I think service dogs are amazing. I really don’t see how they are pests and it’s unbelievable that people can be refused access to places with their dogs. They’re highly trained animals serving an important purpose, they’re hardly going to cause any trouble. I take off my hate to those who train them.

[…] Service Dogs: Pets, Pests or Medical Equipment? (jjslist.com) Filed under Cerebral Palsy, Tools and aids – Tagged with Cerebral Palsy, Chicago, Dog, Florida, Golden Retriever, Ikea, jj's list, Sarah Goldberg, Service dog Share this: […]

I was the one who posted the original story about Wedgewood Farms. My wife went ahead, after much trepidation, and visited the township police station, about the incident. The only person they let her speak with was a young police officer who essentially discarded her complaint about the restaurant but finally went to speak with a Court Clerk, who apparently told him that the police did nothing to enforce NJ Title 10 laws. Somehow or other, the matter percolated up the police “chain” and the matter turned into a COMPLAINT about the officer who original responded. My wife grew fearful (not surprising in light of a form letter she received pointing out that if the complaint turned out to be false) there were legal actions possible against the complainant) of retaliation from local officers. As it turned out, a lieutenant in the police force finally reached out and advised that investigation of the “complaint” (which WE had never filed) proved that the police response had been negligent and that administrative remedies (including a training session for all officers on ADA requirements) were being put in place. He further THANKED her for bringing the matter to their attention and apologized for any worries she may have experienced.

It seems ridiculous that you cannot even ask to see if the dog is ACTUALLY a service dog. Just b/c someone tells me it is a service dog does not make it so. And if you think that is not possible, go to Walmart on any given day and see how many people park in the handicap spots who are not handicap. I hate to break it to you but we live in a world where people don’t always tell the truth. I am happy to allow any service dog entrance, but only if it is, in fact, a service dog and not just a pet you want to take everywhere. Just like with parking, you have to display a handicap sign in your car, you should have to display some authorization for the use of a service animal.

Perhaps the confusion is coming from business owners who cannot determine if it is in fact a service animal. I shouldn’t be allowed to take my dog into a building and a business owner should be able to refuse me entrance…UNLESS I can show that the dog is a service dog. Then I don’t know anyone who would have a problem. Again, handicap signs in cars, service dog signs on dogs.

[…] this video clip I am helping the owner increase her level of influence over her service dog. Dale McCluskey’s Dog Training is located in Saint Cloud […]

I love this article, it’s so educational. I have a service dog, as I am deaf and I can’t count the times I’ve been frustrated because business owners turn myself and my service dog away, it happened so often that I went to the society where I acquired micha( my service dog) and asked if there was anything they could do to help me and they have Micha a tag clearly stating she was a service dog, as if the harness wasn’t enough. Thankfully he buses where I live have priority seating at the front where people in wheelchairs or with walkers or strollers or service dogs can sit, it’s nice to be able to take Micha on the bus without any hassle. I should show this article to some business owners that still won’t let me on premise because they don’t believe Micha is a service dog. Thank you for the amazing article.

So what prevents any person who has a dog with him when tey come into a business from just stating that this dog is aservice dog? Must Owners provide proof?

When you have to have a government agency and laws to make American’s do what we would do naturally, ( Helping people, helping neighbors, helping strangers)
America has forgotten or never taught the 10 Commandments. If we all followed these commandments I would not nor would anyone be writing a comment.

I have a service dog who is a chihuahua. He is an alert service dog. Because when you look at me you cant tell that i have a disability, and my service dog is being carried, a lot of people give me grief for having him. I completely understand where they are coming from and offer his id immediately when asked about him to help people understand and i try to educate that there are more than just service animals for the blind and people bound to a wheel chair. I like when people are comfortable with me and Dakota being there. Not talking smack when i walk away from me being rude. Its all about education! I think people with service dogs should have no problem showing proof that their dog is a service animal

i would love to get more info for the survice dog. i have trying to find one for my self for years.

My family owns a restaurant and unknowingly refused a service dog. From our perspective we had no choice, because multiple staff members have servere allergic reactions to dog hair. The police were called to explain to us the federal law,so we allowed them to stay. The man, in the end, chose on his own to leave without eating. While yes, service animals do good for their owners, there are legitimate reasons for refusing entrance.

ADA states allergies or fear if dogs is not an allowed reason to turn a service dog away.
As a business owner there are 3 questions allowed by law you may ask. 1) are you disabled 2) is that a service dog 3) what job does the dog do.
Anything else is against the law including asking for proof. A Department of Justice complaint (proven) starts at a huge fine, it was $110, 000 fir the first complaint and over $300,000 after the first time. That was the fine 2 years ago when I looked it up and provided it to a local place that did not want my dog. They quickly decided he was allowed.

Great article. I have wondered at times about the pets I see being brought into the cabins of airplanes, but usually these animals are small and cause no problems. However, a couple of weeks ago I was flying from Miami to Houston. In the United waiting area, I was lunged at by a very large German Shepherd – not once, but twice. The dog was very menacing, and he and his family were sitting across from me. He was showing his teeth and barking. The people were almost as aggressive as the dog, shouting at me that the dog did not like me, and that was why he was reacting that way. I was a bad person, and the dog was basically a good judge of character. I told United about it, and they did not care, at least so far. The customer service gentleman in Houston did listen to me and took down a report, but I have not heard from the airline, except for two automated emails. Anyway, moral of the story? Watch out for viscious, fraudulent service dogs even in airports. Public, beware. Some of these fake service dogs are actually dangerous.

The sad reality is that most people are ignorant of the law. In california, people feel that they are entitled to bring their dogs with them everywhere, or that carrying your dog into a business is acceptable so long as you don’t let it touch the floor. People also buy service dog vests online (which is also against the law). It’s normally very obvious by the behavior of the animal whether or not the dog is a service animal, but if a manager approaches the customer they lie and say it’s a service animal or therapy dog (which is also against the law and has a fine associated with it.) In starbucks I often pull the managers aside and point out patrons with dogs in the store. True, there are exceptions where an owner has the right to allow dogs and I am respectful of that (and often don’t frequent those places), however in most places where food is served, grocery stores etc, only service dogs are allowed. I’ve always lived with the idea that just because I love my dog, doesn’t mean that everyone else does. I always keep him on the leash in public places (other than fenced in dog parks) and make him wait outside when I get my coffee on sunday am. I feel like this restaurant story most likely has two sides, so lets not hate on the owner too much as I’m sure non-service dog owner idiots like the ones in southern ca, probably forced the owner to have to take a hard stance on animals in the restaurant. As regular dog owners we need to be more respectful and responsible so that actual service dogs can do their job .

My late former roommate was a guide dog user throughout the last few years of his life, and I can remember 2 instances where he was denied service. One was a taxicab driver and the other was at a nearby diner. The taxicab incident got resolved right away when the driver summoned another cabbie to come pick up my roommate. The other incident got resolved when my roommate reported the restaurant to the then disabilities specialist for the City of Evanston. The restaurant owners were very quick to apologize. I’ve also been to said restaurant, and these owners have been good to me and my roommate though when he was still a cane user. They are from Korea and probably just didn’t understand the use of the dog.

I work with a teacher who is an insulin dependent diabetic that has an implanted pump. She has an “alert dog” who wears a vest while on campus. She brings it in her classroom, cafeteria and teacher’s lounge. She allows the dog to roam freely throughout the classroom, pee on pads which she just dumps in the classroom trash can (and expects the custodians to take out the trash), brings it into the teacher’s common eating area, and lets it go up and down the hallway. She often picks it up and carries her from location to location (it is toy-sized). The students play with it throughout the day, allow it to climb onto their laps, and brings it around on campus with its leash. The dog has on more than 5 occasions-to me personally-“greeted” me by leaving the side of the diabetic, run across the room and either lick my feet/toes, gets underfoot and creates a need to establish a different path into the classroom. I love dogs, so thankfully my reflexes did not come into play which would have like resulted in me kicking it off my foot, across the room.

This teacher is also extremely messy and unorganized so the dog has access to all the student supplies left out like glue sticks, pens/pencils, papers and backpacks. She also allows the students to eat in the classroom and they often leave crumbs/debris on the floor desks that the dog will eat.

At what point can I resolve this issue so either

1) the dog must stay at that teachers side WALKING, on the leash,

2) students do not interact with the dog while it is supposed to be working.

Please advise.

Great article. I wondered about the advice to call police to “have them explain the ADA.” Police are charged with enforcing *criminal* statutes. They have no oversight of civil law. Rather like ‘disputes with your neighbor over property lines’ the only thing the police can do is tell you that they can’t do anything and you should call a lawyer.

I’d encourage the author and readers to reconsider this one piece of advice. Calling police officers for things that have nothing to do with their job is frustrating for them, achieves nothing for you, and takes law enforcement resources off the streets.

Just to be clear – this is a common point of confusion, and the author is hardly alone in that misconception. It is otherwise an excellent article and, IMHO, spot on.

Hello,
I am so impressed with the quality of the conversation on Service or Assistance Dogs. I do stand by my instructions to call the local police to if one is refused admission. If the person who was refused entrance wishes to continue to a higher level, a police report is an important document. The second reason is that the business has committed a crime by denying access of the team and the local police are the first line of defense. Many times police officers when presented with the proper information can talk to the business owner and actually help smooth things over.

I was denied access to a hotel with my 2service dogs and was harassed as well as my service dogs. When I went to go get help I got someone to come back and help me try to explain the laws to the hotel people the hotel people had my dogs taken away from the room I rented and I was kicked out. the hotel did not have any signs not permitting service dogs so I was completely in tears of what was done to me and my service dogs. What can I do to report this place

I have a chihuahua. I have carried him in a backpack for almost 14 years. I have asthma and he is trained to react. I never put the backpack on the floor. At a restaurant I was told I have to place the bag on the floor, I refused. Then today going into Sams they told me I either need to have him on a leash or carry him. What? He is in a backpack! I do not know where to go to find rules on this.

In response to rcv’s comment. You claim that many people park in handicap parking spaces that are not visually handicapped. All disabilites are NOT visible. Not ALL disabled people require a wheelchair. I am sick of the judgmental people and their comments when I get out of my car when I park in the handicap spot. Should I be required to show you proof that I was deemed Disabled by the Social Security Administration? Should I be required to show you my medical records proving that I am disabled? Should I lift up my shirt to show you that I have a feeding tube that will stick with me for the rest of my life as a result of my metabolic disease? In order to get a handicap plate or hangtag, your medical doctor has to complete a form that is presented to the BMV. I have been to hell and back and I do not appreciate ‘healthy’ people’s comments on what they cannot see with their eyes. I’m also sick of returning to my car and finding that someone (with no handicap tag or plate) has parked on the blue striped lines inbetween the handicap spots making it damn impossible to get into my car to leave! Someone actually was still in their car with the windows rolled up and refused to make eye contact with me when I informed her that she was parked illegally and was preventing me from getting into my car. I had to climb through my passenger door posing risk of pulling out my feeding tube!! This country is full of selfish, close-minded people. Show some respect. It’s not always black or white. For the rest of my life, I will live in the grey.

The law reads that there are 2 questions that can be asked of the service dog hander, be it in training or in actual service:
1. Is this a service dog.
2. What is the service dog trained to do.

Not “trained to do for you” or any invasive question. These are enough. Any mis behavior on the part of the dog or handler as regards aggressive behaviors, etc. are met with being removed from the premises. Simple as that, and it’s nobody’s business what the disability is or why the dog is a service dog – period. Just because someone in the public has a suspicion of some sort or a rant does not mean they have the right to complain here or anywhere else at the handler/team. It is a crime to deny access to the team, just as it is a crime to imply that a pet is a service dog. A police report is an important document when needed. It is not pleasant to advocate for oneself in the face of an irate business person or the public, but it is our right to do so.

My husband and I own a hotel and a woman registered and said she had a service dog. We had no problem with that. She said is was for her retarded son. She let the dog urinate on flowers in our teak garden area. As she was putting that dog in our garden suite, another large dog starts running around wildly, pooping and the entrance to our hotel and continued running through our garden seating area and pooped again. The dog was without a collar. The owner finally came out of the suite and called her dog. I questioned why a service dog is running loose. She went off on me about laws etc.. She was extremely rude about me questioning her at all. She said she was going to sue us and will probably own our hotel. I feel she was fraudulent and hurts others who have legitimate service dog needs.

I ;ive in an apartment building. Can I park my electric scooter in the hall way to recharge? My apartment is so small and cannot accommodate my scooter.

Hi Lynne, I would suggest you contact your building manager or landlord first to find out if you can park your scooter in the hallway.

you didn’t say what not to do around service dogs. that’s the whole reason why I came on this site.

I don’t see why an owner of an establishment can’t ask for proof that a dog is a service animal. Too often people take their dogs into establishments saying it is a service animal when it’s not.
If you are disabled you have to have a placard issued by the state to park in a handicap zone, why not proof for the service animal? This is one law that is abused.

Albeit, I am in Ontario, our laws are similar enough to share this- I was refused service today and I did call the Police. My dog is a self-trained service dog and I have a prescription note for her from 2 Doctors.
My understanding in both countries is I am only required to show this note to a Police Officer, Security as to protect my privacy.
Today, I showed the note, showed my medications, explained my condition- facial/ cranial Neuralgia and how my dog warns me, helps me stay steady, will yowl for help if I fall and keeps me calm when the neuralgia kicks in.
The Officer was wonderful, realized my dog was fulfilling all criteria and went down and explained it to them and helped solve the issue.
This is not my normal way of handling this but was needed in this one case. Other times I explain who she (Mikmak) is and what her job is. I have never had a problem. I also took her to all the places I go regularly and introduced my pup to each business early on and let Mikmak get familiar with these places so its nothing new and surprising. These are my safe spaces and she knows to take me there to get help. She is 2 now and I’m looking forward to watching her and how smart she is at figuring out how to help me. I could never have had this with Mikmak had I not picked her and trained her. We are a team- I clean her paws and she stops my falls.

I appreciated this article, thank you. 🙂

Are service dogs required to have insurance?? I have heard that the company that train service dogs will provide insurance. Is this true??

Hi Jody,
Please take a look at the ADA requirements and FAQ sections regarding service animals. Here’s a link to ADA revised requirements: http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
also a link to the commonly asked questions section: http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm.

I have a restaurant, I always ask 1) is That a service dog? and 2) what kind of service. I have never have a problem , my concern is when they want to sit the on the booth and feed the from my plates! Other customers get really grossed out and leave! I love dogs but is there a rule about this?

I am a Disabled Veteran who is being denied access to the Denver VA Dental Clinic because I have a Service Dog. They put up a sign that says “NO Service Dogs allowed in Treatment Area. I have had to pay out of pocket for services at a civilian dentist.
What can be done? Not just for me but fellow Vets coming back who need Service Dogs.

The article does not explain how to determine iif the dog is actually a service dog or the pet of someone lying about it. Is there some document that can be presented?

My wife was bitten by a dog not properly controlled and working ion in the medical field I have seen severe injuries from pets when there was no provocation.

I have been a general manager for many years with the hotel industry. Recently there has been a number of service animals come to the hotel. Florida law says that we have to take them perviding proof of resistry of the animal. Anyone can go on line and print one off, also I had a doctors wife that was traveling and she had her husbands office write her something on letterhead. Yes we had to take her. My question is what about the people that have a reaction from animal hair. I can’t beleive how people are anymore. If I were traveling with a service animal, I beleive that I would choose a hotel that excepted pets. The service animals cannot be charged a pet fee and thats what it about anyway. Just like the ADA Lifts that have been required for all swimming pools. Fortune has been spend and the lifts will never be used, just sets there and rust.
I feel that this is one law that needs revised.

I have a packet for corporations and small business owners that will guide them on the proper procedures to make sure that the dog is a Service Dog. Please contact me for the packet.

I live in North Carolina and have a trained service dog for PTSD. In NC my dog is required to be registred with the Department of Health and Human Services, display a tag from NC, and I am required to carry the medical prescription that was writing by my doctor.. Do other states not have the same laws in place? These laws are for NC and have nothing to do with the ADA.

I have a hearing dog. The woman who pushed me for several years to apply for one gave me some great advice: first thing to do when we got home was to introduce ourselves to the local police.

This came in very handy when one store called the cops on us (unknown to me). The man who walked in saw us, smiled, and said (to me,) “Oh! Hii. All with a large smile. Then he explained to the owners of the store that yes, I was allowed to have my dog with me.

She had two years of training before I got her so this is one well trained dog. I continue training – and she responds to English, the bit of Sign Language I know and use, and Spanish. The Spanish she learned from me..

Now we’re off for a walk and to practice alerting to when the bus arrives — I can’t hear it drive up.

As for ID, she carries it in her vest pocket along with pick up bags. Now, off for that walk.

M&M

Thank you for this post which I found whilst trying to locate information regarding taking my service dog to business establishments out of the country.
My service dog is quite small, approximately 3-4lbs. He is carried quietly is a personal carrier and is trained to ignore all attention from others while he is on duty and doing his job. Most people have no idea his is with me and when someone notices him and tries to get his attention they are often confused that he won’t respond. Usually explaining that he is a trained service dog is enough, if not I explain that he has a job and he takes it seriously. I am recognized by the federal government as disabled and over the years I have gone through periods of feeling inferior and mortified that people will notice or point out my Disability. If people ask what his job entails I usually mention only his most remarkable function, which is to alert me to low blood sugar. I am not diabetic, part of my genetic disability involves extreme blood sugar drops. Before I got Simon passing out from sudden drops in blood sugar happened daily, often several times a day. He is so effective at his job that I have not passed out in over a year. Earlier today he woke me from a sound sleep to alert me. I was so confused at first, I didn’t believe him. I felt fine. I even wondered if it was that he wanted a snack, which he refused when I offered it. He is also trained to ignore snacks and dropped food and refuses to eat when out with me in a restaurant. I finally woke enough to eat something. The remarkable thing about these dogs is that they can alert us to blood sugar drops 2-3 hours prior to any meter is able to.
I feel lucky that no one has refused us service or entry. One nurse commented that she was allergic and would need to go home itching soon. Simon is of a hypoallergenic breed, I suggested she enjoy her time off but it would have nothing to do with him. A security man in a supermarket asked me if I was sure he was a service dog. “Yes, I’m certain.” While hospitalized the nursing staff have asked where my service animal is, he is so subtle they haven’t noticed him in the room although he is noted in my chart. We have not been separated since his training, he goes everywhere I go. He has never barked or called attention to himself in any way. While I am so grateful for his unique abilities and skill ultimately I would give anything not to need him, to be able to live my life normally like everyone else.

Nice Article! I liked in your way of description about on how to give training for a dog. I have a dog which is taking training from http://www.animalidshop.com which provides Service Dog ID, ID card, Gift Card, Membership cards, RFID PVC card provider etc. Thank you for sharing this article with us.

I have a question. My friend said that a service dog attacked her daughter. How likely is this to happen,or in fact would a service dog ever attack anyone?

I work in a casino and we do admit service dogs. However we are finding more and more that people are coming into the casino with a service dog but another person, friend or family member is taking the dog to the other side of the casino, leaving the person with the disability without the presence of the dog. What can we legally do?

I have a seizure dog who is to sleep with me, etc… She goes everywhere with me and is complimented on her manners. Because I can’t get out much, I feel she needs more training when I CAN get out. My husband doesn’t want to take her to many places and he has never seen her in her role. I feel she should go everywhere so she will learn not to be distracted at new experiences, etc… She does well and minds well, but we have certain things we need to work on. I feel I need to do the deciding and doing what we’ve done for training. Her and I have a intuition with each other, but it’s hard to explain. If I took her to church, she would lay at my feet in her small holder or sit quietly and sleep touching me at my side. I’m questioning my self. Please help!

How should other children treat a service dog that will be used on a daily basis in a 1st grade classroom? What training should the students get?

So Helpful! Last night, my handler/trainer and I were harassed by a new assistant manager who approached our team- me and my Service Dog, who is professionally trained for tasks that mediate PTSD. He is a 95lb German Shepherd Dog who was lying at our feet, “being itty-bitty”, as he is trained. This mgr. knelt down, pointed his finger at my husband’s chest and said, “I know I can’t ask this, and I know that’s not a service dog and I know YOU know it’s not a service dog!”
My husband followed him back to the office where another mgr. told the offender he cannot call the police (He threatened, after my husband told him the facts.) Symptoms began, and my dog braced. We settled up our tab and left, much to the consternation of guests who never knew dog was there, and staff who knows us and my SD.
It was a sleepless night with night terrors triggered by the confrontation.
We returned after church today to meet with the owners with the hopes of obtaining an apology from the offending man.
I know the ADA pertaining to SDs by heart.
What we got from 1 owner was “give us a heads uo, did you advise the hostess (yes), We can’t bring our dogs in here, etc., etc.” He agreed to send the boy over to apologize. After a long, tense lunch, he came over, shook my husband’s hand said, “Sorry about last night man I was outta line.”
I extended my trembling hand to shake his and accidentally spilled half a glass of beer on the table.
The guy spun away got a towel, wiped the mess and walked away, saying nothing.
The elder owner saw all this go down. Husband told younger owner we can’t come back. I hugged my friends goodbye, sad that I can’t go back to the only place I feel safe in that area.
Interference with a service dog or harassment of dog/handler is a crime.
The elder saw me crying and told husband HE would talk to the boy himself and call us back. It’s been 4 hours and no word yet. We are waiting bef I realized filing complaint thru local ADA/DOJ.
He didn’t make us leave, but he triggered stressors, dissociation, night-terrors, and flashbacks.
We wanted to spare our friends trouble and also teach the young man about the ADA and SDs.
As of now, I am inclined to proceed. Advice, support?? Thank you, and will keep you posted. The state is SC. ( Columbia), and the establishment is The British Bulldog. Please do not contact them if you’re offended. They may have more trouble than they can handle.

The reason they cant ask for training proof is its legal to train your own dog. My dog is a mastiff breed, American Allaunt. I’ve trained her myself. I have documentation from my medical provider, they have observed the training and have approved the benefit of the animal. Eva, is well mannered, never barks, sits under the table, never leaves my side. I haven’t had any issues so far. Ive been using her for about 5 months now. This is why the law states the rights to the Handler /Trainer are the same as the disabled person. To allow a training period for owners with less resources.

People need to understand the difference between a service dog, emotional support animal, and therapy dogs. The public is not educated and see all assistance animals as the same thing.

[…] Service Dogs: Pets, Pests or Medical Equipment? […]

service dogs are so brave.

we are proud of the service dogs. their so cool when you train them. America service dogs are awesome.

I was in a library typing at a computer when another patron’s “service dog” jumped on me from behind and grabbed a tuft of my hair. The dog owner was nasty, she stated “excuuuuuuuse me” when I confronted her. The library staff who witnessed it told me “that doesn’t happen{?}”. I wrote to the library director who told me on the phone “the dog has papers and you can come into view them”. If the papers weren’t purchased the dog clearly has lost all its training. Does this happen to other people? I thought service dogs were not supposed to seek attention from others (jumping, nosing, putting their head in your lap). Perhaps I am ill-informed?

I am disabled with sever pain every day, and I’m dealing with depression, and I’m alone, Looking for a very small puppy, a lap dog will give me much comfort. I’m looking for mltipoo.