Need input on handout about service dogs

[Justmehere]

There is one place I go with my service dog every week where people are super friendly to me.... and wayyyyy too friendly with my service dog. Much more so than in the general public.

After being whistled at and having 15 people ignore, flat out ignore, “please stop now” when petting or throwing food at my dog? and attempts to approach staff for help only to have them participate in petting her without asking - I am done. And pissed.

I was told staff would help educate people bia newsletter but they have forgotten and dropped the ball, and now participate in the mess. I did email them my concerns again, but I’m not waiting for them to do something more.

I have to handle this with extra care because this is one of the few places open to the public but not bound by the ADA. They do not have to allow service dogs. (This is confirmed by the proper experts.) I don’t want to push it too far.

I also can’t continue to come with the service dog as is. And, I recently had a mother of a disabled teenager ask me for advice about how to navigate this place with a guide dog, and someone else with a ptsd dog who cornered me angry that people kept accosting their dog too. I don’t know how that is even my fault! They said I was telling people it as ok when I’ve been darn clear, “stop.”

But now, the thought of this teenager walking into this environment with this kind of culture is concerning to me.

I’m at the point where I’d like to just start handing out a quarter sheet flyer about how to conduct oneself around a service dog. Because this place isn’t covered by the ADA, most pre-written info sheets online don’t really apply well because they talk about the ADA and rights. I have no right to have the dog in this place. I have been given permission, but no rights.

This is what I have so far:

—-
Important Information About Service Dogs

Please not whistle, feed, taunt, pet, make eye contact with or otherwise distract a service dog.

If you do any of those things, you are pulling the dog away from their work to reduce the impact of a disability.

Just like you would struggle to do a job if strangers were petting, throwing food at, or whistling at you, this also makes it difficult for a service dog to do their work.

Distracting a service dog can lead to serious consequences for the handler.

Example: distracting a seizure alert dog from its job of alerting to seizures could lead to the handler not getting an alert and not being able to stop a seizure before it happens. Distracting a guide dog for a visually impaired person means the dog could ignore its training and pay attention to you instead, and take the person off course.

Service dogs are not pets. They are working.

Please enjoy the presence of the service dog without distracting the dog.

Thanks

—-

This is a very rough second draft. I’d like to make it more clear and more positive.

Any thoughts?

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

Great idea! I like what you've written. Keeping it real IS keeping it positive, in my opinion. Perhaps make the beginning statement something like:

"Thank you for so kindly and warmly welcoming me and my service dog into your space. I've found it very helpful in other arenas to share more detailed information about what exactly a service dog's presence represents vs. the typical presence of a dog that everyone is so excitedly used to. Service dog presence requires a much different level of attention that what has understandably become the norm for other dogs. Please let me know if you have any questions."

 

[Justmehere]

I like that! Very well done!

 

[Sideways]

I’m wondering if maybe there’s just too many words??

People tend to not really read, or digest, information on flyers that are too wordy. So I’d probably get straight to the point. More like:

Service Dogs: Did you know

Distracting a service dog, even briefly, may have serious and immediate health consequences for the dog’s handler.

This can include:
Petting
Feeding
Talking to the dog
Whistling to the dog

or any behaviour that takes the dog’s attention from its handler, even just for a moment.

Thank you for making my service dog’s job easier by leaving him to do his job, to monitor my health condition. He looks friendly and relaxed, but actually, he’s working full time and distractions may mean that he cannot alert me to a serious health emergency.

It’s lovely to receive a warm welcome, but please refrain from engaging woth my dog.

Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

 

[Joan]

Education is so key...an analogy that has helped me is to equate it to the person working in their office and interrupted.....takes a while to get back on task....same for my service dog, distracts and confuses him....great job and good luck.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I don’t buy the claim that they don’t have to abide by the ADA. Did a disability rights lawyer tell you that? I translate what’s been happening in your workplace is harassment. And animal cruelty. My dog goes with me and she’s not a trained service dog. If someone interferes with her, I straight out tell them to knock it off. I was in a group therapy for sexual abuse survivors and one of the members had a service dog. He wore a red jacket. I had no idea that it’s not ok to pat a service dog. She told me not to distract him and I apologized. Where are you that people are allowed to whistle and throw food?
I’m disabled due to a chemical exposure. I can’t tolerate fragrances. In my office I have a big sign that very kindly requests that People refrain from using fragrances. I speak one on one to People that ignore the sign and these same people usually use even more perfume.
It should be enough that all you need to do is say stop. He is a working dog. And it’s not true that certain places don’t have to follow the ADA law. They have to make reasonable accommodations for your disability. A service dog is a very reasonable request. Is this place where you work? You shouldn’t have to go to such lengths to get your needs met and from one disabled person to another, I predict that regardless of any flyer or sign you make, it will be ignored. Can you put your dog between your legs? People aren’t likely to invade your personal space.

 

[scout86]

I wonder if it would help to begin by explaining that a service dog IS a working dog and it IS at work. I suspect that most people just don't get that the dog is actually working and shouldn't be distracted. They wouldn't interrupt a dog in the middle of herding a flock of sheep, would they? (Maybe they would.) They should think of distracting a service dog as being the equivalent of distracting a bus driver while the bus is in motion.

Somehow this topic ought to be covered on a much wider level, so everyone is aware of it, just like pretty much everyone knows what a stop sign is. (Good luck!)

 

[Justmehere]

It’s lovely to receive a warm welcome, but please refrain from engaging woth my dog.

I like this! It helps build a bridge rather than put people off.

an analogy that has helped me is to equate it to the person working in their office and interrupted.

Yes!

I don’t buy the claim that they don’t have to abide by the ADA. Did a disability rights lawyer tell you that?

It’s been confirmed by proper regulatory experts and the ADA technical assistance center it’s not covered. I’m avoiding further details about the type of location for the sake of privacy.

You are right though that saying stop should be enough. My boundaries are getting worn down though and my stop is becoming much quieter. I’m tired.

Thus the need for a friendly and informative handout for my own sanity.

I have the opportunity to help this small community culture shift to one that is more respectful and educated about how to conduct themselves around dogs. All dogs really. Because dang, even with other people’s pet dogs this behavior is foolish. It’s especially foolish with service dogs, and there is a real opportunity for change. :)

Time to educate!

 

[LuckiLee]

Maybe a do and don't list? The top 10 "rules" how to deal with a service animal. Something short and to the point. But definitely add the thank you at the end.

Good luck!!

 

[Justmehere]

I wonder if it would help to begin by explaining that a service dog IS a working dog and it IS at work.

This makes sense! I think people don’t see me as disabled at this place, and 9 times out of 10 they ask me who I’m training the dog for... like they don’t know the dog is for me, and if they do, they comment about how I look fine. (To which I usually say “thanks!” - because what else is there to say?)

I think people don’t get that she’s actually working. Not just sitting there looking cute and oh-so-petable.

Someone at this place recently commented about how I should let the dog eat all the crumbs off the floor twice a week so they don’t have to vacuum. I laughed with them and said “she works hard enough already!” And they commented it doesn’t seem like she’s working at all.

The nice thing is that lots of people say she’s well behaved and well liked. I wish people would like her at a distance. I get asked her name a lot, without being asked mine. I then introduce myself first, and I’ve stopped telling anyone her name anymore.

Sometimes I want to joke, “hey, eyes on me!”

I think I’m going to include a line about “service dogs are working dogs, performing seen and unseen tasks...”

@LuckiLee - I like the dos and don’ts list idea! I actually started off with that but couldn’t come up with 10 dos. Just lots of don’ts. :/ hmm.

How to be concise... (not my forte...)

 

[LuckiLee]

Then you could add different reasons someone needs a service animal. Diabetes. Seizures. PTSD. Etc. Etc.

 

[LuckiLee]

Ooh ooh ooh. I have an idea. What if you made it a letter from "your dog". (sorry I don't know it's name)

Hi. I'm Fido. I'm working hard for my handler yadda yadda yadda.

You rock! I'll educate on my end too.