Part 2 of the Service and Support Animals Post
Thanks for hopping on over here from Part 1. I know today is a lot of reading, but, I hope you will find it to be useful info. If you’re looking for a link to Part 1 or another post from this little series, click the links below:
-Spoonie Life (“Spoonie” is code for those who live with chronic illness.)
-Service Animals *This is now a two part post. Click here for Part 1.*
Quick reminder that affiliate links may be included in blog posts. For more on that, click here.
Now, since we’ve already touched on miniature horses as service animals, let’s move on to the much more popular service dogs! This is an area many of us are more familiar with, but, the vast majority of the public is drastically under-educated when it comes to animal etiquette, whether it be service dogs or pets. Service animals are defined as “any dog (or miniature horse) that is trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an person with a disability This may include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other emotional disability.” The keywords here are “Disabled” and “Disability.” You can have a dog fully trained to perform as a service dog, but, if that animal does not have a disabled handler, that is NOT a service dog. Confused? Think of the service dog as a prescription (which, by the way, many service dogs legally are). You can give your friend your prescription bottle full of pills. They can even take the pills. They may even have an identical bottle of pills at home that was prescribed to them by their doctor. That does not mean that is their prescription and it is still illegal for them to take those pills from your prescription, (Kind of like how it is illegal to fake having a service dog, but, we already covered that in Part 1.). That’s the idea with service animals. Still a little cloudy on the details? Think of Air Force One. It is always the same
plane no matter what, but, unless the President is on that plane, it’s just another plane, albeit, a very, very expensive plane. The moment the President steps foot on it, though, it becomes Air Force One. The same thing applies here. If you, a seeing person, were to take a friend’s seeing eye dog for a walk, that does not make that dog your service dog. It’s just a dog that’s out for a walk. The moment your visually impaired friend takes control of that specially trained dog, it becomes a service dog. ONLY service dogs (and, in some states, service dogs in training) have public access rights. Public access rights mean that dog can go anywhere that person has a right to go, excepting instances where the dog’s presence would pose a legitimate threat to the safety of themselves or others in that location, but, technically, the rights are the handler’s and extend to the service animal, when they are under the handler’s control. This is why service dogs are allowed in restaurants, grocery stores, places of business, and pretty much everywhere else. There are exceptions to this rule, however. While service dogs should be allowed to accompany their disabled handler to the doctor’s office, hospital, exam rooms, cafeteria, gift shop, etc., the service animal, for obvious reasons, would not be allowed to accompany their handler into an operating room, as the dog’s presence would pose a legitimate threat to the sterile environment and, as such, pose a very real health risk to the patient. There are also some facilities that may allow service animals, but, are not required to do so. While not all establishments will choose to exclude service animals, these are some of the instances, courtesy of the ADA website, where a service dog could legally be excluded (again, check the ADA website for any clarifications you may need):
-Sterile rooms, such as operating rooms, some areas of emergency rooms/departments, some ICU rooms, some ambulances, some delivery rooms (on a case-by-case basis based on actual risk assessment) -Clean rooms where microchips are manufactured -Places where food is prepared (though they cannot generally be excluded from dining areas where food is present) (by order of most health departments)
-Open air zoological exhibits, such as open air aviaries or butterfly gardens (at the zoo's discretion but based on actual risk assessment) -Churches (at the church's discretion)
-Native American Tribal Council Chambers (at the council's discretion) -Federal Courts (at the judge's discretion) -Jail or prison cells (at the discretion of the facility director) -Private clubs (at the club's discretion) -Private homes (at the home owner's discretion) -Some amusement park rides (at the park management's discretion but based on actual risk assessment)
Finally, while we’ve covered a lot today, we still haven’t even scratched the surface of the information available on these amazing, working animals, so, to help me ensure I’ve given you as much pertinent information as I can in these two parts of the same post, I asked for some help from other service dog handlers, via a friend who was kind enough to post in a service dog training group she is a part of (Thank you, friend and group!). These are some of the things service animal teams wish you knew or would do (or not do) when you encounter them in public and, while they are not officially ranked, I tried to put some of the most common responses toward the top and I kept the wording as original as possible without duplicating items or infringing upon the privacy of those kind enough to give their input. Please keep in mind that, while the word “dog” is mostly used, most or all also apply to service miniature horses:
-The service animal is considered medical equipment. You wouldn’t touch, talk to, or doubt
someone’s need for a wheelchair or an inhaler or an EpiPen. Don’t doubt a handler’s need for their canine (or equine) medical equipment. This also goes to why service animals are allowed anywhere their handler is allowed. You wouldn’t make someone leave their wheelchair, inhaler, insulin, seizure medication, etc. outside. Why? Because it is medical equipment. -No, someone else can’t do the dog’s job instead. While, yes, theoretically, a person may be able to help with some of a service dog’s tasks, people lack the capability to perform many of the tasks that a service animal does (e.g. medical alerts before the episode happens) and, even if they could, it would completely take away the handler’s independence and dignity. Imagine not being able to go anywhere or do anything without a chaperone. No dates, walks, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, or anything else alone. Not only would that be an awful way to live for both people, it would be an invasion of privacy and extremely expensive for the handler to pay for a 24/7/365 medical babysitter. Having a service dog gives the handler freedom they would not otherwise have. I recently read an article where someone was doing some serious hating on service dogs and said something to the effect of, “If you have a heart attack, I can call 911 for you. You don’t need that dog here,” but, they missed the point. The dog can help PREVENT the emergency. They alert their handler before the issue arises. No human can do that. -Don’t pet my dog, especially without asking and don’t get mad (or do it anyway) when you’re told no. This should be common practice with ANY animal, but, for service animals, it isn't just bad manners, it's dangerous. It’s sad that this even needs to be said, but, for some reason, common sense and manners seem to have vanished. I don’t know anyone with a service animal who hasn’t had a stranger come up and touch their dog without asking. It’s ridiculous and it’s dangerous. Some health conditions may only have a momentary window for the dog to alert or respond. Even a three
second long distraction can mean the difference between the handler walking out of the store, park, restaurant unharmed and riding out on a gurney. Because of this, you will rarely find a service dog team that can allow you to pet their animal while the animal is working. Don’t push it. Don’t be that person. Don’t be the one who sends someone to the hospital because, you “just can’t hewp it! It’s such a cute wittle fwuff baww!” Seriously. Don’t. If you’re that desperately in need of furry cuddles, I’m sure the handler would be happy to recommend a local pet shop or petting zoo where you can pet and baby talk to your heart’s delight without endangering anyone’s life or safety.
-DO. NOT. TALK. TO. MY. DOG. Speaking to or distracting (in ANY way) someone’s service dog (or miniature horse) is not just dangerous to the handler’s health and safety, it is a state and federal crime. This includes kissy noises and purposely talking in baby/puppy talk that you know will distract the service animal. -There is no LEGAL service dog registry. Come to think of it, there’s no wheelchair registry or crutches registry or CPAP registry. Medical equipment doesn’t need to be registered. When someone asks a handler for their dogs “papers” or “proof,” all they’re really asking is, “Did you click on a link to some scammy or irrelevant website that has no legal standing and put in your personal information and your dog’s information to get an email or certificate with no legal standing that some Joe Schmoe living in his mom’s basement made up to try to make a buck on the certificate or the ‘upgraded’ packages they’re selling?” The ADA is in charge of all service and support animal information and they do not have a registry.
-It is NEVER okay to ask, “What’s wrong with you?” or any variation of that incredibly personal (and incredibly rude) question. How would you like it if a complete stranger walked up to you while you were trying to order your lunch and started asking you what color your underwear were or when you last had sex or which of the people you’ve slept with in college gave you that STD? You wouldn’t, because, that is very personal information. In addition, for store owners, employees, etc. it is actually illegal. They’re allowed two questions: 1. “Is that your service animal?” 2. “What tasks is it trained to perform?” That’s it. The responses don’t have to be in depth, either. A person does not have to divulge that they have epilepsy and that their dog is a seizure alert or seizure response dog. They can just say, “(S)He is a medical alert (or response) animal.” Boom. No HIPPA violations or invasion of privacy. Not all employees or store owners are aware of this, though. Many handlers have taken to carrying small cards with basic ADA info and FAQs to hand out when they run into trouble. -Just because the service animal is “naked,” does not mean (s)he isn’t working. The ADA does not require service dogs to be uniformed, vested, harnessed, or identified in any way (hence, the two questions employees are allowed to ask when someone walks into their establishment with an animal). In this same category, just because a dog is wearing something cutesy, doesn’t mean it is not a service animal. While many handlers choose to outfit their service animals, it is, by no means, required for the animal to be legit. -Don’t tell your kids, friends, etc. “Look at the cute doggy!” Not only is it rude to stare, it puts undue stress on the handler and dog. For some, stress can cause an episode with their health. If for no other reason, don’t point the team out unless you want to be responsible for and/or have your kid witness a medical episode or emergency. Besides, everyone has seen a dog (or mini horse) before. It’ll be okay for them to miss seeing an animal that’s got a job to do. -ANY breed of dog (or miniature horse) can be a service dog. Service dogs are carefully evaluated and trained to perform their duties. It doesn’t matter if you think Pit Bulls or Dobermans are scary or that Chihuahuas or Yorkies are “too small” to be service dogs. That animal is working to do the job their have been carefully trained to perform. In keeping with this and the fact that a service animal should never be aggressive, service dogs are exempt from breed restrictions. -It is NEVER okay to feed any animal without asking their owner, this is especially important with service animals. -Don’t feel bad for the dog! Service dogs LOVE what they do! Given the choice to hang out at home all day or go work with their handler, they will choose working every time. They thrive on succeeding at their jobs!
-Just because the handler “looks fine” doesn’t mean they’re training for someone else or that they’re faking. Many disabilities are invisible. In keeping with this, just because a handler looks one way or another, does not mean it’s acceptable to make assumptions about their disability or their animal. One example someone from the group my friend posted in was so phenomenally fit for this point that I had to share (Thank you, H, for allowing me to share and for allowing our mutual friend to share with me.): Just because you see a service dog handler with a pull strap (a soft, “U” shaped strap that attaches on both ends to the dog’s harness, vest, or collar) or bridge handle (the stiff handle typically used with guide dogs for the blind) and dark glasses does not mean they are visually impaired. Many people who suffer from chronic migraine use these items to help them navigate daily life and minimize pain. A bridge handle or pull strap allows the handler to not go looking for a dropped leash and to be more easily guided when they are in the midst of a debilitating migraine attack. It may be painful for them to use their eyes, but, they are by no means legally blind. -No, a handler isn’t “lucky” that they “get” to take their dog everywhere with them. While I’ve never met a handler that doesn’t love their dog dearly, they’d rather be healthy. Having that dog is hard work and it means that their life is difficult enough that they need help just to get by. In answer to that all too common question, “How can I make it so I can take my dog everywhere with me?” the answer isn’t an easy one. You must 1. Be disabled. 2. Have a type of disability that a service dog can help with. Service dogs fill in the gaps in areas that doctors and medicine can’t help with (like alerting to an oncoming episode or responding in an emergency). 3. Spend countless hours finding, evaluating, and training your service dog, pay a professional to do the above or train your chosen dog, or pay thousands upon thousands of dollars to purchase a dog who has been trained for you. 4. Spend the rest of the dog’s working life constantly continuing training, socialization, and keeping yourself up to date on laws, training techniques, etc. -Not all working dogs are guide dogs, therapy dogs, or police dogs and not all service dogs are guide dogs. There are so many types of service animals! There are a vast variety of medical alert (seizure, hypoglycemia, diabetes, fainting, narcolepsy, and migraine, just to name a few), medical response (no, these are not the same), guide, hearing, PTSD, Autism, and so many more!
-No, a dog riding in a grocery cart is not okay and, in all likelihood, it’s not a (real) service animal. Grocery carts are meant for food and it is completely unsanitary for an animal to be in one. While some medical conditions require the dog to have access to the handler’s face (to assist with seizure response, blood glucose alerts, etc.), a dog that is too small to effectively do their job while the handler is pushing a cart can be worn in a pouch on the handler’s chest to keep them in a position to do their job effectively.
I’m going to go ahead and wrap it up. I know we’ve covered a LOT of info in the two posts today and I hope it was helpful. I would love to hear from you in response to this (or any) post! Did you learn something you didn’t previously know? Is there something you would have added? Are you wondering if your health issues or the health issues of a loved one could be helped by a service animal? Is there a topic you’d like to see addressed on TWR? Let me know! Shoot me an email, Tweet me, or leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
Comentários