http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/...ach-Purse-Is-Not-A-Service-Dog-327425491.html
People are increasingly buying "fake" service dog vests online for their pet dogs so they can bring their pets into stores and restaurants. I first became aware of this issue last year, and since then I've seen a few probable fake service dogs. Most recently I was on the sidewalk when I almost bumped into one; at first I tried to give it space thinking it was real but it quickly became obvious it wasn't. It wandered around everywhere, sniffed things at random, tried to wander away from its owner and just generally didn't pay much attention to its surroundings. At least they were outside, but I'm sure the owner takes the dog and its vest into stores as that's really the whole point.
Another issue is the confusion between service animals and Emotional Support Animals. ESAs don't have nearly as strict standards for what qualifies. Basically, if you have some kind of mental illness and the pet makes you feel better you can probably get a letter certifying it as an ESA. This woman stretched the limits of this issue by taking turtles, snakes and other random shit into stores and restaurants. (warning, it's long)
Unlike service dogs I believe no one is required to allow ESAs into their establishment but apparently a lot of people think you have to.
Have you guys seen any of this bs going on near you?
People are increasingly buying "fake" service dog vests online for their pet dogs so they can bring their pets into stores and restaurants. I first became aware of this issue last year, and since then I've seen a few probable fake service dogs. Most recently I was on the sidewalk when I almost bumped into one; at first I tried to give it space thinking it was real but it quickly became obvious it wasn't. It wandered around everywhere, sniffed things at random, tried to wander away from its owner and just generally didn't pay much attention to its surroundings. At least they were outside, but I'm sure the owner takes the dog and its vest into stores as that's really the whole point.
Another issue is the confusion between service animals and Emotional Support Animals. ESAs don't have nearly as strict standards for what qualifies. Basically, if you have some kind of mental illness and the pet makes you feel better you can probably get a letter certifying it as an ESA. This woman stretched the limits of this issue by taking turtles, snakes and other random shit into stores and restaurants. (warning, it's long)
Here’s what happened at the Chanel boutique: “Hello. I’m looking for a pocketbook that will match my snake,” I said to a salesman. “Maybe something in reptile.” I shuffled Augustus from one hand to the other as though he were a Slinky.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, I have a thing against snakes, so let me get someone else to assist you,” he said, as if he were telling the host at a dinner party, “No dessert for me, thank you.”
A colleague appeared. “Wow,” he said, leading me to a display case. “We do have snakeskin bags back here. Is he nice? Does he bite?” The salesman handed me a smart, yellow python bag marked $9,000. “I think this would work the best. It’s one of our classics. I think yellow. Red makes the snake look too dull.”
Unlike service dogs I believe no one is required to allow ESAs into their establishment but apparently a lot of people think you have to.
Have you guys seen any of this bs going on near you?
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