Hi... I'm slow in posting responses! Lol. Busy weekend. Foxy, I was not suggesting that all self trained assistance animals are not credible. Just wanted to make sure you knew that, as you obviously have a dog that provides a valuable service for you and it sound like you indeed trained him yourself? You repeated my sentiment... that it's because of the dogs/owners like the one moonchild ran into, that it's difficult for some of the smaller or newer groups to gain recognition or credibility. There are a handful of training schools claiming to train/provide service dogs, that do not have the experience to do so. As for the ADA, I believe we're disputing wording here, about showing "proof" one has and is trying to gain public access with a service dog, verses a pet. Yes, anyone can buy a pack and harness on line. As for the blue pack you mentioned, CCI clearly identifies their packs, the dogs i.d. tags and a card the recipient carries, that this is a service dog. At least that was the case 10 years ago. I believe all individuals should be required to do that, but then you run into the issue of owner trained dogs. We had to identify many of our dogs in Washington when doing fundraisers, public speaking, fairs, ect. and entering restaurants or a privately owned business. Our dogs that were identified as still in training, with a puppy raiser, regardless of dogs age/training, were often denied access. A business such as say... Boeing, can ask that the recipient to show verification of disability if not obvious and i.d that this is a service dog. A business owner can ask if it's a service dog you're entering with, and yes they can deny you access if they do not believe you, but they're in for a law suit now, thanks to the ADA ... if this was an actual service dog, the owner identified them as such and they were still denied access. (Identified meaning simply stating the dogs function.) Most individuals who have a pet and whose dogs really do not perform a nessecary function are smart enough not to sue and most business owners and employees are able to identify a true "service" animal by their level of training, their performance in public and the handlers control over them and do not consider it nessecary to question that individuals right to access. Just wanted to clear up my previous post.