I've been training my dog to act as my service dog. I haven't had any issues when I have taken him out (yet) as I expected because he is a pit bull. There have been quite a few stories of stores refusing to allow service dogs that were pit bulls access.

He has an in training badge on his vest as he is still learning that when he is working he needs to 100% focus on my needs and not try and get attention from everyone wherever we are!

This week I am going to bring him to the grocery store. Normally I have to have someone take me to push the cart. He has been to other stores with me and pulled the cart... so time to try the grocery store. I really need to shop and no one has had the time to help.

If you want to PM me, I can put you in touch with others who have Pit or Pit mixes as Service dogs. I can also point you to some excellent resources for owner trainers.

It's not legal for them to question specifics about your disability, and if it's random customers being rude, I wouldn't respond. If it's cOming from store employees, then their putting their employers at risk for a lawsuit.

If anyone would like specifics on the law, please let me know and I'll post later. I'm headed out into the jungle myself shortly...

I know the laws. But, people are people. I'm working with one grocery now to educate their employees. Two other stores in town I have never had a single issue with. But one store - the employees are always asking me things. The public has no idea, generally, about the laws about service dogs.

Not responding is one way to handle it - but I see myself as part of the overall service dog partners community. Sort of an ambassador - most service dog users feel this way too. If I am rude to them - it sets the tone for other service dog users they might meet other times. Sometimes a few words of explanation can change someone from skeptical to amazed that a dog can do all the things they can to help people with disabilities. I try hard not to be rude to people, even when I am in a lot of pain. If I am really short on time, I just say she was trained to help me, and I don't know what I would do without her help.

I was just pointing out that having a dog out in public can be - umm - difficult.

Most people are just curious or are dog lovers. They don't think about what they are asking.

I stopped in the local grocery the other day for milk, OJ and bananas. Sounds like a quick stop, right? I was stopped by 4 employees wanting to pet, talk to, ask about my dog, and 7 customers. One of the employees wanted to give my dog a tootsie roll from her pocket. And, I try hard not to make eye contact or encourage people to come up and chat.

Just wanted to make people aware that although it sounds good to "be able to take your dog with you everywhere you go" - that there are responsibilities and challenges that come with this.

I have been at this for 4 years now. Just when I think I have heard every comment or question, someone out in public comes up with something new.

The ADA gives the disabled the right to use a service dog, and gives many specifics. Each state has laws too. The US laws "trump" the state laws, but the state can add to the US law. For instance, the US law does not recognize dogs that are in training, yet some states do allow for dogs in training to be taken into places dogs are not normally allowed.

To make things even more complicated, housing and air travel are not covered under the ADA, but under separate laws. It can be tricky to understand the laws for different situations, different states etc. It's a hot topic on many of the service dog forums I belong to, and I've been to many service dog seminars where understanding laws and access were a big part of the event.

The IAADP that I referenced above helps members with access issues and with knowing and understanding laws.

LitLove, if your considering using a service dog, there might be things it could be trained to do to help you with your individual issues. For instance, mine learned on her own to alert me to muscle spasms, also when I am starting to become tired, and am pushing myself, my pain goes up and she alerts (nags me, really) till I stop and rest. They can do all sorts of things.

It's one thing to speak to employees, but I personally have a problem with people feeling they're entitled to my medical history because I pre-board a plane for example.

I understand that having a service animal brings attention as well as expense, and a whole host of other issues. It might help some become more functional.

I've considered it for various reasons over the years, and don't think it makes sense for me at this time. But when I was forced to spend more time in public years ago when I was raising my son, it would have helped...

Interesting post. I am considering getting an assist dog. My family would like me to have one now. I think I would train my own starting with a pup. Still wondering, as one with CRPS, what benefits a service dog would have for me? I have read the assists above. I especially like the help with balance issues since I too have that difficulty. I usually use my electric wheelchair when I go out. I do find many doors that are difficult to open because they do not have the automatic openers installed on them.

Thanks!

How many on this forum have assist animals?

Hi daylilyfan,

It's very nice of you to cover so much information.

There are differences, as you have pointed out, between states re: service animals and housing regulations. Not every state has laws which support, or are in compliance with the federal ADA/HUD regulations. Since this is the case, a landlord can challenge a service dog on the premises in the state without laws/regulations in alignment with the ADA/HUD regulations, etc.

It can be a big job to bring a state into compliance. If anyone has this as a goal, I'd strongly suggest using a team approach to getting this done in your state. For the most part, disability law projects will support these changes, as these changes benefit the disabled. Thus, disability law projects are a great resource for legal support/legal strategy in meeting this goal.

You had mentioned educating people in stores you frequent, etc. What a great idea. Some of the service animal organizations have had brochures which have been helpful for this.

When I had my service animal, which I had also trained to service tasks, I took her to area malls and restaurants, etc, to educate the staff in these places. It was critical to make sure the mall security office and security force was up on the service animal laws. I would make appointments with the store/restaurant managers. I had literature and my dog. I was not paid to do this. I had wanted to help to pave the way for people just starting out with service animals.

There is a great deal of information out on the internet.
There is a lot of misinformation, as well. I hear therapists ill-advising their clients, telling their clients about their absolute rights with service animals, with companion animals, with emotional support animals. It's rare such absolutes exist. Please be sure to do your research before you get a dog to train, if training your own. I have seen too many people get erroneous information, including from ill-advised psychotherapists, and then have to give up their dog, which has been devastating.

Regarding housing issues, if you rent your housing, please check your state laws regarding whether or not landlords must accept service animals, emotional support animals, companion animals-- and under which circumstances and in which types of housing, etc. It's more complicated than it appears at first.

Federal regulations trump Service Animal Public Access/Public Accommodations issues.

Federal regulations do not necessarily trump any state housing regulations, etc. Again, please check your state's laws/regulations.

Daylilyfan has also mentioned the IAADP. Great organization. Great resource for anyone interested in Service Animal training, laws, regulations, etc.

Nice job, daylilyfan, sharing so much information.
You are quite an ambassador.
You have made it easy for me to simply fall in behind you and support you.


DejaVu

This is an interesting thread.
Thanks so much for starting this topic.

I agree with you. Our relationships with animals can assist with our daily coping and our healing. While people tend to focus on Service Animals, it's true ... ESAs can be so very helpful. While ESAs often do not enjoy the public access protections of laws protecting the rights of service animals to enter stores, restaurants, public places, they can be adequate and so very helpful in the role of an ESA or a companion animal.

I've had a friend be suddenly convinced, by a very unbalanced therapist, that my friend had needed a Service Animal, immediately. As I was talking with my friend, I had asked why she'd felt she'd needed a service animal? This friend had come to talk with me about this, as she knew I had trained service animals in the past, etc. I had been friends with this person and this person had no limitations in traveling, in public places, etc. In fact, this person travels nationally and internationally with no problems at all. She has so much fun on her trips. This was all very strange. The therapist had convinced her she'd needed the service animal as a companion (?) on these trips and had additionally convinced my friend the airlines would have to remove a seat for the dog on international trips, etc. It was clear to me the therapist was not only confused about the definitions and roles (and laws) pertaining to the various roles of support animals, this therapist was also making the person much more dependent than the person had ever been prior to meeting the therapist.

The therapist was clearly misinformed and was also misinforming her clients. In this state, a doctor, a therapist, a social worker can write a letter qualifying their clients for either a service animal or an ESA (if in some types of rental housing and not allowed to have animals on the premises). However, it's not a free-for-all. The therapist had no clue as to the state or federal laws/regulations and seemingly no clue as to the needs of her own clients' true needs. I had been asked to meet with a few people after they had been misinformed by some local therapists. It can set someone up for ongoing hardship to prescribe a service animal, when an ESA is truly adequate. Some people lose their animals because they have been very misinformed. Sad.

I spent a lot of time explaining the differences in the capacities, and the training of the animals. Lots of extra costs and extra responsibilities can come with Service Animals. I had strongly encouraged my friend to settle for an ESA, as this was in her best interest and fully serves her needs.

This is a very important topic. It's critically important everyone does due diligence in researching the truths about the laws and regulations, both federally and within their own state of residence... before securing an animal.
Do not fully trust the (mis)interpretations of some of the people serving in roles where they are allowed to prescribe/verify the need of an animal acting in a given capacity. You may be in a position of having to give up your animal if you don't make sure you fully understand the truth about the criteria, the roles, the laws/regulations.



DejaVu

Hello,
I would love to get some more information from you, as well as your input to help point me in the right direction. I have a fantastic, sweet hearted pitbull that I rescued as a baby and I really think that she would be perfect.She is 4 now(we think), solid muscle and is nicknamed my shadow because where I am she is. My White Sheperd/Lab Mix has been my service dog for over a decade now but shes getting up there in age. And is extremely protective of me ever since I became completely wheelchair dependent, I just don't want to push her, I'd rather her enjoy her last years and start training my pit to take over. I appreciate your information and time. I look forward to chatting with you.
-KNottYwHeeLz