Suggestions requested for Service Dog and public

[Sideways]

If he is wearing his vest people know why he's there.

Without a vest? It would be reasonable for people to assume that he’s just a pet dog.

With a vest? An increasing number of people do understand what an Assistance Dog is (Australian version of SD). For every person who comes up to us? There’s a dozen more that don’t. And I now assume that when we’re at the shops, I don’t need to stop and explain to the staff, because the vest is self-explanatory.

 

[Recovery4Me]

@Freida and @Sideways ?? Got it! As as payday hits, I will get his gear.

Freida you mentioned that there are no papers.
I’ve been told that by someone on this board, however, for my county as well as state, at the regulation of licensing there are papers which one must fill out stating if the dog is signal, assistance, ect and if s/he has been trained for at least two jobs to assist. You fill it out, sign the affidavit, it is notarized by the official and submitted with your rabies certificate to receive the county tag, number, registration for animal control licensing. You must present forms of ID. It is an government office and people can be prosecuted for fraud if investigated.

See Amazon sells service jackets- just need to pay. The Internet scams/trolls for service animals marks or suckers. Here the gear doesn’t really mean Jack. No one uses it: think Wine County. However, as I am a fan of not making things more stressful and trying to gleam from everyone’s expertise- so I am listening and will order when my budget permits.

Thank you both again for such helpful advice! Hugs if you accept.

 

[Freida]

Ahhh yes - the licensing thing

That's for municipalities/states that charge a fee for all animal licenses - and they will give discounts if it's a service dog. That's those hoops to jump thru. I have to do the same thing every year...go in and sign that yes, he's a service dog

The other "papers" people talk about are the ones to show random strangers that your dog is certified as a service dog. That's where the scams come in because there are all sorts of places that will sell a fake id badge and send a certificate in the mail. But it doesn't mean anything because there is no federal registration in the first place. Those places make me crazy because they are charging people for something that doesn't exist ?

 

[Recovery4Me]

That's for municipalities/states that charge a fee for all animal licenses - and they will give discounts if it's a service dog

If the animal is an psychiatric service animal, not emotional support plus spayed or neutered- the license which runs 100.00 is free after signing the legal paperwork that you have all the documentation in order: they can request down the road an review. The local gov. in my area did this to curb the rampage of fraud.

For our entry on airlines in the major cities in this area, that is the paperwork now requested for verification as there was an peacock incident which went viral on YouTube.?

The other "papers" people talk about are the ones to show random strangers that your dog is certified as a service dog

Yeah, makes me unsettled to see all the scams. That is why you and @Sideways were (and still are of course) invaluable in your wealth of knowledge. Ps... random strangers can bite me insofar as questions. I have gotten really, really good with my boundary work.? I answer with redirects and a smile like I am Forrest Gump. It has worked so far.?

Thanks for all the input people! ?

 

[Starfire]

Should preface by saying...in the USA... People have a right to know.. your dog is a licensed therapy dog. You have a disability that your dog is trained to assist you wth. *A disability* not what the disability is. They have no right to know. It's none of their business. You don't need to explain further. You can say that's personal, I don't want to bother you with it. You can just walk away. I am a dog trainer & train & work with service dogs. The law is clear. No need to be embarrassed or explain further. If you see a person with a walker, would you question them on why they have to use a walker?

 

[siniang]

A SD has nothing to do with therapy dogs and is not a "licensed therapy dog" (unless additionally trained and licenses for therapy work).

As a SD trainer you should know better than to use the wrong verbiage. The issue with SDs vs ESAs vs therapy dogs is confusing to the general public and subjected to enough stigma as is.

A service dog is a service dog is a service dog is medical equipment. End of story.

@Recovery4Me I'd go with medical alert dog. No need to disclose any further information.

 

[Recovery4Me]

@Starfire Thank you for some tips. I appreciate your effort. However, my dog is not a therapy dog and within my city in Ca. few folk are legally allowed to ask. Bus drivers, restaurants, merchants, supermarkets are not allowed to ask. Medical clinics, hospitals, ect- due to sanitation areas forbid all animals unless SD. So they can ask.

@siniang I really like the ‘medical alert’ that you and other members mentioned. Better than offering, “Oh, I go ape$hit at times with PTSD.? “ lol

 

[lostforgottensoul]

So I am asking for how you personally handle the public without stressing, feeling embarrassed and being normalized during the public entry places, please. I wish to be as emotionally regulated or prepared as possible to slow down any hijacking adrenaline. Thank

I became ok and at peace with needing him then it was a no brainer from there. I act as if its no big deal and normal for him to be there, as it is, for me. We just walk on when peope gawk. When people ask I will say he is a medical alert dog and then walk on or I don't answer at all and just walk on. I dont give anyone the chance to ask more. We don't bother with the public much, we are at the public place for a reason and that reason is not to answer a bunch of questions and it's ok to not answer and walk away! No else will stand there and answer personal questions, why should we? And most people are just in awe anyway and I take that as a complement to how well I did at training him. I also internally laugh at some comments. Like the lady that told my PDoc "that dog is better trained then my kids".

 

[Starfire]

Patches are available. My favorite: do not pet...working dog. Stops a lot of conversations before they start!

 

[Recovery4Me]

@lostforgottensoul Your answer feels right for me. Thank you so much.
I have been working with him daily and he did pretty good in the grocery store but he slid on the just mopped floor, then refused to budge lol. It does take a lot of exposure as well as consistency to champion ‘well behaved’. Bravo on your effort, success and dedication.

Thank you for the patch tip @Starfire. When he is older and won’t attempt to chew them ?, I will get some.