There is a ton of fraud going on. You can buy a cheap certificate and lease off the internet to ‘appear’ as a service dog. Then the airlines, restaurants, stores, etc. must let them in as they fake it to have Fido by their side. There is much abuse going on in this area.

I think that laws should change. I do think that some kind of ID for service dogs makes sense, although I think there need to be limits on who and when and how someone can ask to see it. For example, being asked once by the hostess at a restaurant when they seat you is reasonable, being asked repeatedly by fellow customers isn't. I also think that the process to get the ID needs to be simple and straightforward.

However, since there isn't an ID requirement, people need to follow the current laws. People demanding to see a service dog's vest, or decreeing that certain breeds aren't service dogs, or harassing people in public because they think they have some magic ability to tell which dogs are service dogs are wrong.

I think within the current laws, it would be reasonable for business to decide a plan so that each person who enters with a dog is approached once and only once, and is asked the two legal questions, which are "Is this a service dog?" and "What task or tasks is this dog trained to do?". I also think that businesses need to be quicker about asking dogs to leave if they are making a nuisance, incontinent, or not under the handler's control.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do to about it?

Stop patronizing businesses that allow it. Literally leave mid-meal, or mid-shop if you see a dog, and make sure to tell a manager why you're abandoning your transaction on your way out.

Now, that doesn't work for most people and many circumstances. I'm too busy to walk away from my half-full shopping cart. It would be too awkward to leave a group of friends in a restaurant. But that's what it would take.

In the meantime, we can compile a list of known offenders and avoid them. Gotta make sure they know why you won't return, though, so they can make a change. I'll start:
The Line Hotel lets dogs into its restaurant. I was there recently and a dog was climbing on the benches, wandering up to other people's tables begging, etc. The waitress just shrugged. If I hadn't been with friends visiting from out of town, I would have walked out then and there. As it is, I will never patronize The Line again.

It's not the businesses fault, though. They can be sued for denying services/entry to someone with a fake service dog. The business can only ask 2 questions: is it a trained service dog and what task is it trained to perform. That's it.

The business can't even ask them to leave until the dog makes a disturbance or has an accident inside. Those are the 2 ways even legal service animals can be asked to leave.

My sibling is a GM at a restaurant and deals with the fake service dogs daily. They hate them as much as their patrons but they literally have no recourse until the dog makes a disturbance/accident.

IMO, there does need to be an official service dog registration database and the dogs should have official certified papers. Not those fake little certificates you can get from any telehealth appointment. My boss has one of those so she can fly with her dog in her lap instead of in a cage. I believe it was when I was in France visiting last summer, I was pleased to learn that service dogs there must have their own little officially issued photo IDs! The cards even state the trained task and who to call in addition to emergency services should the handler ever be incapacitated.

The emotional support animal people love to make drama and shout about how they're gonna sue. It's kind of their thing; part and parcel of the ESA personality. No one ever does. Bc they don't have a case. ESAs are not protected in any way. They know that and they're just trying to exert some kind of control over their sad lives by making things worse for other people. I didn't let them bully me. And I don't (re)patronize restaurants that let themselves be bullied.

It is very, very easy to tell a ESA from a service animal.

Anonymous wrote:What do to about it?

Stop patronizing businesses that allow it. Literally leave mid-meal, or mid-shop if you see a dog, and make sure to tell a manager why you're abandoning your transaction on your way out.

Now, that doesn't work for most people and many circumstances. I'm too busy to walk away from my half-full shopping cart. It would be too awkward to leave a group of friends in a restaurant. But that's what it would take.

In the meantime, we can compile a list of known offenders and avoid them. Gotta make sure they know why you won't return, though, so they can make a change. I'll start:
The Line Hotel lets dogs into its restaurant. I was there recently and a dog was climbing on the benches, wandering up to other people's tables begging, etc. The waitress just shrugged. If I hadn't been with friends visiting from out of town, I would have walked out then and there. As it is, I will never patronize The Line again.

It's not the businesses fault, though. They can be sued for denying services/entry to someone with a fake service dog. The business can only ask 2 questions: is it a trained service dog and what task is it trained to perform. That's it.

The business can't even ask them to leave until the dog makes a disturbance or has an accident inside. Those are the 2 ways even legal service animals can be asked to leave.

My sibling is a GM at a restaurant and deals with the fake service dogs daily. They hate them as much as their patrons but they literally have no recourse until the dog makes a disturbance/accident.

IMO, there does need to be an official service dog registration database and the dogs should have official certified papers. Not those fake little certificates you can get from any telehealth appointment. My boss has one of those so she can fly with her dog in her lap instead of in a cage. I believe it was when I was in France visiting last summer, I was pleased to learn that service dogs there must have their own little officially issued photo IDs! The cards even state the trained task and who to call in addition to emergency services should the handler ever be incapacitated.

Anonymous wrote:The laws definitely need to be changed for this. There should be a mandatory minimum requirements checklist that every “service dog” needs to satisfy in addition to actually performing a necessary medical function. Employees (restaurant workers, airport officials) and government representatives (including police) should be allowed to demand to see proof of both of those things. There should be fines and even criminal record consequences for those who don’t follow the new rules. Fraud at a minimum.

+1 new laws are needed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do we get people to stop doing this? I was in restaurant and someone walks in with a tiny poodle of some variety. Staff asks that the dog stays outside. Women protests saying it's a service animal. As I'm leaving the dog goes absolutely wild aggressively barking at my baby in a stroller. I didn't say anything. Should I have? What gets people to stop?

I don’t care what kind of dog it is if a dog is “wildly, aggressively” barking at my kid (esp if it is a baby in a stroller) I’m full on yelling at the owner to control their dog.

You didn’t say anything? this has to be a troll. Good god.

How about the poorly behaved kids and adults? They can be far worse than dogs.

GTFO. I will not EVER take someone seriously who compares dogs to children. Wild that you'd put your stupidity out there for everyone to see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do we get people to stop doing this? I was in restaurant and someone walks in with a tiny poodle of some variety. Staff asks that the dog stays outside. Women protests saying it's a service animal. As I'm leaving the dog goes absolutely wild aggressively barking at my baby in a stroller. I didn't say anything. Should I have? What gets people to stop?

I don’t care what kind of dog it is if a dog is “wildly, aggressively” barking at my kid (esp if it is a baby in a stroller) I’m full on yelling at the owner to control their dog.

You didn’t say anything? this has to be a troll. Good god.

Right? Even service animals can be denied if they're causing a disturbance or aren't under the control of the owner.

Anonymous wrote:It is actually illegal to ask what service the dog provides. But you can ask to see their official paperwork and should.

For something like $79 you can buy fake paperwork off the internet, a harness that says "service dog" and other items. You need to be sure about what you're looking at.

..
You are wrong on both counts.
It is PERFECTLY LEGAL to ask what task the dog provides and 100% illegal to ask for paperwork. Stop typing, you're a danger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do we get people to stop doing this? I was in restaurant and someone walks in with a tiny poodle of some variety. Staff asks that the dog stays outside. Women protests saying it's a service animal. As I'm leaving the dog goes absolutely wild aggressively barking at my baby in a stroller. I didn't say anything. Should I have? What gets people to stop?

I don’t care what kind of dog it is if a dog is “wildly, aggressively” barking at my kid (esp if it is a baby in a stroller) I’m full on yelling at the owner to control their dog.

You didn’t say anything? this has to be a troll. Good god.

How about the poorly behaved kids and adults? They can be far worse than dogs.

Anonymous wrote:The laws definitely need to be changed for this. There should be a mandatory minimum requirements checklist that every “service dog” needs to satisfy in addition to actually performing a necessary medical function. Employees (restaurant workers, airport officials) and government representatives (including police) should be allowed to demand to see proof of both of those things. There should be fines and even criminal record consequences for those who don’t follow the new rules. Fraud at a minimum.

No one has the right to know someone else's personal medical history. Are you going to discuss your history with everyeone?

Anonymous wrote:How do we get people to stop doing this? I was in restaurant and someone walks in with a tiny poodle of some variety. Staff asks that the dog stays outside. Women protests saying it's a service animal. As I'm leaving the dog goes absolutely wild aggressively barking at my baby in a stroller. I didn't say anything. Should I have? What gets people to stop?

I don’t care what kind of dog it is if a dog is “wildly, aggressively” barking at my kid (esp if it is a baby in a stroller) I’m full on yelling at the owner to control their dog.

You didn’t say anything? this has to be a troll. Good god.

Anonymous wrote:I remember people blaming restaurants for allowing this. I hope by now everyone has recognized that we can't blame the businesses. Imagine not wanting the dogs inside, but nothing can be done about it. This is the reason it has got so out of hand.

If businesses find themselves affected by it, they can lobby for a change to the local ordinances. Hell, DC is going to overturn a popular law that a majority of voters wanted just because restaurants are butt-hurt about having to pay a living wage. We have to make the business owners care. And they've demonstrated that hitting their bottom line is the only thing that will get their attention. Not hygiene, not safety, not basic civility. Money.

The laws definitely need to be changed for this. There should be a mandatory minimum requirements checklist that every “service dog” needs to satisfy in addition to actually performing a necessary medical function. Employees (restaurant workers, airport officials) and government representatives (including police) should be allowed to demand to see proof of both of those things. There should be fines and even criminal record consequences for those who don’t follow the new rules. Fraud at a minimum.

People need to stop being "fake nice" to these jerks.

I get that it may not be an establishment's fault, but you can give eyerolls, sideeye, or snares to the people who are clearly abusing service animal rules.

Real service animals are barely noticeable. They will not wander over to your table, they're not going to be in a sling or purse, they're not going to bark (unless the handler is in medical distress).

I remember people blaming restaurants for allowing this. I hope by now everyone has recognized that we can't blame the businesses. Imagine not wanting the dogs inside, but nothing can be done about it. This is the reason it has got so out of hand.