Fake service dogs

Fran101

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*shrug* I don't think it's right.
But if the dog is well behaved and not bothering anyone.. I certainly don't think it's my business to care or try to decide for myself if the dog is a "real" SD or not.

I just honestly don't care that much lol and by that I mean, I tend to be in my own little world in general.
That doubled with the fact that as a perfectly able bodied 21 year old.. I hope one day someone doesn't look at Merlin and I and decide to take it upon themselves to decide that I'm a faker or anything else.
 

Beanie

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Pot-kettle.

You speed, and admit to it. That is illegal. If you disagree with that law, then clearly by your own stated standards, you should be working to change the law, rather than breaking it by speeding.
Swing and a miss - by my own stated standards I would have to disagree with speed limits. I don't, and I have no urge to work to change them. In fact I think raising them in many areas would be a bad idea.

It's NOT okay that I speed.
I'm breaking the law every time I do it.
And if I get a ticket for it, I 100% deserve it and wouldn't complain.
 

CatStina

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The question is, a faker is only one who admits a lie, yes? So how can others call those who've not made an admission a faker? Who is to say that old arthritic gym teacher is not assisted by said dog at the fair? Maybe her pain increases her anxiety creating a debilitating state and the dog eases it?
A faker is someone who doesn't have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and takes their dog into public as a SD any way. Whether or not they admit this to others has nothing to do with it. You can often spot a faker by the things they say and the equipment that they use, but it can be difficult.
 

Flyinsbt

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Swing and a miss - by my own stated standards I would have to disagree with speed limits. I don't, and I have no urge to work to change them. In fact I think raising them in many areas would be a bad idea.

It's NOT okay that I speed.
I'm breaking the law every time I do it.
And if I get a ticket for it, I 100% deserve it and wouldn't complain.
Well, who says the service dog faker thinks it's okay for them to break that law? How can you say that they do? Or that they'd complain if caught for it? Are you a mind reader?
 

Beanie

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Well, who says the service dog faker thinks it's okay for them to break that law? How can you say that they do? Or that they'd complain if caught for it? Are you a mind reader?
Lots of people in this thread said it was okay. If a "service dog faker" thinks it's okay or not doesn't matter. If I say it's okay to speed or not doesn't matter. Both are still illegal regardless.

What you might like to ask is why I knowingly break the law whenever I get on the highway. There is zero good reason for it. I'm impatient and it's a bad habit. I shouldn't do it, and many times on long trips I start out at the speed limit because I know I shouldn't, then get frustrated and speed later. These are lame excuses for breaking the law, but people do lots of things they know are bad for them. People smoke knowing it can give them lung cancer, even when they want to quit. We are all fallible.
This does not change the fact that it is breaking the law. There is no excuse for it. It's still wrong.

People here are trying to make an argument for why it's OKAY even though it's illegal. "Well the dog is well behaved." "Well she's an arthritic teacher and doesn't want to crate her dog." "Well... well... well..." There is no reason for why it's okay.


And no, I'm not a mind reader. Are you? I have a few things to ask you if so.
 

CatStina

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And what a disgustingly hostile environment you have created for yourself by trying to spot these fakers.
You asked a question and I answered it for you. I don't go around looking for fakers or anything, I simply answered your €#&*% question. I'm done with this thread. People are being extremely hostile and rude to the SD users here and I've had a very high anxiety day and just can't handle it anymore.
 

Flyinsbt

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Lots of people in this thread said it was okay. If a "service dog faker" thinks it's okay or not doesn't matter. If I say it's okay to speed or not doesn't matter. Both are still illegal regardless.
.
I didn't say it was "okay", I said I didn't care. That it's not my business. That is my opinion, and I have as much right to my own opinion as you do to yours.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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Hits a nerve, huh? It's supposed to. Making an attempt to visually label "fakers" or anyone you dislike for whatever reason it is is wrong and dangerous. This hits a nerve for me as well. I grew up as a SD handler, I was not given a choice nor did I have an outwardly visible disability, it is tiring and upsetting to see people actively speaking on what fakers look like or act like.

In the end it is up to you to report ill behaved SDs and their handlers, legit or not, the rest is not your place to distinguish.
 

Flyinsbt

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Oh, and the reference to the arthritic retired ex-gym teacher was because first, I brought her up as an example of why someone might choose to flout that particular law other than just wanting to take their pet with them everywhere, and then more details of her were brought up to explain why I felt it wasn't my place to criticize. And because frankly, knowing the person, I felt the description of her as "selfish and childish" was extremely offensive. I foolishly thought that if people knew a few more details about the woman, they might realize that those adjectives were ill-chosen. Silly me.
 

Beanie

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I didn't say it was "okay", I said I didn't care. That it's not my business. That is my opinion, and I have as much right to my own opinion as you do to yours.
"Lots of people" does not boil down to you in particular. This is a rather long thread with many participants who have made a number of excuses to why it's not a problem for somebody to bring their pet somewhere under the guise of SD.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I appreciate you telling me I have a right to mine, but in that case, perhaps you should be more respectful of other people's opinions to the opposite rather than telling them to "have fun on their moral high ground."
 

Flyinsbt

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"Lots of people" does not boil down to you in particular. This is a rather long thread with many participants who have made a number of excuses to why it's not a problem for somebody to bring their pet somewhere under the guise of SD.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and I appreciate you telling me I have a right to mine, but in that case, perhaps you should be more respectful of other people's opinions to the opposite rather than telling them to "have fun on their moral high ground."
Well, that was after a person had twice called a kind and respected friend of mine "selfish and childish", and implied that I should be calling said friend that myself. So yeah, lost my temper a bit.
 

Flyinsbt

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Everyone has a right to their opinion, but when you start name calling and trying to hurt people, I think you need to start keeping your opinion to yourself.
 

smkie

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saw this ad and it made me think of this thread.
Take Your Dog Anywhere!
servicedogregistration.org
Now you can bring your dog ANYWHERE you go for free with no hassles. Planes, Trains, etc.

Noticed it didn't say take your service dog where you need but take your dog anywhere without hassle. I could see that being abused. Haven't checked out the link.
 

BostonBanker

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I hope I can phrase this question correctly to get my point across (and that I haven't asked before and forgotten the answer, because it's always on my mind in these threads).

I know there are those two questions that can be asked of a person who brings a service dog or "service dog" into an establishment. There is no certification. There is no right to ask what the disability is, or ask for proof of it. There is no badge or patch. How are the laws supposed to be enforced in a reasonable way?

If I am driving and don't have a license, it is something that can be checked by the police. If I am speeding, they can check with radar. If I'm under age and drinking, they can ask for ID. I'm trying to think of a situation where, when breaking the law, it is so unclear how evidence can show that, and I'm drawing a blank. It seems like, until you are in court, there's no real way to tell if someone is genuinely faking or not.

I would think there would be some huge benefits to having some sort of "license" to have a service dog be required, even if it wasn't something where the actual disability was made public, but rather recorded privately (like medical records or sealed court records). With all the anger, justified or not, directed at those who don't have prescribed service dogs - what is the answer? And no, "People just shouldn't do it" isn't an answer - we all know that. How should this be monitored?
 

AdrianneIsabel

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BB, it's not a bad idea. People have forever been nervous about discussions of valid disabilities.

Would handlers have class licenses? Like my licenses says I can drive a car but not my boyfriends motorcycle nor a semi truck. Would dogs be legally only allowed where needed? Like those here who don't need their dogs at work, what if someday they wanted them there, would that be restricted in their iD or would all SD be allowed in all places regardless of admissible need or lack there of?
 

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