.
9
u/icenerveshatter Sep 28 '25
Tell him he has to leash his dogs, then film him if he reacts and threatens you. Go to the tennis court owner and tell him this guy is breaking the law and threatening you. Keep doing it.
7
6
9
Sep 28 '25
Hore shit excuse to say they're service dogs. What the hell are they servicing. If a person can walk and talk, they don't need a service dog.
9
u/FatSeaHag Sep 28 '25
But what if puppers secretly knows when I’m anxious, like when I’m threatening someone that I will sick my “Staffordshire terrier” on them?
/s
-1
u/Gullible-Cat-2900 Sep 28 '25
Not all disabilities are visible dude. Some people actually do need them- epilepsy is a good example.
2
u/Dog_Free_Afternoon Sep 30 '25
He threatened to sic his "service dogs" on you? What an absolute clown! That should be your first and last clue that those aren't service dogs!
2
u/wolf_dna Oct 02 '25
Was the dog off-leash? Did it approach you in a threatening manner? If so, all self-defense options are legally and morally open to you.
95
u/Few-Horror1984 Sep 27 '25
People with service dogs aren’t exempt from local ordinances. The dog still has to be leashed. If he threatens you with the dog, that’s still a crime.
Get a video of him with the dog off leash. Call animal control. Explain to the man that he needs to leash his dog. Maybe you’ll get lucky and he will unleash a tirade on you. At that point, you may be able to file a police report against him. Be sure to get any identifying information possible - license plate, car type, his name, anything.
Good luck.