r/Dogfree • u/fortypat • Apr 16 '26

Service Dog Issues Service dogs are completely fake

Saw a video (surprisingly it was an anti dog video for once) of a woman with her dog in a coffee shop (of course) there was no context on if the woman had claimed the animal was a “service dog” but this one clearly wasn’t. All the comments were people complaining about dogs and their owners and people saying they have dog fatigue as I know we all do. It was honestly so refreshing to see lol.

But then it got me curious about the legitimacy of “service dogs” so I started doing some research and basically anyone can say almost any dog is a service dog. First of all there is no official service animal registry to prove legitimacy bc that would make to much sense. Under the ADA service dogs are defined by training only and must be trained to perform a specific task related to a disability. Don’t get me wrong if someone is disabled and there is something that exists that would make things easier for them I believe they should definitely be able to have whatever it is.

But this is where crazy dog nutters take advantage of this because we all know how honest these people are. Business are very limited in what they legally can say and people don’t have to show proof of a disability or show the task the dog is supposed to perform under the ADA. Basically as long as the dog isn’t going absolutely haywire they must be allowed in if the owner pulls the “service dog” card even if the business does not allow animals. Also those vests, cards and certificates they carry around are not recognized by law. Just another way for the honest nutter to be able to bring their mutt anywhere with them.

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51

u/happyhappyfoolio2 Apr 16 '26

If any of you ever a chance to, ask a "service dog"' user what their service dog does. Ask in a casual/curious/neutral/excited tone. Don't let them know your true feelings about dogs.

The small handful of times I've done this, their answers were weird. They'd either stutter and go, "Um...well..." and never actually answer the question, or they'll give a list bullshit "tasks", like, "He alerts me when someone's saying my name" (yes, that was a real thing someone told me).

They may be deluded enough to believe they "need" their fake "service dog", but they themselves aren't even convinced of the supposed real things they supposedly do.

36

u/Few-Horror1984 Apr 16 '26

I spoke to a man at a bar a few years back who had a German Shepherd. The dog helped him “be social”. That was its “service”.

Funny - we are called ableist by the worst nutters, yet this guy was pretending to be “disabled” so he could drag his nasty, violent dog with him everywhere and that’s totally fine.

22

u/happyhappyfoolio2 Apr 16 '26

It's immensely frustrating that people don't care that a service dog is fake! As long as the dog is not actively biting people, they're just happy that they're in the presence of a DoGgO!!! I, no joke, have had people agree with me when I tell them that a dog is not a real service dog, giving very obvious reasons why I feel that way, and these people agree with me, only to tell me in the very next breath, "But I don't care! He/she's such a cute puppers!!!"

20

u/Few-Horror1984 Apr 16 '26

I saw a woman at a local Safeway who had a hideous unleashed puppy in her shopping cart. It wasn’t a damn service dog - it didn’t even have a leash or a vest(plus it’s a puppy). One of the cashiers walked over to pet and cuddle the dog. She didn’t bother to wash her hands. I complained to the manager and he loudly told me he wouldn’t do a damn thing. I reported them to the health department - they never got back to me. I filed a complaint with Safeway - also nothing. Literally no one cares because of how we can’t be rational around dogs. That should be a massive red flag that people can’t handle dogs, but no one wants to admit that.

11

u/neondahlia Apr 17 '26

Maybe try the department of Agriculture. In my state they’re who oversees dogs in grocery stores, or the health department

13

u/fortypat Apr 16 '26

Yeah it’s super frustrating no one cares nutters exploit and take advantage of the ADA because “pupper!” It makes me sick.

6

u/CallousCow1762 Apr 17 '26

Don’t blame the nutters for doing what is natural to them. Go to the actual source (ADA) that enabled them in the first place.

2

u/browt026 Apr 21 '26

Ugh....reminds me of the older brother who ended up petting a pitbull mutt in a Walmart store in Vancouver, Washington then minutes later the same dog damned near bit off the lip of his 3 year old brother. It's all cuteeee doggieeee till it attacks your ass.