Service dog debate rages
by Pets
There have been some pretty intense exchanges over the “Sonoma Pets” story on the definition of a service dog. The story had to do with getting a service dog tag from Sonoma County Animal Care and Control and what some consider to be a lack of oversight for the program.
What has been the most striking part of the debate is the insistence by some posters that if there is going to be a service dog, then it ought to be easily identified. I don’t know what that means, unless all service dogs “look” a certain way.
The flip side is people complaining that if the service dog isn’t easily identifiable, then by golly, the disability for which it is in service for, ought to be.
Visible disability and visible service dog. As if having a disability isn’t a challenge enough, public display is demanded to make others feel comfortable.
Another poster noted the issue is larger than service dog access but this country’s attitude toward pets in public in general. One poster, who had lived in France, noted that it is not at all unusual to see dogs in restaurants there, and it’s usually the owner of the restaurant ready with dog treats.
One experience I remember is riding the high-speed rail (TGV) from Paris to Lyon. In the chair next to me was a beagle, sound asleep, while his owner calmly read the paper. No body was making a fuss. Nobody was complaining about the smell. Nobody was complaining period. Nobody was demanding to see his service dog tag.
Yes, there are some people who fail to do their homework and do not train their dogs appropriately. But that, I suspect is pretty rare. But as with most things, the rarity somehow makes it an example of why all should be banned.
I’d like to think there is a middle ground. It’s called tolerance.
Sue McGuire 
Great blogging. This is so true. The US is becoming more and more animal intolerant. We allow animal rights groups to take away more and more freedoms and to dictate how we treat our animals. Hooray for Service Animals and the right to use them.
by Cathy K
Q. Does a service dog have to have ID tags, a vest or a certificate to be a service dog?
A. No – the Americans with Disabilities Act), does not require certification or any type of identification to be protected under the ADA laws.
I loved your article..”tolerance” is a really great quality to remind all of us..thanks!
by Charlyne
I am just puzzled with people who “think” the ADA laws have a loophole or something is “wrong” with the laws. The ADA laws are hundreds of pages long. No one but an ADA attorney can even read, or understand or interept all these different aspects of the law.
I fail to see what the problem may be? Has a Service Dog actually created an actual “problem” here in Sonoma County..?
Why are people with no background in disablity law even having an “opinion”? It took so many people, so much money and time to create the enormous ADA laws already!
With what all is happening in our world..war, earthquakes, economy, etc…would it not be a great idea to spend our focus on really helping out with these truly important issues?
Instead of making such a fuss that someday you may see a dog in a store or church that is there to HELP somebody?
Standards for Service Dogs have already been set up. I posted some of them already. CCI doesn’t need to create more standards..the ones in place are adaquate already.
And frustrated, unhappy people see Service Dogs helping out and want this to be some type of real problem that needs to be fixed? Why?
And if some senior citizen has their “toy poodle” in the Kaiser waiting room..and it’s not “official” but helps them feel less afraid…WHO does this actually hurt? Oh..God help me here…I live here in Wine Country becuase people are NICE…please try and just be nice…or at least..not so ..well…bickery!
by Charlyne
I too have travelled abroad and loved the attitude toward family pets. The restaurants we visited had resident pets and everyone seemed to have Fido with them resting beneath the table or on the bench beside his owner. Well behaved and quiet. We could be the same but this country has a phobia about germs. Even though there seems to be NO connection between having a family pet and contracting disease. In fact, pets lower blood pressure, and increase life span. I agree with you completely. Having to somehow “label” an individual with their disability is wrong. But there are just some sour, unhappy people who post on these sites and never like anything. I have come to ignore them.
by Sandy
On a trip to Seattle about a year ago, traveling around with my Friend and his service dog was quite eye opening. We were seated and prompty ignored for 30 minutes at one restaurant. When we got up to leave, we got a snide “Sorry, its busy today.” We went to another restaurant down the street, and along with glasses of water for us, the waiter brought a bowl of water for the dog, without even so much as a second glance. The kitchen staff made our meal, and with the permission of the dog’s owner made a snack for the dog too, no charge. The wait staff, and kitchen staff were sure to greet the dog as we left, they clearly loved having the 4 legged service companion as their guest.
by Jeff B
you are right service dogs are needed for different reasons but the law states that service dogs are privileged. Disabilities are not a bad thing and isn’t the issue. Its the way people abuse the use of service dogs is. With out a marking, harness, Tag of some kind there is no way of knowing. Guide dogs have harnesses and vests. Disabled people who park in special parking spots have to have a special plate or tag in there window. So why is this an issue coming up that service dogs shouldn’t be marked. In the past they have been but recently so many people are useing there pets as Service dogs when its just loneliness. Real disable people deserve this right not lazy people that take advantage of the laws or the rich stuck up people who use there dogs as show pieces. Pets are loving animals and some have higher senses that are able to help people, most are just the family pet.
Not all owners are responsible and not all dogs are trained the same. So unless you plan on demanding a certain training you cant look at every dog the same. Behavior, temperment, training vary with breeds.
by Misty
I see a person bring her dog to starbucks every day. This is a mutt with no vest identifying it as a “service dog”. It is merely a pet and she has starbucks employees shaking in their boots and completely afraid to even approach her about the dog. I raise guide dogs. I encouter these “service dogs/pets” in public and they are not well behaved. It is ridiculous that anyone can bring their dog into a establishment without having to identify the purpose/agency the dog is associated with.
by Mary
If my PET is not allowed, your pet is not allowed either. I don’t care why you have it with you. Sign says, dogs not allowed, Service dogs welcome.
by Mary
okay..how about this for an idea! Let’s make all the “human people” have legal tags too!
” Just a lonely person”
“REAL disabled person”
“Lazy person who takes advantage”
“Rich stuck up person that uses my showpiece dog”
This way..we can ALL be completely assured that we know everything we feel we need to know about absolutely anyone we see in public!
by Charlyne
PS…and we start another goverment agency called Sonoma County PEOPLE Control…and everyone has to pass the GOOD CITIZEN TEST and get tagged before being allowed out in public (or on blog sites)
That way we can be assured we only rub shoulders with the “good guys” …and if we get all our foreheads tattoed..then we don’t have to worry about accidently covering up our “legal tags”.
Yes?
by Charlyne
Aren’t non-service dogs forbidden from food stores? I see what appear to be companion dogs, (usually with their overweight owners) shopping at Safeway, Olivers etc. They need the dog to shop?
There is absolutely no reason a pet owner needs to take their pet into the food store, deli, restaurant, etc.! If they don’t want to leave the pet in their vehicle- don’t take the pet along on the shopping trip. I don’t care how lonely, compassionate, deranged, or whatever the pet owner is, they do not need to have the animal with them at all times.
OK to bring pets to a pet store but a food store?
by Cara
California health code cannot supersede federal law when it comes to access for service dogs. So no, service animals cannot be barred from grocery stores.
For regular ole pets, they are not allowed in grocery stores or farmer’s markets.
They can be allowed at any restaurant that has a patio with access to outdoors.
I am sorry…but what does a person’s weight have to do with anything?
by Pets
A person’s weight or how much money they have, or if they are “really” disabled or just “lazy” etc. have nothing to do at all with the discussion of the role that Service Dogs play in the lives of the disabled.
These comments have to do with bigotry, prejudice and discrimination. It is obvious that this discussion has degraded to name calling and hate mongering..of an aspect of society that ..before the ADA laws, had very little recourse to defend themselves or receive equal rights.
I hope most people who post on blog sites now know that to disparage and degrade a certain aspect of society is not really “politically correct” anymore. I no longer see racial slanders for example. So to read how easily people give their very negative and in some cases, just plain ignorant “personal opinions” of the disabled has shocked and dismayed me today.
I am very sad that there seems to be so much hatred and lack of even the “desire” to understand something you know nothing about…very disheartening. I truly hope these posts are not representing who really lives in Santa Rosa. I would not like to believe that this is anything but only a FEW disturbed and unhappy people, so desperately “needy” themselves in some way, that they need to say these type of things on a public forum.
I have been participating in this discussion as a disabled person who has a legal Service Dog. My intention was to educate and inform. With the idea that by doing so, people would come to understand and learn something they didn’t know before..and in this education..would come to have more understanding and compassion for other types of people with different needs than their own.
I hope perhaps something I may have shared has helped someone. And for the any other disabled with Service Dogs who may be reading, please continue to hold your head high..and know that you do have value in our society and you are worth being respected..and that not “everyone” seems to be able to DO that..but that has to do with who THEY are..and nothing to do with you.
by Charlyne
Thank you for your insights, research, and advocacy, Charlyne. I chuckled at your post suggesting a “people control” agency. You asked: “Has a Service Dog actually created an actual “problem” here in Sonoma County..?” The P.D.’s own Wine Country Mom reported an incident that bothered her greatly (http://winecountrymom.blogs.santarosamom.com/10501/dog-poop/ ). While I give her credit for achieving tolerance and compassion, it took her a while to get there, and the anecote she relates shows how small and selfish people can be. Overall, the larger, and extremely well-funded programs concern me –and I am a former puppy raiser for GDB. In particular, adding to the animal population by maintaining a breeding program — and the creation of a demand for service dog “rejects” and “dropouts” is plain wrong, in my opinion. Families won’t look to their shelters for pets, as a result. Llkewise troubling are the compulsive training techniques and their behavioral consequences …. and the moral issues surrounding commanding a sentient being to duty…. Many issues here and thank you for the discussions.
by gr8nsmall