Service dogs are not meant to be exploited for personal gain

Maytinee Kramer/ Staff Writer

You see a dog enter a business with a vest that says “service dog,” but how do you, or the business, know if the dog is actually a trained service dog? Sometimes a dog isn’t even wearing a vest.

It happens all the time — people are trying to pass off their pet as a service animal.

The American with Disabilities Act requires all places open to the public to allow access to service dogs and their owners. However, the act only allows business operators to ask two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to perform.

It’s illegal to request documentation for the dog or to ask the nature of the owner’s disability. This makes it very difficult for businesses to verify whether the animal in question is truly a service dog, giving people the opportunity to pass off their pet as a fake.

This constant problem has prompted lawmakers across the country to crack down on those passing off fake service animals, and they should rightfully do so.

Real service animals are not there for show. They play an important role in helping people who have disabilities and those taking advantage of that system should face the harshest of consequences.

Two years ago, Florida passed a law making the use of fake service animals a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail, according to the Miami Herald. Since then, more than a dozen states have followed suit.

However, anyone can still go online and buy a vest for a dog to pass it off as a service animal to gain access to places of business.

Because there’s no certification or official national registry of legitimate service dogs, meaning there’s no way to verify whether a dog has undergone rigorous training to become a service animal, it makes it really difficult for states to actually enforce the laws.

At most, the law can deter people from being dishonest.

Service animals are a medical device — they are put through rigorous training to perform tasks to help that person’s disability like a guide dog and must go through extensive documentation — just so they can help keep their owner safe and healthy.

Phony service dogs are simply dangerous as they’re not trained, they misbehave, they’re intrusive and they have the potential of harming someone. In short, they are a nuisance and an insult to the thousands of legitimate service dogs and their owners with disabilities.  

Juan Endara, an FIU graduate student who is currently pursuing a Master’s in Spanish journalism and deals with a speech impairment, understands the importance and emotional meaning behind service dogs. Endara recently lost his service dog, Luna, who was his helper, his friend, and his world

Luna used to accompany Endara on all his daily activities and travels and provided the medical and emotional help that kept Endara happy and healthy. What outsiders and those with fake service dogs don’t understand is that legitimate service dogs are family more than just a medical service.

Since his loss, Endara has felt depressed and empty, and cannot help but sometimes feel that he was at fault for the passing of his beloved Luna. “Luna was my baby,” Endara said. “She offered me companionship and love. We used to travel and go to all public places together.”

More than being a companion, Luna kept Endara safe and provided the comfort and love he needed.

“Ever since she died, I haven’t stopped crying for her,” Endara said. ”Today, I feel her in the wind and I hope in a near future, I can remember her with the good memories without feeling the pain I feel now.  I only have good memories about her. I have nothing else to say, but to thank her for everything that she did for me.”

A service dog comes with big responsibility and an important role — they are not to be exploited for the personal gain of greedy people who just want to take their random dog with them wherever they go.

I love animals and will treat them with the respect, care and love they deserve. But I cannot stand to see people taking advantage of a law that was put in place to protect legitimate service animals and their owners who truly suffer from something that requires care.

Those trying to pass off their pet as a phony service dog should go to jail for more than 60 days and should pay a higher fine. The fee for a service dog is $17,000, according to 4 Paws For Ability.

If a person with a disability has to shelve out thousands of dollars for a service dog, then dishonest people shouldn’t have a problem with paying the same amount should they get caught passing off their illegitimate pet with a $20 vest.

Moreover, service dog vests should not be easily sold through online platforms. They should only be sold or provided for free through legitimate organizations that train and document service dogs or animal clinics that require legitimate documentation. This would help ensure, somewhat, that only those with a disability have access to the material.

Additionally, businesses shouldn’t be afraid to go up against rude and difficult pet owners if their pet, service dog or not, behaves inappropriately by disrupting business, behaving aggressively, interfering with other patrons or clients, or toileting inappropriately. All pets can be excluded on the basis of “fundamental alteration” or “direct threat.”

It’s not discrimination; it’s purely to maintain a safe environment for all customers and ensure that legitimate trained service dogs are optimally fit to perform the duty they were trained to do.  

 

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Photo by Alvan Nee on Unsplash.

About the Author

Maytinee Kramer
Call me May. I’m a senior double majoring in Asian studies and broadcast media and minoring in international relations. I’m a K-pop and Disney junkie, but I also enjoy watching anime and cosplaying. Some of my favorite shows are “Once Upon a Time,” “Supernatural,” and “Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma” while my favorite music artists are 2PM, GOT7, DEAN and Eddy Kim. After college, I hope to work as a news anchor, but I’d eventually like to host a show/segment that focuses on traveling. I am fluent in Thai and currently learning Japanese and Korean.

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