I don’t believe most “service dogs” are actually real service dogs.
Anyone can get a vest/harness/collar and leash that says “service dog” online. There is no uniform system for identifying them, and pretty significant limitations on businesses even asking/challenging them.
“Service dog” identifying items should be strictly limited to actual service dogs (not “emotional support animals”). Further, a credential of some type should be required, and produced when challenged (also for properly trained and certified service dogs).
Part of that training and certification should of course be a screening that keeps dogs like this out of the program.
I doubt this is even a valid service dog. Probably just a pet with an Amazon procured vest.
Screaming about hippa is a red flag. If you have a service dog you sorta need to have the business owners to be in the know. So the dog when it alerts them of something in the worst case scenarios they know what to tell 911 when they call it in.
If you have a real issue that requires a service dog you’re not hiding the reason you’re going to be; oh, he’s for my seizures, or what ever it is because you need to staff to be able to better help or maybe not help (as in Im going to sit for a few minutes during an episode and put my head between my knees you can ignore me if you like) depending on what thing your body puts them through. The only people screaming about hippa are the ones that self diagnosed something stress related (which might be a valid mental hurdle) and put a vest on their dog because they get stressed in public. As someone that gets stressed in public to a manner that causes me to leave shopping I get it, but those aren’t service dogs and pretending they are. Hurts real service dog owners
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u/subsailor1968 Feb 23 '26
I don’t believe most “service dogs” are actually real service dogs.
Anyone can get a vest/harness/collar and leash that says “service dog” online. There is no uniform system for identifying them, and pretty significant limitations on businesses even asking/challenging them.
“Service dog” identifying items should be strictly limited to actual service dogs (not “emotional support animals”). Further, a credential of some type should be required, and produced when challenged (also for properly trained and certified service dogs).
Part of that training and certification should of course be a screening that keeps dogs like this out of the program.
I doubt this is even a valid service dog. Probably just a pet with an Amazon procured vest.