Just like it is not okay to pretend to have any kind of disorder, it is definitely not okay to fake having a service dog. Service dogs are professionals. They have been trained their whole lives to save people. It is not a joke. However, lately, people have gone as far as faking certificates to show that their dog is a service dog.
We get that your dog makes you feel better, but that does not mean that it is a service dog. Service dogs are trained to handle emergencies for their disabled owners. One service dog trainer has had enough of these fake stories and decided to go on a rant.
“I have been working around dogs thanks to my family since I was very young,” Lex said. “I became a professional dog trainer almost 3 years ago. I now work for a service dog training organization.”
Lex has taught her own service dog the following things,
“MEDICAL ALERT – Migraine alert – Panic attack alert GUIDE – Follow a person – Find an exit PSYCHIATRIC – Deep pressure therapy – Tactile stimulation – Self-harm disruption – Block (front) – Cover me (back) MOBILITY – Retrieve dropped items.”
We can rant all we want, but is there something being done about this? Are people taking any practical steps? “There is, and as far as I know, a couple of bills have been proposed to Congress,” Lex said. “However, it has been deemed that requiring such certification or licensing would be discriminatory and in violation of the ADA. Personally, I believe there needs to be a national certification and registration for LEGITIMATE service dogs trained to assist people with LEGITIMATE disabilities.”
Read Lex’s informative rant down below:
via: Tumblr
Do you agree with Lex? Let us know your opinion in the comments below!