Publicly confronted about service dog. a disability isn't fake just because it's invisible. (vent)

[corvidae]

support, prayers, <3
you handled yourself most excellently, @Justmehere

 

[desiderata310]

service dogs" PER WEEK at the zoo

I honestly thought I couldn't go to the zoo because of my SD. I'd heard somewhere that it would upset the wild animals too much, hence I've not visited a zoo in a long time.
At work we've had a couple of animal shows (Wild Kingdom and a magic show with tigers) I left my SD home those days for the same reason.

 

[Gs172003]

I honestly thought I couldn't go to the zoo because of my SD. I'd heard somewhere that it would u...

They are used to alot more than you think

 

[Gs172003]

There are certain areas that dogs can't go where people interact with the animals but other than that they can go anywhere

 

[Kefira]

It did wiggle into my brain a little that maybe I really don't need my dog, and I'm just fine without her.

I was just re-reading this thread (super validating, thanks guys) and I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does this. I'll go a few days without any pain and not many PTSD symptoms, especially now that we have a schedule and routine and don't go new places often. And then I'll have a bad pain day or I'll need to go somewhere new or handle something really stressful and I remember exactly why I deal with the days where it almost seems like more trouble than it's worth. Such an easy trap to fall into, but I also know I owe most of my good days to him anyway.

 

[desiderata310]

@Kefira i was thinking the same thing for the same reasons

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It's not a coincidence that we get at least three or four "service dogs" PER WEEK at the zoo all summer long but come fall....*** crickets.

Summer vacation anybody?
We know it's fake. There's not squat we can do about it.

Well, what if disabled people are on vacation more in the summer as well?

The best way to spot a fake service dog is it's behavior. Here is the public access test (not required to pass a test but all true service dogs should behave simular. Remember that some don't heel due to disabilty needs and some don't always use a leash if it interfers with their job/tasks):

Public Access Test

This specific dog is a service dog in training.

I use "medical equipment" a lot when I talk about him to remind even the people close to us that he's not a pet and he's working.

I started doing that as well. Even though he is still in training I will state either he is medical equipment or he is being trained as medical equipment.

I have a HUGE issue with people wanting to pet him and making kissy noises to him and stuff. I try to polietly advise that he is working and we are in a training session, that he needs to focus on me but it doesn't seem to stop some people.

I also try to advise that service dogs and SD in training should be ignored and left alone. Still people don't seem to listen.

"I prefer not to disclose my medical history to strangers."

Oh, I LOVE that as each time I advise PTSD I get that pity look and HATE it. It's mostly about training since we are in training but I am so going to use that going foward! We are just getting into public access so I am likely going to need it a lot more now on. Thank you!!

 

[desiderata310]

Oh, I LOVE that as each time I advise PTSD I get that pity look and HATE it.

I've used "I prefer not to disclose" and on the advice of my therapist: "I have a neurological disorder" He says it's not a lie. So I roll with that one a lot when people get particularly pushy. That USUALLY shuts people up.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

That's awesome @desiderata310! Thanks!

 

[Kefira]

Oh, I LOVE that as each time I advise PTSD I get that pity look and HATE it.

Yeah. I've only had one person not shut up pretty quickly with that response. She was going on about how she was only asking because she has such and such problem and they'd considered a service dog (while physically blocking my way) and I replied "That's really great. It doesn't change the fact that I am not comfortable discussing MY medical history."

I'm an activist for mental health. That doesn't mean that I need to tell every random stranger who doesn't even care but just wants to talk to me so maybe they can pet my dog what my diagnosis is. Part of my self care is choosing in what settings I want to be open and available to answer questions. I do the same with service dog education- I'm just not the sort of person who can talk to everyone for half an hour at the grocery store. For a while I let that make me think I wasn't a good service dog ambassador. Instead, I do in-service trainings for law enforcement and medical professionals, and workshops and continuing education for mental health practitioners. I also have several different info cards from law to etiquette to professional behavior that can do the educating for me day to day.

A lot of being successful as a team has been figuring out how to set good boundaries that work for me, while still balancing it with giving back somehow. I'm still working on it but man have we come a long way.

I also really try to keep from being too polite- I'm not going to apologize. Ever. And I rarely say please, because that sounds like I'm giving them an option to back off or not. It's not optional. I'm protecting my space and my safety and my dog's training and continued ability to work. I hear so much "No, I'm sorry- he's working so you can't pet him." I think the best thing I ever learned was not to feel I'm being rude in protecting my space- it's the other person who's being rude by feeling they can invade MY space or ask rude questions or thinking that I'm required to humor them and talk to them. I get that most of the time it's not malicious, it's the privilege of ignorance. But really learning that other people being curious or treating me like a circus freak didn't require me to be super civil and patient all the time and that I don't have to educate everyone all the time changed the course of our partnership for the better.

Hopefully something in there is helpful. I think I knew that, but it took a while for it to really click in and for me to not feel defensive over it.

 

[Gs172003]

Well, what if disabled people are on vacation more in the summer as well?

The best way to sp...

Believe me. We can tell.

 

[Gs172003]

The only thing we are allowed to ask is what service does your dog perform. We can't ask for certificates, training etc. We do not have to let in emotional support animals. PTSD dogs don't count.

I think that's the law.