Certified ADA Coordinator and fellow disabled person here! The things you said that make a service dog a real service dog are true. There needs to be a disability present and the dog needs to be trained to do a task to assist with that disability. However! The 3 task requirement is a myth!! There only has to be a minimum of one task! I'm really passionate about people knowing their rights under law, and wouldn't want someone thinking that just because their dog only does one task (like picking things up for example) that their dog isn't valid! They are!!
The three tasks might be a borrowing from UK law, where the minimum standard is three tasks (or it was last time I checked the Equality Act, but with the current clowns in Parliament, who knows what's happening)
Service dog user for 6 years here. A couple years ago a small child came up and purposefully scared my dog (he was little but old enough to know better). I told him he could not do that and to leave my dog alone. He laughed and ran away. A minute later he ran over and hit my dog quite hard. I have never seen my dog so terrified. She cried and was shaking. When I bent down to touch her she flinched. That made me cry. 😢 the kid laughed and I picked up my 50 pound dog who was too terrified to move and carried her to a corner. Through teary eyes, I looked for a parent. I confronted the mother and she said that it wasn’t her problem that her kid did that and he didn’t mean anything by it and that she didn’t even see it. I was in a store with at least 50 people. Two cops were there. Not a SINGLE person said or did ANYTHING. This was two years ago. She is still afraid of small children. She is getting better but if she sees a small child running or screaming she cowers. I share all this to say that this is a dog I had had for 4 years at this point. I can’t just retire her and “get a new one”. That’s not how it works. I had someone with a Shiba Inu with a service dog vest once, attached to a retractable leash, attack my service dog. I had to work with a private trainer and spend $1k to help her get over her fear and reactivity after that and it’s still a work in progress. Because of these incidences she takes anxiety medication daily. An old co-worker of mine once fed my dog a treat without permission. I do not know what it was. Ended up having to rush her to the vet after she got violently ill. $800 for medication and supportive fluids. It is IMPERATIVE that service dog users get more protections and more education for the general public. Thank you Molly for doing your part. 🐕🦺
A few years ago I was in a store, and a kid RAMMED my SD from behind with a cart. He targeted him from some distance, and many people saw it. It was hard enough to dislocate the kneecaps from both back legs. NO ONE helped or said anything to the parents or child. I had to help my dog. People suck. They simply suck.
@@littlebitofhope1489 I hate that I’m not alone in this 😢 in my state it is actually a misdemeanor for a person to harm a service dog or allow their animal to harm a service dog. Unfortunately, my mind was also on my dog’s well being and not getting the mother’s name and the cops there did nothing. I don’t know the laws in all states but there should be similar laws everywhere and they should be enforced. I hope your dog is doing better today.
@@littlebitofhope1489I am so sorry for this. People suck. Unfortunately in the last 10 years it seems like everyone who sucks feels entitled to suck as much as possible.
I drive Uber part time. Every person that I pick up that has a service dog with them has told me that the previous drivers canceled because they did not want to take a dog. They always say “it wasn’t worth the headache to stand up for my rights”. It breaks my heart. Because of your videos, I’ve learned the things that are helpful for those with service dogs. Moving the seat forward so there’s some extra room for the dog to lay down, telling them which side I’m pulling over to let them out, etc. Thank you for educating us.
ADA person: *explains how they need this dog* driver: doesnt matter its a dog not a child....i may work for a company but its my car so its my rules...you dog owners are too entitled anyway...there are thousands of medical devices that you could of chosen....its not my fault you chose a disgusting dog. that was your choice now live with it. some of us dont like dogs, have allergies, are scared of them, or cant be around them because of their religion. what are people like that supposed to do. you nutters really are a selfish bunch...no wonder why they are calling for dog free spaces in the U.K. people like you need to think more about others and how imposing your dogs on to others affects them. do you know that because of you nutters I have to clean my car out every time i get done driving your kind around because someones shitbull slobbered and crapped all over my seat? ¨he was car sick¨ look i dont care its a dog not a person. if you need to bring a dog with you get a stuffed animal and stop burdening people like me! yeah ive dealt with people like those lol....
Someone I worked with had a service dog for sight-loss, and it was attacked by another dog on public transport so it ended up too scared to take public transport anymore, and had to be retired early. Very sad, thankfully it retired with his own family but such a shame.
@sillysoz this is why pets are not allowed on public transit in my area. I used to feel torn about that since some people may need public transit to access a vet, but obviously ADA access (human access) should be a priority over pets.
I'd like to bring a different perspective here... I live in Sweden and I have NEVER seen or heard of fake service dogs. It is NOT a problem AT ALL. And here we do have strict rules about who's allowed a service/guide dog. You need to meet certain criteria in your disability (such as severe sight-loss) and then you get a trained dog from the official facilities, and it always wears a special vest while working. You need to pay for the personal training, I believe, but veterinary costs and medications etc. are covered by the state. You can also seek stipendium to be able to cover part of the training cost. The official facility also do check-ups once a year to see that everything works well with the dog and its leader. This system works more or less perfectly regarding the lack of "fake" service dogs. Why on earth would you in the USA NOT want it regulated?? That way the fake dog problem would cease to exist! No one who doesn't need a service dog is able to get one in Sweden - problem solved!
Fake service dogs make it hard for actual real service dogs to be accepted and acknowledged. I understand emotional support animals but if the animal is not properly trained and causes issues in the places they go, then that is an issue
People also make the assumption they have equal rights (they do not), and if you know nothing and someone came in with a dog saying it’s emotional support you might not know that they are not service dogs.
I would not use emotional support animal and service animal as one topic. An emotional support animal is when you get you get access to have an animal in your private space (aka apartment or dorm), a psychiatric service dog is trained to be able to go into public which needs training.
There is no such thing as emotional support service animals. Esas r NOT service animals. Those r two completely different things. Esas r not trained like service animals.
ESA's are NOT service animals, no matter what nope nope. They are not trained to do task specific things in which makes a service animal a service animal. ESA's are meant to be emotional support at home.
What I'd like to see in the US is a government sponsored ad campaign explaining service dog laws. I'd also love it if there was a soft checklist of how your dog should behave in public. Not a 'if you don't follow this, your dog isn't a service dog under the law.' More like: here is how a well trained service dog acts when accessing public spaces.
Yes I was just thinking back to my days working in customer service (cashier, waitress, etc) and was never trained on anything around this topic or any ADA policies. I think even just a small training booklet or pamphlet that explains the legal rights regarding this issue for the employee training process would be helpful! At the end of the day good customer service very much includes providing a pleasant experience for customers with disabilities and it’s a shame this is overlooked and some businesses approach this issue with hostility, I think gov education would be such as improvement
@@avmitch11 Thank you! Thinking about it, you are right. No one told me about what businesses are expected to do when I worked in customer service in person. People in non customer service jobs need to know too. The two people I've had the most issues with were a security guard, and a doctor. Security guard demanded papers. The doctor said we couldn't come for reg check ups at the clinic only allows 'mobility' service dogs. 3rd person (who was honestly just confused.) Was a theatre manager that said they only allow medical alert dogs. No idea how or where ppl get this specific language. Tho, biggest issue I have is elderly ppl petting my dog without my permission
@@avmitch11I live oversea in Europe, and was thinking about how it works here. I just had to redo a required course of safety training for any basic job, and there wasn’t anything on the topic. While service dogs are not common at all where I specifically live, it should be something to be aware of, the very basics could be easily teachable in less than five minutes and a couple slides. I feel like this is one of the many faces of ableism, and the more I go on with my life the more I see it around me or directly impacting my own life. It’s sad, and it became infuriating over time.
@@karmica7591 I work in a call center. I got a call from a person with disabilities asking about an accessibility for an event we do. And while we had a 'service dogs allowed here' we didn't have info for their disability. And it was a fairly common one (Also thinking about it now, it's weird the website says service dogs allowed. Cuz they are whether they say so or not. It's not an environment that could put ppl or a dog at risk by being there....huh. Might run something by my supervisor next time I work ((said company is very open to feedback from employees. I'm speaking from experience; they've actually used my feedback to make a few things better.)))
My mom had a mobility service dog (passes your requirement of disability + 3 tasks) who saved her life when she fell on an icy day in a secluded parking lot. Mom cannot get up without help, just can't get out of a chair without help much less off the ground, and Mariah forced her own body under her and wedged her against a car until she was able to crawl up enough to reach for her phone and call for help. She was BIG for a service dog, but it saved Mom's bacon that she was able to basically brute force my mom up enough to get help. So there's a happy good girl service dog story for you.
@@littlebitofhope1489but you're just saying that the default is the US and if you're not from the US you should have to state that. I know Molly is Canadian, she talks to her guide dog in French which is a bit of a clue. I'm sorry if I've misunderstood what you mean, but it really sounds to me like you're saying that if you're posting about the law then you should say if you're not from the USA
@@sophiehobley828 Molly also lives in the US most of the time and follows US laws. That means people can be referring to many different countries. So yes, it would be nice to indicate if you are talking about a different countrie's laws. And no, I am not saying the default is the US, but the Default WOULD be the US and/or Canada.
Hi Molly! I’m American. I have Cerebral Palsy, migraines, Complex PTSD, and chronic pain. Prior to getting my first service dog, I applied to 3 programs. I was denied by 2 because I have multiple disabilities that went beyond what those programs could do for me. The program that approved me quoted me $10k for a fully trained Husky. Because of this, I opted to owner train my dog for mobility tasks, PTSD, and migraine alert. During a migraine, I sometimes see spots. Sophie could SMELL them. She just KNEW. But the amount of times I got bullshit from neighbors and housing management was ABSURD. Sophie was a Bernese Mountain Dog too and only barked ONCE when I was stubborn and ignored a migraine alert. I just had another meeting with another apartment community and was told ‘Service dogs can only be 20 pounds.’ When I explained that’s illegal, I was told that’s ‘policy’. I did not get the apartment. In order to get around the pushback i got for needing Sophie, I had to have my psychiatrist write an ESA letter so that she’d be allowed to live with me. State law covered me for SDIT training Sophie passed away unexpectedly last year and I really need another service dog, but I am honestly hesitant to have another service dog at this apartment.
For housing, you would be looking into the Fair Housing Act where "assistance animals" have the right to be accommodated. Assistance animals covers both service animals (as defined by the ADA) and support animals. www.animallaw.info/sites/default/files/HUD%20FHEO%20Assistance%20Animals%20Notice%202020.pdf I hope this helps should you choose to pursue a replacement.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Sophie sounds like she was wonderful with you. I also can't figure the only service dogs under 20lbs restriction. Typically service dogs are 50+ lbs. That policy 😅 better be applied to all children. No child in apartment unless it is under 20lbs at age 7 or whatever 😅. All children under age 3 are prohibited! Big security deposit must be paid for noisy potentially destructive child. Better have a license 😅 for that child! Human kids look for things to break. Dogs that get reasonable exercise generally don't destroy anything. I refuse to babysit kids now. I will gladly petsit dogs! Children can give anyone a migraine. There's no such thing as a therapy child 😅. There are therapy dogs 🙂.
my therapy dog can tell when i am about to have a full blown migraine. but hes not allowed to go anywhere with me. if i dont lay down in dark i fall and get sick. i havemultiple chronic conditions but have been denied getting any help for them. my lung problem, migraines and ocd allow me to work from home and am not required to come in, but i cant find any other help. im glad to hear you were able to get a dog though . at least some people are getting things they need so that makes me happy.
@@jenniicaroline Since I do not know more about your dog than what you just shared, I wanted to let you know the following: A Therapy Dog is a type of working dog that through a program and with permission from public locations like schools and hospitals are allowed to bring emotional comfort to people who are not the handler.
I have had to correct coworkers many times because Ive heard them say "yeah, thats not a service dog, its a tiny dog in a cart." But Ive met many people who have small dogs that are diabetes medical alert service dogs who are very well trained and not misbehaving. So long as the dog is behaving, I assume it is a service dog regardless of size.
@DaniAlexandria my kiddos first service dog when he was 2 was a chihuahua. She retired and then he had a Jack Russell mix. The 2nd dog is nearing retirement and we are starting another Jack Russell pup. My son has been bitten by 3 large dogs. While he absolutely loves dogs, he is scared of anything big. Plus, the tasks he needs help with can be completed by almost any size dog. He had a brain injury at birth (cord wrapped around his neck 4 times leading to an anoxic brain injury) along with autism, sensory processing disorder, adhd, and has had seizures. People think our dogs are pets or emotional support. Even when retired, our chihuahua worked until she passed away this spring at nearly 17.
@@ClearwaterKB I relate to this so much.. For me my family doesn't like dogs and really doesn't like big dogs so that wasnt an option as the tasks I need my cavalier does but I run into so many more issues/entitlement from the public because she is smaller and cute. I am glad your family has found breeds that work well for your son
@hailyjohnson407 Service dogs legally cannot be in a shopping cart. By law. So there assumption is 100% correct. A small Service dog will be on the floor heeling. Small dogs are allowed to be carried or in a chest pack the handler has but NEVER in a shopping cart. And legally u can ask the 2 legal questions and tell them to take the dog out of a cart. I don't want a dogs ass where I set my food. And SD or not it's a ADA & FDA violation. So assuming a dog in a cart is fake is accurate since true handlers know the laws. I say this as a Service dog handler of many years & a Service dog trainer..
Hey Molly! Fellow guide dog handler here, whose dog is privately trained. I will say, i agree with your hot take. I have always said, as long as their dog is well behaved and not bothering my guide dog, I don’t care. I’m not someone to judge why someone has their dog in public as I don’t know if they have a disability and it’s not my place.
I agree with this to a point. However, I'd like to bring up one thing: One of my best friends is severely allergic to dogs (and other animals). her dog allergy is among her least severe allergies, but it will still cause her a reaction that will put her in bed for a day or two if exposed to dog allergens without proper pre-medication. The mere presence of more dogs in public spaces means there will be more dog allergens. then you have the fact that a less well-traiined dog will likely do a lot more shaking, fast movement etc which will create air-currents, spreading the allergens around further. So for that reason, although it doesn't affect me myself personally, I do think non-pet-friendly spaces should be respected unless the dog you're bringing is a legitimate assistance or guide dog.
I agree. My service dog has a long history and she's the best dog I have ever had. I don't care as long as their dog leaves us alone. But I don't accept those that say they have a service dog and that it doesn't require to be on leash. I don't think that is a responsible service dog handler. Sorry, not sorry. Blessings....
@@Scarletlight525 I call BS. People carry allergens on their clothing. If your friend was "severely allergic" they could not be around pet owners either. Tell your friend it is HER responsibility to remember to take her medicine, and if she only has a reaction when the dog is around, I think she really has factitious disorder. There will be allergens in public spaces where a dog NEVER visits, due to allergens on clothing. That is straight from Allergy specialist MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, and is why Service Dogs cannot be denied access due to allergies.
"It is so tough bringing a giant toddler with me!" - PREACH!! 😂 Also, the absolute absurd level of entitlement that those people had the audacity to tell a guide dog user that they have a fake service dog is unbelievable!
Yes I feel like a guide harness with a well known or explanatory label, and literally seeing it guide its owner into the store all counts as obvious what the dog does - therefore shouldn’t be questioned!! Editing to say, at least in the us - sounds like they aren’t supposed to ask in other countries too from how she explained it.
As a manager of a grocery store I make sure every meeting to remind them of the questions they can ask and what to do if a fake service dog is in the store misbehaving. Usually I let them know as long as the dog is behaving reasonably and is not messing with other customers or the food I’m fine to leave them alone.
@@Allbites While it's true that the health department requires pets to be excluded, the ADA provides very strict restrictions on what can be asked about an animal, and what constitutes a reason to exclude it. Therefore, if the handler says "this is a service dog, and it is trained in x, y, z tasks" the business cannot exclude it unless it is behaving badly. At that point, the legal responsibility is on the handler, not the business. The business clearly has a policy that only service animals are allowed. As soon as any animal starts messing with customers or the food, it has started behaving badly, and, service dog or not, can be asked to leave without violating the ADA.
Thank you for stepping up and making sure that your employees are educated both on letting service dogs do their job and getting misbehaving animals removed.
@@Allbites I worked in retail a long time and while I don't disagree with you about Health Department regulations, I can tell you from other regulatory issues that I've seen where two agencies have policies that unintentional collide the main deciding factors are 1. Money- fines/ lawsuits 2. Who's going to be able to enforce there law/regulations more readily. Interestingly it not always who you'd think it would be. typically it's the local Fire Marshall first and OSHA second and for better or worse health Department is lower on the list how low depends on if fresh food is served/made, food is sold, or no food is sold . I know for a while there was group of well intentioned but ultimately misguided people that tried to go around and force the issue on various ADA guidelines many times in my experience when we didn't or could not meet them the fire marshal (for good reasons) prevented the simple actions needed that would have complied so we did the best we could to honor the spirit of the ADA ( there are some gray areas when the fire marshal is involved) and a couple times when the group pushing access issues filed lawsuits things that had been less than ideal but functional and workable were just totally removed from the customers options/ services/ experience. Doesn't make it right but it is the reality for the corporate world.
@@kylecarter6890 The problem with that is ofcourse that the dog has already behaved badly in that case. It would be nice to prevent bad behaving dogs to enter, so I still think an ID is better.
Hey Molly! As a guide dog and service dog trainer (GDMI and Atlas CT), along with a service dog handler myself, I appreciate you covering this topic! **One thing to note regarding ADA laws in the US is that a dog only needs to do one task. While there is a lot of misinformation regarding task training, and I've heard the "3 tasks" myth a lot over my career, the law actually only required one task.** Hope that helps! Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue! I truly believe education is the solution as well
Nope, you are incorrect, which is troubling for a supposed trainer. According to the ADA, Service dogs are NOT required to task. You do realize that there is an "or" in the second question for good reason, right? (The 3 tasks is not a myth, it is an ADI requirement but is not a requirement by law in the US). You really should know this stuff.
@@littlebitofhope1489 Hi Little Bit of Hope! Looks like you had a really strong reaction to my comment. You are correct in that the dog can do a task OR do work, but generally the work they are referring to is a body of tasks together, such as guide work. The ADA does require the dog to be trained to mitigate a portion of your disability. The key difference there is that the dog is trained, vs. an ESA that provides comfort or whose presence helps your disability, but is not trained specifically to mitigate the disability. And like I mentioned in my comment, the ADA requires one task (or work). ADI does not govern US law.
@@DoggyU Incorrect. That is not the definition of work that the Department of Justice of the United States uses. I find it interesting that you felt necessary to demean my comment by implying I was over reacting though. Nothing in my comment indicated that, unless you consider simple facts an overreaction. But thank you for correcting your error in your last sentence. It's really not that difficult to do.
For anyone reading this and looking for wording, here's the definition of a service animal under the ADA: "Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of “assistance animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “service animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act. Some State and local laws also define service animal more broadly than the ADA does. Information about such laws can be obtained from the relevant State attorney general’s office."
@@DoggyU Using the actual source is always a good idea. I would also recommending reading the NPRM which will give you the history and some context as to why they differentiated the definitions, and why it is so important to Service Dog handlers. Knowing the legal definitions is also important if you are going to educate. I know I had to know them inside and out when educating about them. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. Thanks for taking the effort here. It shows that you care about what you do and about disabled people and their Service Animals. Most channels snark and ban you when you correct them. I am impressed. I will highly recommend your channel in the future.
It's such a difficult topic. On the one hand, it would be morally wrong to make life harder for people with disabilities. On the other hand, the existing lack of regulation, training requirements, official ID, and other things allows for MAJOR exploitation by jerks who want to bring their pet everywhere. For example, I was at a work meeting in a government building and a colleague brought in his dog with a "service dog in training" vest. Ok, no prob. It was well behaved and just laid there. Until an actual service dog walked in. My coworkers dog went nuclear. At the end of the day, I don't know whether my coworker's dog was legit, but what I do know is that his dog had absolutely no business being in a public place. At least, not until the reactivity is addressed.
“In Training” means exactly that. The dog is being fostered and raised by someone who is first putting it in situations where it learns how to behave so they can assess if the dog is acceptable to be a service dog. After that they move on to giving the training appropriate to the service it will provide. If they judge that the dog cannot adapt (too reactive, too timid, whatever) then the training process will be abandoned and the dog will be adopted out to a loving family. The training cannot take place in a vacuum or closed off from the world; it has to experience real life situations.
Its not the fact that it makes it harder for handlers. They do not have a registration in the US to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and avoid situations similar to historical abuses, like mandatory identification (think WW2).
@@Lois-New-fae In many states, dogs in training tdon't have public access rights though. Obviously it's great if they can get public access training while with a puppy raiser, but from what this comment describes it does sound like this dog was brought out prematurely.
But the jerks will have no problem faking all of it. They'll find fake vests, fake cards, fake id's, fake doctors, fake dog trainers... because if you're a jerk you don't care about that anyway. So it won't deter them. It will deter the people who do it properly.
@@Lois-New-fae Absolutely. The thing is, a dog that is "in training" does NOT have the right to disrupt or harass a fully trained working service animal. This person's SDIT was out of control. Lunging, snarling, hackling. It wasn't just a whine or bark. It was a full on episode. Highly distracting and scary. SDITs do need to experience real life scenarios in order to train, but they should be gradually socialized, not thrown in the deep end to the risk and detriment of service dog teams that can actually function in public places.
My friend put it great regarding service dog behaviour in public spaces: "my dog is held to the same standards of behaviour as I am in public. They would also kick out any human for shouting, lunging at people, peeing on things, etc."
I wish this was the case. Sadly they don’t. Some people have very poor behavior and are not kicked out. I’ve come across so many people/kids behaving very poorly (screaming, running around, licking hands and touching produce) and they are allowed to stay. My dog is often better behaved than the majority of the children we come across and sometimes adults too.
I'm disabled but not a service/assistance dog user but I will say an important note is don't distract assistance dogs and their owners. "Oh can I pet him" etc. If the owner says no then respect their response.
I think it’s rude to even ask I might be in the minority on that but I don’t ask people to touch or use their wheelchairs or other medical assistance devices
@@Lady.Fern. 100% - it is obvious that a dog is working - DON'T ASK just stay away or speak to the handler as if the dog isn't there. "Hi, how is your day?" "Welcome to the store, let me know if I can help."
The amount of people that get annoyed by saying no. My dog has a vest I paid for that says do not distract and has pictures for don’t touch,or speak too. So that the pictures are there for all languages and ages…. Still makes no difference. I’ve had a lady walk around the shop following us and distracting my dog, I’m not legally blind so she isn’t a guide dog, but I need her for my own disabilities, including anxiety and seizures, this woman triggered a seizure after 30 minutes of her behaviour, and then when I said to her would you do that at the park and pet every dog, how do you know it won’t bite you?? She said no dogs ever bitten her yet and yes she does!!!!! I was like wtf!!! 🤬 so angry. Thankfully it’s been a tad easier the last few months. But I expect every time.
YES! If the vest has markers indicating that it is not okay to touch, then don't even ask the handler. Just ignore the dog altogether. I've also had so many people talk to my SD and try to get his attention and they think it's okay because they're not touching him and I have to ask them not to do that. Even with pictures and words on his vest stating to ignore him, no touching, talking, eye contact, or photos. It drives me nuts!
This is such a great explanation about why these fake service dogs are such a problem. You are 100% right. If your dog is barking and pulling on the lead and ignoring the handler … then the dog should not be in the establishment.
I think the biggest issue, is exactly what Molly says. At least for me, a person with legitimate disabilities (for which a service dog would be beneficial ) I often feel like I would be seen as not “disabled enough” to the public to be accepted, because of the existence of fake service dogs.
But then if you did seem "disabled enough", you'd instead get a lot of flack because "you're too disabled to even have a dog!" It truly is a no-win situation.
I have wondered that as well because a good amount of days, I am walking fine and getting things done. The rest of my disabilities are in my head. Seizure dogs would be a good example where the handler looks fine, as well. If, by chance, I actually leave the house, I have noticed other service dogs out and no one looks stressed. I don't know if it is because of my city is accepting and knowledgeable, or the handler is accustomed to getting harassed. I don't want to stop everyone I meet in person, either. I have been on some very nice FB groups where you can ask for info, but I can't remember what I am told.
I think the judgement comes in when the fake service dog is acting out/in a way a typical service dog wouldn’t act (jumping up on strangers/counters, barking etc) and less a reflection on the level of disability a person has. But that’s just what I’ve seen
@@Goldstar00 I mean, I've been told or given looks that translate to "you're not disabled" just parking in handicap parking spots. I just figure if I look normal and have a dog, people would find something extra to complain about.
Honestly it's not fake service animals to make people be seen as disabled enough. I have a serious invisible disability and people don't understand how I have a service dog and ask lots of invasive questions.
i totally agree with everything you said. Only thing is that to my understanding, under the ADA service dogs only have to be trained in a minimum of 1 task, not 3. I’m not very well versed in canadian laws though. the papers thing is so true! just yesterday i had the security at a hospital say they require service dog papers. it turned out okay, but it’s ridiculous the amount of people that are misinformed.
Yes, and I think that’s important because some truly vital service dogs like the ones that sense oncoming cardiac or diabetic emergencies might not do three tasks, but the one or two tasks are super important. But hopefully the full standard anywhere is (a) does the tasks required to help their person AND (b) is trained to be in controlled, working mode in all kinds of situations and does not lose their cool around other dogs while on harness or in vest.
@@ninaradioYeah I’m thinking some alert/detection dogs. Seizure, blood sugar, etc - also gluten detection or other allergen detection. Certain mobility issues possibly (but those would probably be easier to break up into multiple tasks). Most alert dogs do mitigating/helping responses; but I could see people having very legitimate reasons to not have their dog do various things I see.
Not a service dog owner - just a regular dog owner to one giant dog. It is insane the amount of times I've seen small dogs yap away like maniacs, trying to lunch themselves at my dog and the owners not doing anything to stop them - in fact, they continue to approach me and my big dog with their dog yapping away, clearly ready for a fight. And then they get shocked when my dog snaps, barks and lunges for them back... The difference in treatment towards dog owners with big dogs vs dog owners with small dogs is insane. My dog is a rescue and gets stressed very easily and will act out. As a result, I've been yelled at, spat at, slapped in the face, and told by multiple grown men that they want to beat me up and "kick my dog in the face"... Now, whenever someone approaches me in public, I immediately go into fight or flight. I don't even have to have my dog with me. The fear and preparation for a fight kicks in before I even realize I'm not on a dog walk. I've seen so many small dogs do the exact same things that my dogs do and people laugh at it or shrug it off. I wonder, if this element also feeds into the discrimination towards you? I wonder how people would react, if it was a smaller dog... ofc that's not feasible given the job he is required to do.
This is exactly my experience. People with small dogs will not take the time to train them. In my country people just believe that small dogs are naturally more aggressive which is not true, they just lack basic training 😢
It really depends on the dog. My GSD mix is getting over reactivity issues in public, but he is a very handsome dog with a friendly face so people still love him. He can do no wrong it seems. But one time I was at Home Depot with my perfectly well behaved pit/rott mix and a lady screamed and ran away.
I've been a pet sitter for over a decade. Many dog owners tell me their pets are well-behaved and friendly around other dogs. Sometimes this has not been the case when they are out with me. So I am always cautious. Some of the dogs I sit bark incessantly (beagle) if they see another dog, some have high-pitched yapping barks (King Charles spaniels, chihuahuas). If I see another dog get excited and start pulling on the leash and jumping, I will always walk the other way. So, many people will say "it's okay, my dog is friendly". I always say, I am a pet sitter and I don't know how the dog(s) will react to your dog. They usually don't pursue it further. I had a friend that said all dogs should be trained to be "good canine citizens".
I used to walk two chihuahuas belonging to my housemate and my elderly neighbor. Even with the city leash laws, many people use the city parks and open spaces to let their dogs run around off leash, even though there are dog parks nearby. On every single daily walk, I had to stoop and scoop up both tiny dogs when someone's loose dog would launch toward us like a guided missile. The owner would eventually saunter over, saying, "Don't worry. Rover doesn't bite." To which I would reply, "My dogs DO bite if they feel threatened. Kukua doesn't realize he only weighs 6 pounds and he reacts defensively when a bigger dog rushes him. Churchie is an amiable dimwit, but she'll join in once a fight starts. Please follow the law and use a leash here or take your dog to the dog park." I would hand out maps with the dog parks marked, two of which were just a few blocks away.
I learned this as a kid in school and on the news that it is illegal to ask someone if their disability is legitimate, where if its a wheelchair user or anyone else who has a mobility aid. It used to be common knowledge...I don't know what happened and why people aren't informed anymore. I have also been told by so many people to skip out on extra fees if I just did the quick process of getting my therapist to write a prescription letter for my dog to become an ESA, but for me personally it would feel like a lie and a disservice to people who actually train/need their ESA.
Have you ever asked your therapist about their opinion on if you need an ESA? A lot of times we, as patients, underestimate our needs and feel bad for asking for help. We sometimes need the extra validation to realize that these things are actually necessary for us. I still sometimes feel like a fraud even though I'm actually on SSDI, and legally recognized as disabled. It's hard. Your therapist should be someone who is a trusted third party who can see things without the biases we hold against ourselves. I speak as someone who has a therapist who will be writing a letter when I get a cat and as a person with legitimate ESA AND Service Dog needs. (Obviously the cat will be under basic ESA with no further privileges.) The point is, I do actually *need* an animal to help me with my mental health issues. There's legitimate research on the health benefits of having a pet - especially with mental health. So if it's beneficial in that way for you, *you deserve* the extra rights it provides you - basically renter's rights. An ESA is not a "pet" under leasing laws. A legitimate therapist should also not write the letter unless they believe you actually need it. Any health professionals lying for their patients deserve to have their practicing license taken away. There is no harm or shame in asking for a professional opinion on the matter.
As long as you aren't bringing your ESA into non pet friendly stores it really shouldn't matter But I had the logic about my cane 🦯 I still have the majority of my vision It's not particularly good vision compared to most. But if you're worried about imposter syndrome chances are you're not faking it Besides internalized ableism is a bitch to the best of us
Emotional support animals do not need to be trained, because they aren't allowed to attend you everywhere in public in the same way service animals are. If you find your dog to be emotionally therapeutic to your mental illness, then that's the only thing required of it. You might be confusing ESA's with psychiatric service animals which do need to be trained.
I saw that SteveO clip the other day as well, and it also rubbed me the wrong way, but I couldn't quite put words to it. Your comments on it definitely resonated with me. I'm also a service dog handler. I think your hot take is totally reasonable. Well-trained dogs don't pose a legitimate threat to me and my dog. But untrained dogs have lunged at us, barked, pulled, etc. just to get to my SD in public. Not only is it anxiety inducing, of course, but it's dangerous like you mentioned. I wish there was a way to educate more people, and I do my absolute best whenever I'm questioned. I've even gone out of my way to try and offer training to businesses about SD etiquette. But by and large, they're not receptive. They don't *want* to learn, I think because they don't realize the legitimate risk that fake SDs pose to real working teams. It's frustrating, and it makes it difficult to want to go out. Like you said, it's already a hassle to bring a dog everywhere with me. Yes, she helps me immensely and I am so grateful for her, but I'm always thinking about whether we'll be in legitimate danger if we go into Walmart or something.
Like Molly said, in the US service dogs do not need to be registered or professionally trained. As long as your dog performs specific tasks to help with a medical condition, they qualify as a service dog. They also don’t need to pass any formal tests. When it comes to businesses, they are allowed to ask just two questions: Is this a service dog? What work or task does the service dog perform? They cannot ask about your medical condition or require proof of your dog’s training. However, if a service dog is behaving disruptively, like being aggressive, running around, or biting, businesses can ask you to leave. I have a self-trained service dog and have faced many challenges with people demanding certifications or proof of training. It’s been stressful, especially with the increase in untrained dogs being brought into public spaces. Recently, an untrained "service dog" almost bit my husband in the face because the owner wasn’t controlling it. When I inquired, the employees said they’re instructed not to question anyone to avoid potential lawsuits. It’s important to understand that in the US, there will never be a national registry or certification for service dogs. This is to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and avoid situations similar to historical abuses, like mandatory identification.
We barely regulate guns (by the standards of the civilized world as well as the several things that national polling has said there is very strong support for adding across the board that doesn’t get debated outside of candidate debates). My avatar picture is a woman with long, curly brown hair. The image is cropped so my face and that of a blue merle Sheltie (primarily black, white and grey, with accents) who is sitting on my lap fill the circle. Chloe was nearly 15 when she died, but when she was 4 months old she broke all 4 bones in the foot/lower leg section, requiring surgery and pins and over 6 weeks of me keeping her from running. And she was a breed that, say, the AKC says doesn’t have to be thrilled with the Canine Good Citizen test parts where a random person is touching her or her human puts her in “stay” and walks off. And we lost those weeks of “this is normal” Owner trained dogs (like any dog) are working both with and around their breed and their random early development and as someone on SSDI knowing any regulation would limit my chance at having a partner where we alternate solving the other’s problems between play, meals, and sleep. But I also have noped well away from what definitely was not a trained service dog and repeated until I asked my dad (we carpooled but did our own groceries) get the mayonnaise or whatever side quest I was blocked from completing until Dad came looking
@@ohana8535 Oh sugar, before you try to come at me you might want to do your own proper research. All Service dogs must provide a task (work) to the handler, and only one task provided is needed to be a service dog. Taken directly from the ADA page "Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."
@@ohana8535 Oh wow, look at you! Someone's really striving for that 'I'm-better-than-you' award, huh? Instead of just kindly reminding me that I forgot to add the word 'work,' you decided to go full-on superior mode. Just a friendly tip-when you eventually tumble off that high horse, it's going to be a looong way down. So, you know, be careful!
“Im brining my own personal perspective and opinions but that doesn’t mean that Im the authority on this and it certainly doesn’t mean that Im right. It’s just my opinion and my perspective which has been formed from my experience” is how everyone should approach every conversation! Im specifically thinking of a lot of political conversations that I’ve had but wow Molly you are so smart and so inspiring in how you share your views and thoughts ❤
Yes I thought the exact same thing but didn’t know how to verbalize it. I thought I should save what you wrote when she said it because I want to behave and think more like this.
Here where I live in Florida the law agrees with you. There was a period a few years ago when fake service dogs were a huge issue and I found myself constantly educating businesses and I don't even have a service dog! (I can't afford one and the programs here are only for veterans.) Here how it works is if a service dog misbehaves in public the police will issue a citation and you have to go to a licensed school to get public access training done and then submit that to the police before taking your dog out in public again. If you don't you can be fined, arrested, or even have the dog taken from you. In the case of any violence against another service dog or person the offending dog is nearly always put down and the owner has to pay for all damages including replacing a service dog if needed. I had to reach out to my local district attorneys office to get this information sadly and it wasn't available publicly anywhere I could find. This should be part of training for all public facing jobs. It protects everyone from harm and harassment.
This type of rule can backfire. Someone called the cops on me and said my dog was attacking people. The person was apparently allergic to dogs and called the cops because they wanted to force me to leave. Anyways the cop looks at my calm and friendly dog then looks at the kids nearby and asks "is this dog biting people?" and the kids say no. The cop then told off the woman who called. This could have gone very differently though.
I just read Florida law, and your comment is complete BS. There is a fine, and possible jail time and that is the extent. Plus, it has never been enforced. There is not training requirement. There is no such thing as a "licensed school", and you do not have to get permission from police to take your dog in public. If you really got it from the DA, they were yanking your chain.
Could you send me a link to the information you found? A friend of mine lives part time in Florida and she’s gonna be getting her first Guide Dog soon. I hadn’t heard that the local laws were so different a far as if a dog miss behave in public there’s a fine to the owner and then extra training they required to do. That seems like a bit much.
@@Meskarune yeah and a lot of police aren't aware of the procedures even. Plus, for awhile there was a lot of police shootings here, even made national news when our sheriff deputized biker "clubs" to fight blm protesters (about 10people stood on the side of the main road and waved signs) but recently the cops have been much better and they get really annoyed with people using them to harass others. I had to call for a trespasser and they really laid into him and nearly arrested him for making them come out and tell him to leave the third time. But really any rule can be abused and I think there should be a requirement to give them a trial and not just slap on the requirement to pay for extra training which might make the dog less able to do it's job.
My hubby drives Uber, and he so loves when someone has an animal with them that I get a photo and report at the end of the ride. I cannot understand why anyone would object to an obvious guide dog
@Uhohohno319 I live in Australia🇦🇺, but I agree with you. I can't stand people that blatantly try to abuse the system. It only takes one person to stuff things up for all the people that have legitimate Service Animals.
omg yes this pisses me off so much!!! you can live without your dog, don’t make it harder for people who can’t. my grandpa’s best friend has a fake service vest & i was venting to my mom so hard i was livid
That makes me so mad, especially if his dog isn't an actual service dog. If a regular dog attacks a real service dog, that can be so traumatic for both the working dog and the owner. I wish people were more sensitive to the need for service dogs.
OMG Molly listening to you talk about the BC certification card vs your MIRA card makes me think about the fact that I live in the National Capital Region and was living in Ottawa Ontario when I got my guide dog from the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) which is an accredited school but now live in Gatineau Quebec and EVERYONE wants my MIRA card because MIRA is in Quebec and no one living in Quebec COULD EVER possibly get a guide dog from another school in another province in Canada could they? It drives me bonkers. So I feel you Molly I feel you.
My first therapist was seriously debating about getting me a service dog because I have severe depression, c-ptsd, and dissociation. I didn't want one because I didn't want people to think I was impersonating, or having a fake service dog. Or have another dog, that's not a service dog, be crazy or harm myself or the dog. And like I do terrible with confrontation. It also makes me sad when I see straight up adults try to distract a service animal while it's working.
I 100% agree with everything you said here. Especially about other well behaved dogs being in public. My son has an Owner Trained Autism Dog and it was expensive. I say owner trained but we hired a personal dog trainer to work with us weekly/bi-weekly until he was service dog standard behavior and task trained.
If you don't mind answering, what tasks does his dog perform? I'm an autistic adult, and I think I'd like to self train a service dog someday but I dunno
@@jenna739 I'm an Autistic adult with an owner-trained SD. She can: alert for meltdowns, provide deep pressure on my legs (which often brings me out of a meltdown), wake me up from sleep paralysis or other sleep disturbances, interrupt self-destructive behaviors, and make sure I go to bed on time. We're currently working on "find where I parked the car." She, on her own, started alerting me when I get hyperfocused and stop breathing. I didn't even know I did that before she started alerting to it.
@addiekingsland2649 whoa that sounds great. Especially the breathing part. I get so focused that breathing and blinking are forgotten at times. How tough was the training?
@@jenna739 I found it pretty easy, but animal training is one of my special interests. I taught her to paw alert and then do the thing you want alerted and ask for paw. They pick it up quick. The hardest part is then NOT praising/reacting when they inevitably alert for everything. Honestly the things I spend the most time on are manners in public because I'm mortified at the idea of being *that* handler.
The problem these days is that many entitled people will misuse anything that they think will gives them a leg-up. The last time I flew with my service dog we sadly were in a row with a woman with a child and this child needlessly would not stop messing with him. He was touching him and kicking him and his mother wouldn't do anything about her child's behavior. To the point he got so stressed out, he ended up being sick. Then everyone on the plane was pissed off about the mess and smell and finally at that point the staff stepped in and moved us away from the pain in our necks. But most of the people on the plane will most likely think the service dog was the problem but he was only doing his job and the badly behaved child was the problem. I haven't flown anywhere since and that was 2013
Something that's popped up more and more in the last year is that airlines specifically here in Europe now require assistance and guide dogs to have certifications through either IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation) or ADI/ADEu (Assistance Dogs International /Assistance Dogs Europe). The problem is that those umbrella organizations have rather specific criteria for what organizations can fall under them. Here in Sweden, and the same in Iceland, guide dogs are paid for by the state meaning their paperwork is not through IGDF, meaning they cannot fly with the airlines that require such paperwork. Similarly, my own assistance dog is fully valid in my country of Sweden, but the organization I trained through was not approved by ADEu, meaning I will run into trouble if I decide to try and travel internationally with him. Where has this come from? people bringing untrained pets claiming they are guide or assistance dogs and causing problems on flights.
I'd also like to add that although there is no law regarding this in Sweden, som estate bureaus including the Discrimination Ombudsman have made public statements favouring assistance dogs with a certification and proof of training. Guide dogs are fully paid for by the state and technically owned by the state, where the handler gets a "right to use"-contract There are two main organizations that certify other assistance dogs. One is ADI ackredited, one is not (I've trained through the latter. Then there are two more that I know of, one of which utterly lacks transparancy on their certification process, one that has certified some truly questionable dogs including one with severe hip dysplasia and one that's dog aggressive. Anyway, the two big organizations have ID-cards that work similarly to a driver's license, with an expiration date and everything, because the team needs to re-take their graduation test regularly to prove the dog is still working correctly. They each also have their signature look of gear, to help make it easier for the public to identify legitimate teams. That, so far, doesn't seem to be working too well though, mainly because so many Swedes consume a lot of social media content from the US and have basically been lead to believe real assistance dogs don't exist. I have to argue basically everyt ime I go into a non-pet-friendly establishment, because despite his training and his guide harness, staff simply cannot grasp that my assistance dog is with me for a legitimate, medical reason.
@@Scarletlight525But isn't assistance dogs even more common in US? I live in Sweden too and that's my impression at least that assistance dogs have become more popular for different disabilities and not just blindness comes from the US.
@@teijaflink2226 oh definitely! Numbers have tripled here since 2016, but we're still only talking about roughly 260 guide dogs and 300 other assistance dogs. The truly sad thing is u have seen a couple cases of people faking here too, and just the other day a tiny dog in a shopping trolley went ballistic at my assistance dog while I was shopping at Coop! Staff did nothing!
@@teijaflink2226that would be correct. Here in the US there’s guide dogs for blindness and deafness. We also have seizure alert, cardiac, psychiatric, diabetic, gluten and other food allergies, migraine, autism support (though that might fall under psychiatric), mobility and I think even fetal alcohol syndrome dogs.
I've mainly had trouble with hotel reservations in the US. I can call or email ahead, work out all the details about bringing a service dog, answer any questions and educate people from the peace of my own home. But then that info doesn't get communicated to the front desk staff. So when my family arrives tired and frazzled from travel, we get questioned all over again by whoever is working the desk that day. I have printed a letter from the dog trainer we worked with just to end these conversations quickly so we can go and rest.
Oh gosh, I only traveled once with a service dog I was training for an organization years ago and didn't have any issues (it was a pet friendly hotel already). Whenever I travel with my two dogs, I always put on the reservation that I am bringing a dog, I don't usually take them with me to check in, but sometimes I do and just have my fiance sit with them while I check in. And I swear I have only ever been charged a pet fee a couple times. My dogs are completely house-trained/crate-trained, are always freshly groomed before traveling, and are very used to traveling so they don't get much anxiety.
@@ashlynmccain6155 That's awesome. I'm glad you've been able to travel easily. I think the problems for me have been in places where there isn't a pet-friendly hotel option. So legally a service dog is allowed, but the hotel is not used to having dogs.
I adopted a Great Pyrenees that was abused until she was surrendered at 7 months old. She is the sweetest dog I’ve ever had. Such a love. I am her service animal 🥹
In the spirit of education about the ADA laws, I did want to point out that the phrasing says "Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." [ADA Title III 36.104 - Definitions] There is no mention of the dog needing to know at least 3 tasks. The 3 tasks rule is typically used by organizations that train service dogs to ensure that the investment into the dog is worthwhile. Most disabled people do typically require more than one task, but there is no requirement as long as the dog can "do work or perform tasks", especially if the dog is behaving to the standard expected in public.
I’m not afraid to admit that I cried watching this. I’ve been a service dog (mobility support) user for 2 years and agree with you on nearly every point. And right now, I’m not sure if I’ll continue being a service dog user when my boy retires because of issues we face in public.
I have an owner trained seizure alert and response assistance dog in the UK. I trained her myself because I am a trainer before I got ill, I live on a remote and have a rare condition so there are no organisations that could help me. In the UK, assistance dogs can be owner trained. My opinion: - if a dog is an assistance dog but behaves badly, that is irresponsible, is dangerous for everyone involved, and is what gives assistance dogs a bad name - if a dog is well behaved but is not an assistance dog, that's still illegal but is not directly dangerous, and effects me a lot less UK law is that assistance dogs (definition given in the legislation) can be classed as an auxiliary aid, for a disabled person, and allowed into non-pet-friendly places (Equality Act 2010). UK law also requires dogs to behave appropriately safe in the environment they are in, including assistance dogs (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991). The problem is service providers and general public don't know the law so have one bad experience and start a blanket ban. I will never get one of those fake "id cards" and I hate those that do, even if it is a good assistance dogs; it prevails this scam and makes it harder for other people who refuse to give into it. My assistance dog does not require equipment to do her tasks, her primary tasks are alerting and responding to my seizures which she does 24hrs a day. She's been in ambulances and in hospital without her working gear on because we were at home when the seizure happened etc and it does not effect her behaviour. In places we visit regularly she sometimes doesn't wear her vest because it's too hot or she's wet so in a towel coat etc. But the vest does make it easier for people to identify her, especially if I do have a seizure alone in public, so people understand she's helping. But the equipment doesn't make the dog an assistance dog, their handler and their behaviour does. I struggle with the certification argument. In theory, it's ideal but in practice, it causes some serious issues. One way is to make only certain assistance dogs trained but certain organisations legal; most likely in the UK this would be ADUK, as they have tried to make this the law in the past. However, most organisations are not part of the ADUK, and it would cut off SOOO many disabled people off from accessing assistance dogs, including myself. The other option is to install a national test, but thus raises so many unanswered questions: who would pay for this, who would certify the examiners, would the examiners go to every part of the UK (I'm on a remote island), how long would the waiting lists be, would this just cover public behaviour or every possible task behaviour, etc? The law is already there to define and protect assistance dogs, and makes their behaviour a legal requirement to be safe and appropriate. The issue is people don't know the laws that already exist, and people take advantage of that
My country requires ID's for dogs to be considered service dogs. Training schools need a certification from the government before they are allowed to give ID's for service dogs. If a school want to get a certification, they have to pay for an audit by the state to see if they meet training standards. The school also provides the dogs. People with disabilities can not just get a dog and then go to training. Because all the dogs have to be pre-trained before they can start training with a disabled person. I don't know how well/bad the system works, but since I hardly hear anything about it, I think it works pretty decently.
@Robbedem I live on a remote island and have an uncommon condition, there are no assistance dog organisations that could provide an assistance dog for me. There is literally no other option. I have to take the risk in getting my own dog and training them up myself. My disability has been determined by my government as meaning I cannot go outside without a carer or an assistance dog, but there is no organisation that will assist with that. And cannot afford/don't have enough availability to have a regular carer. So option is either train an assistance dog myself or I'm housebound
@@AliceSylph my country is rather small and doesn't have remote places. Also, how can the government say you aren't allowed to go outside without a carer and then not provide the option to get someone if you want to go out? That seems weird to me.
@Robbedem I live in UK, Scotland, on the remote islands of Shetland. The government has to assess your disability to decide whether you get benefits and can park in disabled bays etc, part of it is assessing if you can go outside on your own and they have determined I get full points, and stated without a carer or assistance dog I cannot go outside. We also have the nhs, and being on a remote island there's no private option and not enough staff to use the nhs system in place. I had an nhs carer for a little while before my dog, they came for one hour once a week. Also living on a remote island there are no takeaways or anything like that. If you are housebound you just sort of are left to die if you don't have family to become your carer
I always appreciate and respect how well you are able to talk and get your point across. There is so much negativity and hate so it's nice to see someone be able to disagree with someone and correct them in such a classy way. Thank you for spreading the correct information and sharing your experiences, and of course we all love hearing your rambles lol I hope you're having a good day :)
Spot on for every thing. I am an owner trainer and program accredited. My retired service dog was owner trained, and we struggled to have a paper trail of training just to have some sort of “proof”. AKC CGC tests are a good way to do that. But my current service dog, she is also owner trained, but we applied to a program, got accepted, and graduated all their phases of training 2 years ago. We don’t have an ID but we have a Paper, like program accreditation. We still aren’t supposed to show it. But to stand our ground as long as we are comfortable and explain our legal rights. The burden of requiring a service dog is heavier than people think it is. If I didn’t pass out and have my heart rate problems, I would never bring my dog. It is SO much more complicated as a mom with kids in tow as well. It’s not fun at all. And a bark alert is so much different from uncontrollable barking. ❤ Fake service dogs do cause so many problems and cause many service dogs to be unable to work. It’s a public safety issue period. Not JUST dangerous to our dogs and us, but those untrained dogs aren’t safe to the 3 year old that runs up in their face or grabs their ears or tail. Because it happens. We see stories of kids bit all the time. Where our dogs have been trained to not be bothered by ear or tail pulling. Not to bite when stepped on. My girl has been stepped on so many times by huge grown men not paying attention. And as much as it hurt, she never bit. Just moved away as quick as possible. You don’t get that behavior in a dog without training. And many people don’t realize how much truly goes into training our service dogs to be safe.. Love you Molly. As always, you inspire us to do better, and you hit everything spot on.❤❤ ***The accreditation via a program is not legally required in the US. It is helpful for traveling to other countries who require service dogs be trained via a program.
You do realize that those programs are legally useless, right? There is no such thing as a recognized "accreditation" for legitimizing a dog for access.
@@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676 You misunderstand. Our paper from the program, just simply states that the dog has been trained via PAD, etc. it explains some laws. And if they have further questions to reach out. We are very aware we aren’t to use it. And that’s not what it’s for. I say accredited because she’s trained and graduated through a program. But she’s still an owner trained dog. We are not program trained, but we are graduated. She was fully trained when we entered, and all we had to do was test through their phases for a few months, before doing their Public Access Test and graduating. And we are required to redo that public access test every few years to keep our accreditation. As it’s not a certificate/certification. Hope that’s makes sense. It holds no legal authority. Just states she’s trained/graduated. We chose to use a program to make travel easier. They’ve had teams successfully travel out of country. That’s nearly impossible to do as an owner trainer as most countries require dogs to be trained via a program. So I need that to travel out of country with my service dog.
@@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676 maybe for the US, but having gone through a program and graduated, you are able to gain access in countries that do require proof of training/being from an accredited school.
As an able-bodied person, I lean to agree with what you've said. Certification feels like although it could help in some ways, because of all the different things and ways to train dogs, it feels like it'd be more harmful than anything to the service dog community. Having well-trained dogs, and well-trained PEOPLE to work with said dogs feels like a necessity. If you do not have the energy, the time, and the dedication to properly train a dog you should not have one. As someone who's grown up with dogs in my family, between immediate family, aunts, and my grandma all having dogs. We shouldn't have had them. None of us properly knew how to train or care for our dogs the way they should have been cared for. I currently have one of our 2 childhood dogs, he is 18 years old, he is decently trained, but not well. He is not aggressive with dogs or people, on the contrary, all he wants to do is make friends. But he is not properly trained, and as kids we were never properly trained to help them. Now, as an adult, I've done my research, I've looked up ways of training, and I've been using it with my aunt's dog who also lives in the house, who is a hound mix, strong-willed and a tanky short little man, but he listens to me, because I've done what training I can with him, and because my aunt also works on it.
This is so important! If dogs will live in the city and be in public all the time they need to have some basic social training. Service dog or not. In my country, besides the laws for services dogs there are laws for public health and public order that includes how dogs can share public spaces. Ignorance of the law does not allow to break it. We just need to be more aware of the laws (so many people worked so hard to have them!)
Something I've said for a while is certifications are more helpful for people who have to deal with service dogs (ie businesses) they can just be like ok cool you got papers i dont have to worry about you. Vs having to engage in a conversation and make judgements on if the dog is acting appropriately and if not, removing them. Where as certifications add so many extra barriers to a medical aid that already has a lot of barriers to entry- making a life saving tool even harder to access unfortunately. The problem isnt the current laws- they work, but only when they are enforced. Thats where the biggest problem comes in imo
The countries that do have certification requirements are also extremely limited as to who or can’t get a service dog. I can think of at least a handful of countries right now that my teenage nephews wouldn’t be able to have their dogs. One is because of their age. Two is because they both have epilepsy and one of them also has celiac’s disease. Neither of which are listed as conditions that require SD’s in these countries. The strictest I’m aware of is Japan where only blind, deaf and mobility dogs are a thing. And they have to be trained by government approved organizations and they’re not paid for by anyone but the person getting the dog.
It also puts stress on animals who haven’t been trained, as they might not be the right fit. That’s the reason so many guide dogs fail is because they weren’t fit to do their job. I personally would support a system where there was a way to register service animals, and put harsher penalties for people who have fake service animals. We as Disney people shouldn’t have to have one more stressor of a dog that is untrained hurting us, or making it harder for legitimate service dog users to get the support they need from heir animals. This is really making me second guess considering a guide dog (and for a few other reasons, too).
Definitely! My Golden Retriever is definitely exactly what anyone thinks a Golden is, but he is not good with sudden noises and is much happier at home.
I have trained service dogs, and been screamed at and thrown out of businesses. We are in a fairly small town (Virginia), so many places were used to seeing the dogs come in and didn't ask. Most of the issue I had was in places where staff was likely very untrained on the topic, like convenience stores or ethnic restaurants. I trained and puppy raised for an accredited ADI organization, we adhered to the ADI requirements and had high standards for appearance and behavior in public. When I did this 15 yrs ago, it was just the beginning of the fake service dog craze. I used to take phone calls at the program asking me where to buy the vests so they could take the dog on an airplane. At that point it wasn't widely known to buy them on line. I have no answers to how to deal with the situation either. I can't see a practical way to provide true certification plus more government is rarely the answer. I think this is a great video on this topic, Molly. I hate to see anyone, even joking, promoting fake service dogs and people taking their untrained pets into public. Just for the record, it is my firm belief that most dogs, if asked, would not want to be a service dog. It is a much harder and more stressful job than the average pet dog has. And if that pet dog has not been trained from early on to deal with all the sounds, experiences, environments, stress, training and visual stimuli of public access, it would be asking a lot of the dog to do.
Something that is so frustrating is not one job that I've worked at here in the United States has trained me on how to identify a service dog and what to do when we see them. All jobs should have a training course on the laws for service dogs and what we're supposed to do, especially in restaurants, stores, and travel services. I know what to do because I took the time to look it up, which is easy to do. But not everyone looks it up. If I ever own a business, I will teach my employees. The United States needs to do better.
Exactly! I work in hospitality and when people enter the hotel with service dogs fake or not, unless you’re dog is giving us reason to be worried then we aren’t, plus’s everyone at my work loves animals
My girl was nearly attacked when she was 5, she was so focused on her task that when the snarling dog ran at her she didn't even notice until I fiscally grabbed her and pulled her behind me to protect her. Now when a dog starts walking towards us in PA she always falters a little and watches them until they pass us or she decides there safe, luckily it doesn't impact her job, but it really upsets me that she has to be worried about it in a place that she should only have positive vibes and attention to her job.
I respect, and would defend with my last breath, to make sure that anyone with any type of service dog is allowed access to any public space. The problem is, in my experience in the USA, is the incompetence uphill of the leash with most dogs in America.
In New Zealand most dogs are trained. It was super weird for me to move here, coming from South Africa where the dogs are barking non stop. But here in New Zealand, you would hardly ever hear a dog bark. There are strict rules on where and when dogs are allowed off leash. But mostly, at least the town I stay in, restaurants have water bowls outside for any pup. I am not a dog owner, but I have also seen some shops hand doggy treats out. At the same time, I have also been in situations where a dog chased my then 5 year old daughter on the beach and she's now petrified of dogs. The owner kept on telling me her dog was just playing and that just pushed me over the edge as she did not even call her dog back. My daughter always watch your show with me. And I have explained to her about service dogs. Now it's the only type of dogs she's not afraid of. At least here we do not have a lot of fake service dogs and they do go out teaching people of service dogs at pet stores.
I think the discussion needs to be around “dogs in public” in general, we will all benefit from it. Also, every person working with public needs to know the laws that is for sure. But I think most issue will resolve by just socially requiring all dogs to behave in public
Yeah i wouldn't care if it was a good fake service dog, well behaved, etc. My service dog has been attacked and lunged at by fake service dogs and now i have to habe her partially retired. So frustrating.
I completely agree with you and thrilled that such a well-known member of the disabled community is talking about it. I am currently in the process of applying for a service dog for my mobility and hearing. I have attempted to train my own dog to be a service dog, who is now career changed to a highly trained pet. My disability is very visible so it was funny to see the shame wipe across the faces of the family that decides to bring their little barker when my dog was present with me. Even before public access training, I specifically made sure my dog would not react to others even if they are the ones barking. If only people who want to bring their dogs everywhere gave that same care. It’s so bad that stores that were previously pet friendly in my area that my dog and I have regularly visited (like Home Depot), are now service dog only. All I want is a. People to leash their dogs, b. People to train their dogs basic manners before taking them out, and c. People to stop making up nonsense about service dogs.
I think you've changed my mind too. I've wondered if certification could make a difference... but your experience at how it makes business owners even more combative rather than more accepting is pretty strong. If it fails at the very purpose it could serve, then it's wrong. I mean, the practical considerations of cost and travel are clearly an issue too, but they seem like things you can work out if it is working toward a better end goal. But if it isn't, then no. Noone needs to spend one single dime on something that doesn't bring actual benefit. That seems very clear. So thanks! (And also, yes. If we're talking well behaved dogs, it almost has no impact on anything. Not even when I'm allergic - not severely but enough to not enjoy boarding a train next to a dog usually. They're small issues. That's not surely not the argument for harassing people with service dogs.)
To be quite honest in the US until there is a federal law against faking a service dog (only 33/50 states have laws and of course no one is really upholding them) and it is legally required for businesses to educate themselves and their staff about service dog law and pushing them to uphold themselves and their staff to these standards by holding the business accountable for both allowing fake service dogs in their business and creating access issues for legitimate handlers nothing is going to get better. Education is key but getting people to care is even more of an issue.
The biggest problem is: that unless you are blind than there is basically very very little help paying for any certification or training to help train the dog. There are so many people who do need service dogs yet because they are not blind then the USA does not have any programs for service animals. It’s like the only need is for the blind as if there aren’t any other individuals with disabilities. My nephew is on the spectrum and having a service dog to help him would impact his life in a positive way drastically, yet there is not such help, program or recognition. That’s crazy! That is what is wrong … service dogs shouldn’t be only associated with the blind. I’m an individual with “low vision.” However, I can’t get any help because technically I am not considered blind. I don’t drive and can see at night. It sucks! I’ve had to call my family and friends when I’ve gotten stuck after dark in a neighborhood or good which I can’t see. It devastating. Yet I have no assistance, don’t qualify for anything, and this negatively impacts my daily life. I can’t leave my house after dark alone.
I work at a restaurant, and the amount of people with fake service dogs is insane, and management is too scared to question the customers. We just have untrained dogs just running around. Not good.
You actually told the REAL problem. It is managers like yours. If businesses enforced their own policy, disabled people would not have to face these hardships. Shame on your management for being such ableist cowards.
I leave to train with my future diabetic alert dog (through LFCDG) on Monday. I am so excited to gain independence but I’m also worried on how much harder accessing places to be.
He's a medical device is the answer I get & often leave frustrated due to the ignorance. You deserve access but be prepared to leave. It sucks. I'm sorry but that said my boy has saved my life too many times to recount
Just remember it’s no different. You don’t need to walk into anywhere any different than now. You don’t need to look for permission. You already have permission. No one’s looking at you, just do your thing. I’ve been a SD handler for 9 years and also teach others. It took years for me to completely forget the people around me but I sure wish I had figured out sooner not to wait for something to happen. If anyone decides to interrupt that’s 100% them interrupting, don’t expect interruptions. When you expect them, even when totally dreaded, I’ve found that somehow it leads to having more of those encounters. I’m not sure why, but once there weren’t those holes in my bubble- maybe it was just how I was carrying myself- it cut down on public interactions like 75% vs what I’d had before. (Also, I’m not saying don’t keep an eye out for potentially problematic/dangerous scenarios. Do do that of course, don’t 100% ignore what’s around you. But the people is what I mean, don’t think about what they’re up to any differently than you do without your SD. It’s so much less draining too.) Anyways, just a random word of advice from a fellow SD handler. You’ve got this!
1. Thank you for your videos. I have been learning so much and am hopefully correcting my behavior to make me a better societal partner! 2. "Bring a giant toddler with me" killed me. 😂 But, seriously, you beautifully captured the fact that you and your dog are partners who take care of each other.
absolutely agreed, I get so incredibly frustrated by people abusing a system that is not meant for them. I work in hospitality so I had a whole hour or so section of training on ada compliance and I still get people in my life fighting me on the laws. I feel for you with how frequently you have to be questioned in that way, and I really hope that pet owners stop it with their "he's well trained" delusion when their dog doesn't even know all the basic commands
Thank you Molly. I’ve been severely visually impaired since birth but have a bit too much residual vision to be eligible for most guide dog schools and have used a cane most of my life. So about six years ago I rescued my best friend. As soon as I did, numerous well meaning people started telling me to get him an ESA vest so he could be, basically, a bootleg guide dog. I was very clear very quickly with them why I would never even consider doing that and pointed them to your videos on the subject. I hate that for you and so many others in the B/VI community this is such a frequently recurring problem and you’re absolutely right to call it discrimination, discrimination enabled and enhanced by the behavior of selfish fraudsters. Rescuing my boy Bartlet is the best thing I’ve ever done but I wouldn’t trust him to guide me into anything other than trees and I definitely wouldn’t put him or my friends who are guide dog users in a position to have to deal with his energy when trying to work their dog.
The problem with getting some kind of real, standardized certification is the cost. Disabled people are usually impoverished, or at least have problems with the cost of living, since they cannot work the same jobs as abled people, due to physical restrictions, problems with traveling far, or any number of reasons. The guide/service dog itself already is expensive, and now with a proposed certification, we'd be demanding disabled people to spend even more money and time, and that's not fair to them.
I have a psychiatric service dog for severe chronic depression and I am lucky enough to not have to take him everywhere with me. I primarily need his support at home and while i am traveling. He wakes me up each morning and makes sure I get out of bed when my alarm goes off, hes trained to not let me stay in bed for more than a couple of hours at a time during the day, he brings me my medication and will even help me clean up if I leave clothes or blankets on the floor instead of where they go. He is an amazing help and gets me through my bad days, but I'm still very happy that im able to leave him at home when I go out. People don't seem to understand how stressful it can be to have a dog in non dog friendly places. The amount of attention you get and the constant questions can cause a lot more anxiety than the dog can help ease in some cases. My dog is public access trained so that he can join me when I have to travel or stay somewhere overnight but I think he's better off not needing to utilize that training everywhere I go
As a bartender who sometimes encounters service dogs on occasion. I agree that as long as the dog is behaving like a service dog. I do not care. Im only going to even bother asking the questions if another customer has an issue like an allergy. I do not need to single anyone out without a reason. It affects me zero to have a well behaved dog sitting on the floor.
It’s important to mention that in the states there’s no actual certification for service dogs. I don’t know this person but based on his accent I assume he’s from the states. He may not be lying or misinformed, it really depends on where he lives.
I am not a service dog user , but I have worked retail for about 3 decades and all the formal training I received could be summed up as 1. Ignore the service animal unless they actively pose a danger to others or are causing a sanitary problem 2. If there is problem offer the handler/user assistance for the service animal if any is needed/ or helpful. 3. If the service animal is a danger to others or is causing sanitary issues due to poor manners/training. Ask them to leave politely and calmly. In that time I have had zero issues with service animals. Though I do suspect that of the 20 plus I have encountered while working the majority were not formally/ properly trained however they caused no problems so no interactions occurred. And yes you can tell by the animals demeanor and personality which were legitimate. On a side note there was one man that for the better part of 15 years brought his 'standard poodle' (I think he said it weighed about 30 pounds ) with him nearly every day in a rucksac style backpack with the drawstring top and flap style top cover... it was absolutely silent and would stick its head out of the drawstring and look around and pull it back in when it wasn't interested. I finally had to ask out of curiosity what was up with that and he said his dog enjoyed it and it gave him exercise carrying the extra weight. Even after all that time i had coworkers who didn't know or wouldn't believe that he had a dog in his backpack 😂
My dad has a service dog (this is his 2nd one). One thing I have noticed over the years is how the public responds. For example, when going to the grocery store people come up and just start petting her or talking to her. When we say she’s working and please do not do that, they get upset. I feel like people think that she’s there for the enjoyment of the public, not for the tasks she performs for my Dad. I am also disabled and I struggle with the fact that things that are created for disabled people get taken advantage of by non disabled people which makes it harder for disabled people. (I hope that sentence made sense lol). This is seen with fake service dogs, but also the disability pass at Disneyland. I wish I didn’t need accommodations for my disability and that I could act like a typical person, yet there are some non disabled people feel like they have the right to the things created for disabled people just because. I wish there was more education and respect for the disabled community.
A lot of the fault lies with You Tubers like this. They say they are educating, but in reality they are teaching people how to use accommodations to their advantage, and that means they get taken away from the disabled people who need them. I guess when you commercialize disability, it can have unintended consequences like this. One thing I do when people try to pet my dog, is ask if I can pet them and it works especially well with parents who let their children pet without permission. When they get all huffy, I say something like " Oh I thought you were ok with people disrespecting boundaries since you are doing it" They usually leave quickly.
A tip for not forgetting your card is putting it in your phone case. I do this myself and since you take your phone everywhere you won't forget it and are always prepared if someone asks for it
Very well said, Molly! I am just a puppy raiser, but I still see a lot of what you are talking about, when we are out training. Actually agree on the hot take, as long as the dog is calm, quiet, ignoring my dog, and not up on the furniture or in the freaking grocery cart (or the strollers, because I can't tell you how many of those dogs are dog reactive and have surprised the crap out of me and my puppy because we thought we were just walking past a baby stroller). Educational and helpful to hear what the effect of the "certification requirement" is in practice. Great video today!
SAME!!! I'm a puppy raiser for the same school Molly goes to (Mira) so my pup has a scarf when we go to non-dog-friendly spaces. The trainers tell us to step out if the puppy starts acting out (which she will, she's only 5 months) to not disturb anyone else!!!! Even though she's in training! Also! Even with the scarf, some people have apparently complained to our favourite breakfast/brunch restaurant that we go to every week. They told us to not forget her scarf and card, even though they know that she tucks herself at our feet and bothers nobody :(
A friend of mine was on a flight recently with two dogs in vests. One was barking and snarling at other passengers and lunging at small children. The other completely ignored all that mess and sat silently beside its handler. My friend isn’t a service dog user but does foster high needs dogs and was absolutely livid about the harm the poorly behaved dog was doing.
Hi molly! Thanks for sharing this. I always enjoy hearing about your experience and I absolutely hate that you have to deal with all this! I didn't realize how prevalent it is that people are questioning you in public spaces. It also just blows my mind that you can tell people point blank you are blind and that it is illegal for them to ask and for them not to know better or to back down. I feel like service dogs are easily associated with blind people and to know you get questioned this much I can't imagine how much harder it probably is for people with less recognizable disabilities. Like do you want me to have a seizure on the floor right now to prove I need this service dog?! I'm so sorry to hear so many people struggle with this! Please let me know if there's any way I can help!
as someone who isn’t disabled and doesn’t own a service dog but owns a dog who is very well behaved but she does have her moments, this has really opened my eyes about how much more considerate i can be if my dog encounters a service dog (or any dog because i now know they don’t need a vest saying “service dog”). i live in the uk and i’m not sure on the laws but either way, this has made me a lot more aware of how i can be more respectful with others that have service dogs. so thank you! i love your videos and i love learning new things about how i can be a little bit better as a human, when it comes to disability awareness ❤
I work in a medical office. Patients come in often with guide dogs or cardiac alert dogs, no issue. They are not questioned by staff. But I have been bitten by a PTSD “service dog”. I handled the situation as calmly as possible and informed my patient that her dog needs retraining or should be left at home. The patient freely admitted that she “self trained” her dog to keep others away from her due to PTSD. And purchased the service dog vest online. She refused to understand that she was part of the problem and had a fake service dog.
self-trained (AKA owner-trained) service dogs are NOT fake service dogs! owner-trained SDs are equally as valid and legal as those trained in facilities. however, yes, she clearly hadn't done the best job and either the dog needed more training (which includes her educating herself on more/better training techniques and cues), or it was not the right choice as a service dog and she needed to try again with a different one. so sorry that happened to you, but just as a reminder real service dogs absolutely CAN be self-trained.
I just deleted my long complaining reply. My point is that most of my encounters with service dogs have been great! They usually lay down where instructed and don’t interfere. The ones I remember more are the dogs we write incidents reports for. Every single incident I’ve had to write up has been owner trained and questionable. But I don’t ask questions for the well trained ones, so they could be owner trained as well and I’d never know.
My ex used to say "lets get a service dog vest for our dog" and I would protest and not allow it because I am aware of all the negative implications! It makes me so sad that people think they can do what they want even though it hurts other people!
The law may have changed, but from the recent time I have looked at what the requirements are to have a service dog. It's one be disabled and two have a task trained Animal to help with that, but there is no set limit of tasks, so they are required to have one trained task to my knowledge of ADA currently
The one thing that infuriates me is people bringing there pet dog into places like Walmart, Walgreens etc. even when those places have on there doors only service dogs. And business do nothing
To me, the best way to decide if a dog should be in a public environment should be decided based on the dog’s behavior. I have believed that for years. The behavior matters so much for a service dog and the person of a service dog team. Like it or not, that team is a representative of all service dog teams. The next team that is in that restaurant, store or whatever place will be treated well or poorly based on how the previous team was perceived. People judge by experience. If their experience with a service dog team was good, they will, fairly or not, have expectations of the same kind of experience based on the previous service dog team. I had a service dog, but after one, I realized that life wasn’t for me. The biggest reason was not about the dog. It was about dealing with people when I was in a public environment with my dog. It was too stressful. Fake service dogs were a problem then and it’s only become worse.
You go Molly ❣️ I am on your side. I worked hard for my dog that I saved to be my service dog. I have PTSD from rape and assault. I am alone and it was either I take her or she gets put down. I chose her because I needed a dog for comfort. I contacted Medicaid and got the number for me to get her certified. I followed their requirements, which you covered, and got her certified at the airport for public transportation. My issue is because of her breed. Always questioned. I have gotten as to where if I am challenged I just say, vet, PTSD, diabetic. And keep walking. Those that think it's fun to have fake service dogs are very disappointing. I was challenged in a restaurant when we got up to leave. They went all Karen on me and said I didn't deserve to have a dog in public because she's not a service dog breed. When she went Karen, Phoenix pointed and started to growl to alert. Then she said my dog was vicious because she was doing her job. What about those that say their service dog is not on leash because if something happens the dog has to be able to go get someone... Umm no .. a trained service dog will posture over their human to make sure nothing happens to them. Then their dog comes at my girl. I've started informing people of the misdemeanor and felony charges I can bring to them if they don't control their dog. She postured when a loose dog attacked her. She guarded and the other dog owner proceeded to hit my dog to get her off her dog. I recorded it and filed felony charges against her. The money we won I used to set up Phoenix revolving vet account. Blessings and journey Mercy with you, Elvis and your boyfriend. I follow you always and Wich I could send you a picture of my Phoenix. Did I mention she is an American Staffordshire terrier and loves babies and women and some men 🙃. I have had Drs tell me my service dog for her breed behaves better than most other service dogs they have seen that jump all over all the furniture and are all over everybody.
I have a service dog. One of the first pictures show a dog sleeping in an airplane seat and a service dog is not allowed to be in a seat, they need to stay on the floor.
Children at stores, why do they need to go there, omg?!? How about you scurry on your way, and pay attention to your own business. However if you have a service dog, are those other dogs on leash interfering with you? Wait, are they 30 to 50 feet away? If they aren't in your personal space, let it go.
@Starry_Night_Sky7455 Calm down Sherry. My point was simply that there's no need to bring a pet into a store. Service dogs are performing a job. Your dog is just there for you to get attention.
@@tbella5186except I see many homeless people bringing their dogs into Walmart (they are obviously homeless (carrying giant black garbage bags filled with their possessions)I feel bad that they don’t have a place to put their dog while they go into Walmart, but their dogs are never trained.
I worked at a restaurant, a lady comes in with a chihuahua in a STROLLER. Anytime anyone can with in feet it starting barking. She tried to say it was a service dog. I called epilepsy Canada to ask questions. Yeahshe got kicked out
Ohh, big topics. I thought about buying one of those cards that "say" your dog is a service dog just to show something to those who ask but I decided educating people and not perpetuating the "papers" idea would be better. So glad I did that. I'm 8 years in with my little bit & I hate unruly dogs in public.
It’s really sad that so much of society doesn't see faking a service dog as selfishly faking disability accommodations. And agree about well behaved dogs, if you're dog isn't being disruptive to me or the environment idc- I’m all for people socializing thier dogs responsibily. But there has only been an increase in poorly trained/aggressive vested dogs (especially at airports). Soo frustrating, but you did a great job educating in this video.💕
I'd have to see video before 100% believing your story. It's possible, but I've seen enough kids that are often being obnoxious, straying from the parent, or poking around in others business. Having said that, as with unruly, poorly socialized, reactive humans, an unknown dog may be the same. So, don't let your kiddo run scot free, probably touching everything. A person's dog needs to be under control. So do kids.
Thank you for sharing your throughts, loved hearing your perspective on this topic. As a SD user, I wanted to add a caveat to your point that we shouldn't care if people bring their dog in public if it's well behaved, as I slightly disagree. I think many people who own pet dogs believe that their dogs are well behaved, and they might be under normal circumstances of day to day life, however those dogs did not go through all of the training that SD go through, which includes teaching them how to handle stressful environments and desensitization to various objects and sounds. The issue arises when people bring their "well behaved" pets into non pet friendly spaces, and all of a sudden those dogs are put into an environment with stressors they are not equipped to handle properly, which can lead to trigger stacking and eventually lashing out, seemengly out of nowhere, at which point it might be too late. This unfortunately happened to me and my SD, as we were shopping in a grocery store when she got attacked by a nearby dog. I know you have a large platform, and I would hate for people to come away thinking it's ok for them to bring their dog that behaves well at home into a grocery store where all of a sudden there might be someone using crutches, which the dog never encountered before, and they are smelling raw meat that might be triggering their food aggression, and maybe there's a crackling overhead speaker that's reminding them of fireworks, etc.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, but in other countries people manage it just fine. They do bring their pets in public and they do handle it, so it is possible. It just takes training. For some reason Americans have an aversion to training their pets.
It’s concerning because there are certainly people that DONT train their dogs. They just slap a harness on their regular dog and say it’s a sd. But there’s also dogs that are home trained and well trained to be ESA but don’t belong in spaces that sd are allowed. Then there are Serbice dogs. I personally have a ESA. He is home trained. I have had him for almost 17 years. He has no bite record and has been around service dogs. I don’t take him anywhere dogs are not allowed because I don’t want to test those boundaries. But I understand why others might need their ESA in those circumstances if they don’t qualify for a SD. I will be looking for a SD when my ESA passes bc my medical issues have gotten to the point I do need one. And an ESA is not enough now. I’m genuinely scared to have a SD bc of how they are treated. Despite knowing that I need one. - for clarification I need a seizure alert dog. Knowing this is why my parents chose to train my dog so well they knew id probably need a sd later in life I just didn’t need more than an ESA then.
I would like to clarify your understanding. ESAs typically are not task-trained, though they provide benefit through natural behaviors. At-Home Service Dogs are valid. They are task-trained but either because of the handler's disability and/or the temperament of the dog, they do not go into public spaces. Public Access Service Dogs are what most people think of when they say Service Dog. These dogs are task-trained and trained to go into public spaces. I did want to make sure that you were aware that At-Home Service Dogs did exist, in case that helps you evaluate your current options.
@@TuxReadyAussie right. Mine has received permission to be permitted in homes where pets aren’t normally allowed bc I need him there. So I know what you mean. I’m just meaning that there are people that don’t provide any sort of basic behavioral training let alone service training for their dog and then take them to places and put people’s sd at risk. My dog rarely goes with me but my parents made sure he was very well trained. He’s been around trained sd, cats, smaller rodents, turtles etc. he’s extremely docile. It’s been beneficial bc while he’s not able to be trained to alert for my seizures he is able to keep me calm when I do seize. I could technically justify taking him with me now to calm me when I have one but it’s too stressful with how people treat them. I’m scared honestly. People in my town take their dogs around in the stores off leash in the carts and they often seem aggressive. The stores don’t say anything to them. It’s scary to make the transition from ESA to a SD knowing that
@@TuxReadyAussie cause right now I have done my job making sure to protect other sd from my ESA. But how do you deal with the fear of others for your sd?
@@myliza700 A Service Dog is not for everyone, especially now that there are plenty of anxiety-inducing situations aground having one. If you can be your dog's advocate in any situation, then that is how you protect a public access service dog. I know service dogs are supposed to increase independence, but you can consider going out with another person at least until you become comfortable advocating for the dog and you feel you can trust that store and other users. I personally have a motto "Give Dogs Space". If possible, I will alter my path to avoid other dogs both for my dog and their dog. Sometimes this isn't possible. So, I am actually (1-2 yrs after he was labeled fully trained) teaching a command to walk on my opposite side and a command to stand and stay behind me. Previously, I would actively use my body to block him as opposed to having him do the action for me.
Hello, California service dog owner here... This is exactly why I do not bring my dog everywhere. She is a seizer alert dog, she was not supposed to be one. She was a stray that became a family member, however both my father and I have epilepsy, and from the first week we had her, would jump up on our laps and lick us incessantly. This was her way of letting us know we were going to have a seizer, because every time after she would do that within about 5 minutes either I or my dad would have a seizer. We took her to the trainer where I got my last service dog and put her to the test and she was able to detect the seizures 100% of the time. She has been with us since 2014. And yes technically she is retired, but I chose to not get another one after her retirement, because I got tired of having to prove my disability every time I took her out. So now she is just a family pet that also can detect if my father or I are having a seizure. Knock on wood I have not had one in almost a year, and for my dad it has been close to 3. I have had a total of 4 service dogs in my lifetime, and unless something changes I don't think I will ever get another. It is just to much trouble.
Stevo said two things in his video clips. 1. He found the best trainer he could find to train the dog. 2. He got a letter from his doctor saying that he needed the dog to fly. He didn't mention anything about the dog needing to perform tasks, but that he needed the dog on the airplane. Without more context, it sounds like he has one of the best-trained emotional support dogs around. If all people needed emotional support animals (dogs, no peacocks, alligators, snakes, or other types of animals) then it wouldn't be a problem if they took them out in public. That said, I still think that ESAs need to be marked as ESAs. Something needs to be fixed. The laws pertaining to the companies that give out the certification cards need to be stricter, and the government needs to shut them down. It should be illegal to sell certifications. There is a fine line between making it expensive for those who really need it, and those who are fakes or think they can take their dogs anywhere. Some type of education to get an ESA dog is that you have to learn and pass a test of where your ESA is and is not allowed.
I have a friend who cannot work with her service dog anymore because he was attacked by another dog that was in training with him. Her dog now has severe anxiety and she tried working with him for some time after that, but he did not overcome his PTSD with certain sounds and environments. Sadly that place "passed" the dog that attacked him and is a working service dog for someone.
My service dog was denied access at a hospital because she was wearing shoes....on a 90 degree day. They called security on me & ended up having security on my side. Theres so much misinformation. Service dogs can definitely wear protective gear. Ps: its one task, not 3 Molly.
Certified ADA Coordinator and fellow disabled person here! The things you said that make a service dog a real service dog are true. There needs to be a disability present and the dog needs to be trained to do a task to assist with that disability. However! The 3 task requirement is a myth!! There only has to be a minimum of one task! I'm really passionate about people knowing their rights under law, and wouldn't want someone thinking that just because their dog only does one task (like picking things up for example) that their dog isn't valid! They are!!
I am glad someone else commented saying this! hopefully it gets more attention so more people see it!
The three tasks might be a borrowing from UK law, where the minimum standard is three tasks (or it was last time I checked the Equality Act, but with the current clowns in Parliament, who knows what's happening)
Thanks for this! I think it was listed in the past but that portion has changed to "at least 1 task"
Thank you for saying this! There is no 3 task rule.
Thank you for saying this! I was confused and thought maybe the law was updated and I didn't notice.
Service dog user for 6 years here. A couple years ago a small child came up and purposefully scared my dog (he was little but old enough to know better). I told him he could not do that and to leave my dog alone. He laughed and ran away. A minute later he ran over and hit my dog quite hard. I have never seen my dog so terrified. She cried and was shaking. When I bent down to touch her she flinched. That made me cry. 😢 the kid laughed and I picked up my 50 pound dog who was too terrified to move and carried her to a corner. Through teary eyes, I looked for a parent. I confronted the mother and she said that it wasn’t her problem that her kid did that and he didn’t mean anything by it and that she didn’t even see it. I was in a store with at least 50 people. Two cops were there. Not a SINGLE person said or did ANYTHING. This was two years ago. She is still afraid of small children. She is getting better but if she sees a small child running or screaming she cowers. I share all this to say that this is a dog I had had for 4 years at this point. I can’t just retire her and “get a new one”. That’s not how it works.
I had someone with a Shiba Inu with a service dog vest once, attached to a retractable leash, attack my service dog. I had to work with a private trainer and spend $1k to help her get over her fear and reactivity after that and it’s still a work in progress.
Because of these incidences she takes anxiety medication daily.
An old co-worker of mine once fed my dog a treat without permission. I do not know what it was. Ended up having to rush her to the vet after she got violently ill. $800 for medication and supportive fluids.
It is IMPERATIVE that service dog users get more protections and more education for the general public. Thank you Molly for doing your part. 🐕🦺
A few years ago I was in a store, and a kid RAMMED my SD from behind with a cart. He targeted him from some distance, and many people saw it. It was hard enough to dislocate the kneecaps from both back legs. NO ONE helped or said anything to the parents or child. I had to help my dog. People suck. They simply suck.
@@littlebitofhope1489 I hate that I’m not alone in this 😢 in my state it is actually a misdemeanor for a person to harm a service dog or allow their animal to harm a service dog. Unfortunately, my mind was also on my dog’s well being and not getting the mother’s name and the cops there did nothing. I don’t know the laws in all states but there should be similar laws everywhere and they should be enforced. I hope your dog is doing better today.
@@melody-13 No, he never recovered. He had to be retired, and never walked the same again.
@@littlebitofhope1489I am so sorry for this. People suck. Unfortunately in the last 10 years it seems like everyone who sucks feels entitled to suck as much as possible.
@@kirielbranson4843 I can't disagree with that. Thanks for your kindness.
I drive Uber part time. Every person that I pick up that has a service dog with them has told me that the previous drivers canceled because they did not want to take a dog. They always say “it wasn’t worth the headache to stand up for my rights”. It breaks my heart.
Because of your videos, I’ve learned the things that are helpful for those with service dogs. Moving the seat forward so there’s some extra room for the dog to lay down, telling them which side I’m pulling over to let them out, etc. Thank you for educating us.
ADA person: *explains how they need this dog*
driver: doesnt matter its a dog not a child....i may work for a company but its my car so its my rules...you dog owners are too entitled anyway...there are thousands of medical devices that you could of chosen....its not my fault you chose a disgusting dog. that was your choice now live with it. some of us dont like dogs, have allergies, are scared of them, or cant be around them because of their religion. what are people like that supposed to do. you nutters really are a selfish bunch...no wonder why they are calling for dog free spaces in the U.K. people like you need to think more about others and how imposing your dogs on to others affects them. do you know that because of you nutters I have to clean my car out every time i get done driving your kind around because someones shitbull slobbered and crapped all over my seat? ¨he was car sick¨ look i dont care its a dog not a person. if you need to bring a dog with you get a stuffed animal and stop burdening people like me!
yeah ive dealt with people like those lol....
Someone I worked with had a service dog for sight-loss, and it was attacked by another dog on public transport so it ended up too scared to take public transport anymore, and had to be retired early. Very sad, thankfully it retired with his own family but such a shame.
That is awful! I hope your friend sued.
@@SusieQZee same
@sillysoz this is why pets are not allowed on public transit in my area. I used to feel torn about that since some people may need public transit to access a vet, but obviously ADA access (human access) should be a priority over pets.
@@coor0kun people can also muzzle their dog if it's aggressive or keep their dog away from other dogs while on public transport.
I'd like to bring a different perspective here...
I live in Sweden and I have NEVER seen or heard of fake service dogs. It is NOT a problem AT ALL. And here we do have strict rules about who's allowed a service/guide dog. You need to meet certain criteria in your disability (such as severe sight-loss) and then you get a trained dog from the official facilities, and it always wears a special vest while working. You need to pay for the personal training, I believe, but veterinary costs and medications etc. are covered by the state. You can also seek stipendium to be able to cover part of the training cost. The official facility also do check-ups once a year to see that everything works well with the dog and its leader.
This system works more or less perfectly regarding the lack of "fake" service dogs. Why on earth would you in the USA NOT want it regulated?? That way the fake dog problem would cease to exist! No one who doesn't need a service dog is able to get one in Sweden - problem solved!
Fake service dogs make it hard for actual real service dogs to be accepted and acknowledged. I understand emotional support animals but if the animal is not properly trained and causes issues in the places they go, then that is an issue
People also make the assumption they have equal rights (they do not), and if you know nothing and someone came in with a dog saying it’s emotional support you might not know that they are not service dogs.
I would not use emotional support animal and service animal as one topic. An emotional support animal is when you get you get access to have an animal in your private space (aka apartment or dorm), a psychiatric service dog is trained to be able to go into public which needs training.
There is no such thing as emotional support service animals.
Esas r NOT service animals.
Those r two completely different things.
Esas r not trained like service animals.
ESA's are NOT service animals, no matter what nope nope. They are not trained to do task specific things in which makes a service animal a service animal. ESA's are meant to be emotional support at home.
@@kaishawna3753 that is absolutely FALSE.
What I'd like to see in the US is a government sponsored ad campaign explaining service dog laws. I'd also love it if there was a soft checklist of how your dog should behave in public. Not a 'if you don't follow this, your dog isn't a service dog under the law.' More like: here is how a well trained service dog acts when accessing public spaces.
Yes I was just thinking back to my days working in customer service (cashier, waitress, etc) and was never trained on anything around this topic or any ADA policies. I think even just a small training booklet or pamphlet that explains the legal rights regarding this issue for the employee training process would be helpful! At the end of the day good customer service very much includes providing a pleasant experience for customers with disabilities and it’s a shame this is overlooked and some businesses approach this issue with hostility, I think gov education would be such as improvement
@@avmitch11 Thank you!
Thinking about it, you are right. No one told me about what businesses are expected to do when I worked in customer service in person. People in non customer service jobs need to know too. The two people I've had the most issues with were a security guard, and a doctor. Security guard demanded papers. The doctor said we couldn't come for reg check ups at the clinic only allows 'mobility' service dogs. 3rd person (who was honestly just confused.) Was a theatre manager that said they only allow medical alert dogs. No idea how or where ppl get this specific language.
Tho, biggest issue I have is elderly ppl petting my dog without my permission
@@avmitch11I live oversea in Europe, and was thinking about how it works here. I just had to redo a required course of safety training for any basic job, and there wasn’t anything on the topic. While service dogs are not common at all where I specifically live, it should be something to be aware of, the very basics could be easily teachable in less than five minutes and a couple slides. I feel like this is one of the many faces of ableism, and the more I go on with my life the more I see it around me or directly impacting my own life. It’s sad, and it became infuriating over time.
I agree.
@@karmica7591 I work in a call center. I got a call from a person with disabilities asking about an accessibility for an event we do. And while we had a 'service dogs allowed here' we didn't have info for their disability. And it was a fairly common one
(Also thinking about it now, it's weird the website says service dogs allowed. Cuz they are whether they say so or not. It's not an environment that could put ppl or a dog at risk by being there....huh. Might run something by my supervisor next time I work ((said company is very open to feedback from employees. I'm speaking from experience; they've actually used my feedback to make a few things better.)))
My mom had a mobility service dog (passes your requirement of disability + 3 tasks) who saved her life when she fell on an icy day in a secluded parking lot. Mom cannot get up without help, just can't get out of a chair without help much less off the ground, and Mariah forced her own body under her and wedged her against a car until she was able to crawl up enough to reach for her phone and call for help. She was BIG for a service dog, but it saved Mom's bacon that she was able to basically brute force my mom up enough to get help. So there's a happy good girl service dog story for you.
There is no such requirement.
@@littlebitofhope1489 It depends on your country. Not everyone on the internet is from the US.
@@AschenDog Yes, and the OP is perfectly capable of saying that if they were.
@@littlebitofhope1489but you're just saying that the default is the US and if you're not from the US you should have to state that. I know Molly is Canadian, she talks to her guide dog in French which is a bit of a clue. I'm sorry if I've misunderstood what you mean, but it really sounds to me like you're saying that if you're posting about the law then you should say if you're not from the USA
@@sophiehobley828 Molly also lives in the US most of the time and follows US laws. That means people can be referring to many different countries. So yes, it would be nice to indicate if you are talking about a different countrie's laws. And no, I am not saying the default is the US, but the Default WOULD be the US and/or Canada.
Hi Molly! I’m American. I have Cerebral Palsy, migraines, Complex PTSD, and chronic pain. Prior to getting my first service dog, I applied to 3 programs. I was denied by 2 because I have multiple disabilities that went beyond what those programs could do for me. The program that approved me quoted me $10k for a fully trained Husky. Because of this, I opted to owner train my dog for mobility tasks, PTSD, and migraine alert. During a migraine, I sometimes see spots. Sophie could SMELL them. She just KNEW. But the amount of times I got bullshit from neighbors and housing management was ABSURD. Sophie was a Bernese Mountain Dog too and only barked ONCE when I was stubborn and ignored a migraine alert. I just had another meeting with another apartment community and was told ‘Service dogs can only be 20 pounds.’ When I explained that’s illegal, I was told that’s ‘policy’. I did not get the apartment. In order to get around the pushback i got for needing Sophie, I had to have my psychiatrist write an ESA letter so that she’d be allowed to live with me. State law covered me for SDIT training Sophie passed away unexpectedly last year and I really need another service dog, but I am honestly hesitant to have another service dog at this apartment.
For housing, you would be looking into the Fair Housing Act where "assistance animals" have the right to be accommodated. Assistance animals covers both service animals (as defined by the ADA) and support animals.
www.animallaw.info/sites/default/files/HUD%20FHEO%20Assistance%20Animals%20Notice%202020.pdf
I hope this helps should you choose to pursue a replacement.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Sophie sounds like she was wonderful with you. I also can't figure the only service dogs under 20lbs restriction. Typically service dogs are 50+ lbs. That policy 😅 better be applied to all children. No child in apartment unless it is under 20lbs at age 7 or whatever 😅. All children under age 3 are prohibited! Big security deposit must be paid for noisy potentially destructive child. Better have a license 😅 for that child! Human kids look for things to break. Dogs that get reasonable exercise generally don't destroy anything. I refuse to babysit kids now. I will gladly petsit dogs! Children can give anyone a migraine. There's no such thing as a therapy child 😅. There are therapy dogs 🙂.
my therapy dog can tell when i am about to have a full blown migraine. but hes not allowed to go anywhere with me. if i dont lay down in dark i fall and get sick. i havemultiple chronic conditions but have been denied getting any help for them. my lung problem, migraines and ocd allow me to work from home and am not required to come in, but i cant find any other help. im glad to hear you were able to get a dog though . at least some people are getting things they need so that makes me happy.
@@Starry_Night_Sky7455 Those children need to pay a monthly Kid-fee ($50/mo) too. You know they slobber and chew on things.
@@jenniicaroline Since I do not know more about your dog than what you just shared, I wanted to let you know the following:
A Therapy Dog is a type of working dog that through a program and with permission from public locations like schools and hospitals are allowed to bring emotional comfort to people who are not the handler.
Because my son utilizes a small breed dog as his service dog, it is automatically assumed we are faking.
I have had to correct coworkers many times because Ive heard them say "yeah, thats not a service dog, its a tiny dog in a cart." But Ive met many people who have small dogs that are diabetes medical alert service dogs who are very well trained and not misbehaving. So long as the dog is behaving, I assume it is a service dog regardless of size.
I have a cavalier service dog and I have the same issues its very frustrating sometimes
@DaniAlexandria my kiddos first service dog when he was 2 was a chihuahua. She retired and then he had a Jack Russell mix. The 2nd dog is nearing retirement and we are starting another Jack Russell pup. My son has been bitten by 3 large dogs. While he absolutely loves dogs, he is scared of anything big. Plus, the tasks he needs help with can be completed by almost any size dog. He had a brain injury at birth (cord wrapped around his neck 4 times leading to an anoxic brain injury) along with autism, sensory processing disorder, adhd, and has had seizures. People think our dogs are pets or emotional support. Even when retired, our chihuahua worked until she passed away this spring at nearly 17.
@@ClearwaterKB I relate to this so much.. For me my family doesn't like dogs and really doesn't like big dogs so that wasnt an option as the tasks I need my cavalier does but I run into so many more issues/entitlement from the public because she is smaller and cute. I am glad your family has found breeds that work well for your son
@hailyjohnson407 Service dogs legally cannot be in a shopping cart. By law. So there assumption is 100% correct. A small Service dog will be on the floor heeling. Small dogs are allowed to be carried or in a chest pack the handler has but NEVER in a shopping cart. And legally u can ask the 2 legal questions and tell them to take the dog out of a cart. I don't want a dogs ass where I set my food. And SD or not it's a ADA & FDA violation. So assuming a dog in a cart is fake is accurate since true handlers know the laws. I say this as a Service dog handler of many years & a Service dog trainer..
Hey Molly! Fellow guide dog handler here, whose dog is privately trained. I will say, i agree with your hot take. I have always said, as long as their dog is well behaved and not bothering my guide dog, I don’t care. I’m not someone to judge why someone has their dog in public as I don’t know if they have a disability and it’s not my place.
I agree with this❤
I agree with this to a point. However, I'd like to bring up one thing: One of my best friends is severely allergic to dogs (and other animals). her dog allergy is among her least severe allergies, but it will still cause her a reaction that will put her in bed for a day or two if exposed to dog allergens without proper pre-medication. The mere presence of more dogs in public spaces means there will be more dog allergens. then you have the fact that a less well-traiined dog will likely do a lot more shaking, fast movement etc which will create air-currents, spreading the allergens around further. So for that reason, although it doesn't affect me myself personally, I do think non-pet-friendly spaces should be respected unless the dog you're bringing is a legitimate assistance or guide dog.
@@Scarletlight525 makes sense
I agree. My service dog has a long history and she's the best dog I have ever had. I don't care as long as their dog leaves us alone. But I don't accept those that say they have a service dog and that it doesn't require to be on leash. I don't think that is a responsible service dog handler. Sorry, not sorry. Blessings....
@@Scarletlight525 I call BS. People carry allergens on their clothing. If your friend was "severely allergic" they could not be around pet owners either. Tell your friend it is HER responsibility to remember to take her medicine, and if she only has a reaction when the dog is around, I think she really has factitious disorder. There will be allergens in public spaces where a dog NEVER visits, due to allergens on clothing. That is straight from Allergy specialist MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, and is why Service Dogs cannot be denied access due to allergies.
"It is so tough bringing a giant toddler with me!" - PREACH!! 😂 Also, the absolute absurd level of entitlement that those people had the audacity to tell a guide dog user that they have a fake service dog is unbelievable!
Yes I feel like a guide harness with a well known or explanatory label, and literally seeing it guide its owner into the store all counts as obvious what the dog does - therefore shouldn’t be questioned!!
Editing to say, at least in the us - sounds like they aren’t supposed to ask in other countries too from how she explained it.
As a manager of a grocery store I make sure every meeting to remind them of the questions they can ask and what to do if a fake service dog is in the store misbehaving. Usually I let them know as long as the dog is behaving reasonably and is not messing with other customers or the food I’m fine to leave them alone.
It's not though. The health department requires you to not allow pets
@@Allbites While it's true that the health department requires pets to be excluded, the ADA provides very strict restrictions on what can be asked about an animal, and what constitutes a reason to exclude it. Therefore, if the handler says "this is a service dog, and it is trained in x, y, z tasks" the business cannot exclude it unless it is behaving badly. At that point, the legal responsibility is on the handler, not the business. The business clearly has a policy that only service animals are allowed. As soon as any animal starts messing with customers or the food, it has started behaving badly, and, service dog or not, can be asked to leave without violating the ADA.
Thank you for stepping up and making sure that your employees are educated both on letting service dogs do their job and getting misbehaving animals removed.
@@Allbites I worked in retail a long time and while I don't disagree with you about Health Department regulations, I can tell you from other regulatory issues that I've seen where two agencies have policies that unintentional collide the main deciding factors are 1. Money- fines/ lawsuits 2. Who's going to be able to enforce there law/regulations more readily. Interestingly it not always who you'd think it would be. typically it's the local Fire Marshall first and OSHA second and for better or worse health Department is lower on the list how low depends on if fresh food is served/made, food is sold, or no food is sold . I know for a while there was group of well intentioned but ultimately misguided people that tried to go around and force the issue on various ADA guidelines many times in my experience when we didn't or could not meet them the fire marshal (for good reasons) prevented the simple actions needed that would have complied so we did the best we could to honor the spirit of the ADA ( there are some gray areas when the fire marshal is involved) and a couple times when the group pushing access issues filed lawsuits things that had been less than ideal but functional and workable were just totally removed from the customers options/ services/ experience. Doesn't make it right but it is the reality for the corporate world.
@@kylecarter6890 The problem with that is ofcourse that the dog has already behaved badly in that case.
It would be nice to prevent bad behaving dogs to enter, so I still think an ID is better.
Hey Molly! As a guide dog and service dog trainer (GDMI and Atlas CT), along with a service dog handler myself, I appreciate you covering this topic! **One thing to note regarding ADA laws in the US is that a dog only needs to do one task. While there is a lot of misinformation regarding task training, and I've heard the "3 tasks" myth a lot over my career, the law actually only required one task.**
Hope that helps! Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue! I truly believe education is the solution as well
Nope, you are incorrect, which is troubling for a supposed trainer. According to the ADA, Service dogs are NOT required to task. You do realize that there is an "or" in the second question for good reason, right? (The 3 tasks is not a myth, it is an ADI requirement but is not a requirement by law in the US). You really should know this stuff.
@@littlebitofhope1489 Hi Little Bit of Hope! Looks like you had a really strong reaction to my comment. You are correct in that the dog can do a task OR do work, but generally the work they are referring to is a body of tasks together, such as guide work. The ADA does require the dog to be trained to mitigate a portion of your disability. The key difference there is that the dog is trained, vs. an ESA that provides comfort or whose presence helps your disability, but is not trained specifically to mitigate the disability.
And like I mentioned in my comment, the ADA requires one task (or work). ADI does not govern US law.
@@DoggyU Incorrect. That is not the definition of work that the Department of Justice of the United States uses. I find it interesting that you felt necessary to demean my comment by implying I was over reacting though. Nothing in my comment indicated that, unless you consider simple facts an overreaction. But thank you for correcting your error in your last sentence. It's really not that difficult to do.
For anyone reading this and looking for wording, here's the definition of a service animal under the ADA:
"Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of “assistance animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “service animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act.
Some State and local laws also define service animal more broadly than the ADA does. Information about such laws can be obtained from the relevant State attorney general’s office."
@@DoggyU Using the actual source is always a good idea. I would also recommending reading the NPRM which will give you the history and some context as to why they differentiated the definitions, and why it is so important to Service Dog handlers. Knowing the legal definitions is also important if you are going to educate. I know I had to know them inside and out when educating about them. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. Thanks for taking the effort here. It shows that you care about what you do and about disabled people and their Service Animals. Most channels snark and ban you when you correct them. I am impressed. I will highly recommend your channel in the future.
It's such a difficult topic. On the one hand, it would be morally wrong to make life harder for people with disabilities. On the other hand, the existing lack of regulation, training requirements, official ID, and other things allows for MAJOR exploitation by jerks who want to bring their pet everywhere.
For example, I was at a work meeting in a government building and a colleague brought in his dog with a "service dog in training" vest. Ok, no prob. It was well behaved and just laid there. Until an actual service dog walked in. My coworkers dog went nuclear.
At the end of the day, I don't know whether my coworker's dog was legit, but what I do know is that his dog had absolutely no business being in a public place. At least, not until the reactivity is addressed.
“In Training” means exactly that. The dog is being fostered and raised by someone who is first putting it in situations where it learns how to behave so they can assess if the dog is acceptable to be a service dog. After that they move on to giving the training appropriate to the service it will provide. If they judge that the dog cannot adapt (too reactive, too timid, whatever) then the training process will be abandoned and the dog will be adopted out to a loving family. The training cannot take place in a vacuum or closed off from the world; it has to experience real life situations.
Its not the fact that it makes it harder for handlers. They do not have a registration in the US to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and avoid situations similar to historical abuses, like mandatory identification (think WW2).
@@Lois-New-fae In many states, dogs in training tdon't have public access rights though. Obviously it's great if they can get public access training while with a puppy raiser, but from what this comment describes it does sound like this dog was brought out prematurely.
But the jerks will have no problem faking all of it. They'll find fake vests, fake cards, fake id's, fake doctors, fake dog trainers... because if you're a jerk you don't care about that anyway. So it won't deter them. It will deter the people who do it properly.
@@Lois-New-fae Absolutely. The thing is, a dog that is "in training" does NOT have the right to disrupt or harass a fully trained working service animal. This person's SDIT was out of control. Lunging, snarling, hackling. It wasn't just a whine or bark. It was a full on episode. Highly distracting and scary. SDITs do need to experience real life scenarios in order to train, but they should be gradually socialized, not thrown in the deep end to the risk and detriment of service dog teams that can actually function in public places.
My friend put it great regarding service dog behaviour in public spaces: "my dog is held to the same standards of behaviour as I am in public. They would also kick out any human for shouting, lunging at people, peeing on things, etc."
Yes this is so true! So long as the dog can behave correctly in public spaces, then I am ok with having the dog.
I wish this was the case. Sadly they don’t. Some people have very poor behavior and are not kicked out. I’ve come across so many people/kids behaving very poorly (screaming, running around, licking hands and touching produce) and they are allowed to stay. My dog is often better behaved than the majority of the children we come across and sometimes adults too.
I'm disabled but not a service/assistance dog user but I will say an important note is don't distract assistance dogs and their owners. "Oh can I pet him" etc. If the owner says no then respect their response.
I think it’s rude to even ask I might be in the minority on that but I don’t ask people to touch or use their wheelchairs or other medical assistance devices
@@Lady.Fern. 100% - it is obvious that a dog is working - DON'T ASK just stay away or speak to the handler as if the dog isn't there. "Hi, how is your day?" "Welcome to the store, let me know if I can help."
The amount of people that get annoyed by saying no.
My dog has a vest I paid for that says do not distract and has pictures for don’t touch,or speak too.
So that the pictures are there for all languages and ages…. Still makes no difference.
I’ve had a lady walk around the shop following us and distracting my dog, I’m not legally blind so she isn’t a guide dog, but I need her for my own disabilities, including anxiety and seizures, this woman triggered a seizure after 30 minutes of her behaviour, and then when I said to her would you do that at the park and pet every dog, how do you know it won’t bite you??
She said no dogs ever bitten her yet and yes she does!!!!! I was like wtf!!! 🤬 so angry.
Thankfully it’s been a tad easier the last few months. But I expect every time.
YES! If the vest has markers indicating that it is not okay to touch, then don't even ask the handler. Just ignore the dog altogether. I've also had so many people talk to my SD and try to get his attention and they think it's okay because they're not touching him and I have to ask them not to do that. Even with pictures and words on his vest stating to ignore him, no touching, talking, eye contact, or photos. It drives me nuts!
@@chronically_kyra drives me crazy and sometimes that’s enough to set me off.
This is such a great explanation about why these fake service dogs are such a problem. You are 100% right. If your dog is barking and pulling on the lead and ignoring the handler … then the dog should not be in the establishment.
I think the biggest issue, is exactly what Molly says. At least for me, a person with legitimate disabilities (for which a service dog would be beneficial ) I often feel like I would be seen as not “disabled enough” to the public to be accepted, because of the existence of fake service dogs.
But then if you did seem "disabled enough", you'd instead get a lot of flack because "you're too disabled to even have a dog!" It truly is a no-win situation.
I have wondered that as well because a good amount of days, I am walking fine and getting things done. The rest of my disabilities are in my head. Seizure dogs would be a good example where the handler looks fine, as well. If, by chance, I actually leave the house, I have noticed other service dogs out and no one looks stressed. I don't know if it is because of my city is accepting and knowledgeable, or the handler is accustomed to getting harassed. I don't want to stop everyone I meet in person, either. I have been on some very nice FB groups where you can ask for info, but I can't remember what I am told.
I think the judgement comes in when the fake service dog is acting out/in a way a typical service dog wouldn’t act (jumping up on strangers/counters, barking etc) and less a reflection on the level of disability a person has. But that’s just what I’ve seen
@@Goldstar00 I mean, I've been told or given looks that translate to "you're not disabled" just parking in handicap parking spots. I just figure if I look normal and have a dog, people would find something extra to complain about.
Honestly it's not fake service animals to make people be seen as disabled enough. I have a serious invisible disability and people don't understand how I have a service dog and ask lots of invasive questions.
i totally agree with everything you said. Only thing is that to my understanding, under the ADA service dogs only have to be trained in a minimum of 1 task, not 3. I’m not very well versed in canadian laws though. the papers thing is so true! just yesterday i had the security at a hospital say they require service dog papers. it turned out okay, but it’s ridiculous the amount of people that are misinformed.
Yes, and I think that’s important because some truly vital service dogs like the ones that sense oncoming cardiac or diabetic emergencies might not do three tasks, but the one or two tasks are super important. But hopefully the full standard anywhere is (a) does the tasks required to help their person AND (b) is trained to be in controlled, working mode in all kinds of situations and does not lose their cool around other dogs while on harness or in vest.
Yes! This!!
@@ninaradioYeah I’m thinking some alert/detection dogs.
Seizure, blood sugar, etc - also gluten detection or other allergen detection. Certain mobility issues possibly (but those would probably be easier to break up into multiple tasks). Most alert dogs do mitigating/helping responses; but I could see people having very legitimate reasons to not have their dog do various things I see.
Not a service dog owner - just a regular dog owner to one giant dog. It is insane the amount of times I've seen small dogs yap away like maniacs, trying to lunch themselves at my dog and the owners not doing anything to stop them - in fact, they continue to approach me and my big dog with their dog yapping away, clearly ready for a fight. And then they get shocked when my dog snaps, barks and lunges for them back...
The difference in treatment towards dog owners with big dogs vs dog owners with small dogs is insane. My dog is a rescue and gets stressed very easily and will act out. As a result, I've been yelled at, spat at, slapped in the face, and told by multiple grown men that they want to beat me up and "kick my dog in the face"... Now, whenever someone approaches me in public, I immediately go into fight or flight. I don't even have to have my dog with me. The fear and preparation for a fight kicks in before I even realize I'm not on a dog walk.
I've seen so many small dogs do the exact same things that my dogs do and people laugh at it or shrug it off. I wonder, if this element also feeds into the discrimination towards you? I wonder how people would react, if it was a smaller dog... ofc that's not feasible given the job he is required to do.
This is exactly my experience. People with small dogs will not take the time to train them. In my country people just believe that small dogs are naturally more aggressive which is not true, they just lack basic training 😢
It really depends on the dog. My GSD mix is getting over reactivity issues in public, but he is a very handsome dog with a friendly face so people still love him. He can do no wrong it seems. But one time I was at Home Depot with my perfectly well behaved pit/rott mix and a lady screamed and ran away.
I've been a pet sitter for over a decade. Many dog owners tell me their pets are well-behaved and friendly around other dogs. Sometimes this has not been the case when they are out with me. So I am always cautious. Some of the dogs I sit bark incessantly (beagle) if they see another dog, some have high-pitched yapping barks (King Charles spaniels, chihuahuas). If I see another dog get excited and start pulling on the leash and jumping, I will always walk the other way. So, many people will say "it's okay, my dog is friendly". I always say, I am a pet sitter and I don't know how the dog(s) will react to your dog. They usually don't pursue it further.
I had a friend that said all dogs should be trained to be "good canine citizens".
@@anainesgonzalez8868100%
I used to walk two chihuahuas belonging to my housemate and my elderly neighbor. Even with the city leash laws, many people use the city parks and open spaces to let their dogs run around off leash, even though there are dog parks nearby.
On every single daily walk, I had to stoop and scoop up both tiny dogs when someone's loose dog would launch toward us like a guided missile. The owner would eventually saunter over, saying, "Don't worry. Rover doesn't bite."
To which I would reply, "My dogs DO bite if they feel threatened. Kukua doesn't realize he only weighs 6 pounds and he reacts defensively when a bigger dog rushes him. Churchie is an amiable dimwit, but she'll join in once a fight starts. Please follow the law and use a leash here or take your dog to the dog park."
I would hand out maps with the dog parks marked, two of which were just a few blocks away.
I learned this as a kid in school and on the news that it is illegal to ask someone if their disability is legitimate, where if its a wheelchair user or anyone else who has a mobility aid. It used to be common knowledge...I don't know what happened and why people aren't informed anymore.
I have also been told by so many people to skip out on extra fees if I just did the quick process of getting my therapist to write a prescription letter for my dog to become an ESA, but for me personally it would feel like a lie and a disservice to people who actually train/need their ESA.
Have you ever asked your therapist about their opinion on if you need an ESA? A lot of times we, as patients, underestimate our needs and feel bad for asking for help. We sometimes need the extra validation to realize that these things are actually necessary for us. I still sometimes feel like a fraud even though I'm actually on SSDI, and legally recognized as disabled. It's hard. Your therapist should be someone who is a trusted third party who can see things without the biases we hold against ourselves.
I speak as someone who has a therapist who will be writing a letter when I get a cat and as a person with legitimate ESA AND Service Dog needs. (Obviously the cat will be under basic ESA with no further privileges.) The point is, I do actually *need* an animal to help me with my mental health issues. There's legitimate research on the health benefits of having a pet - especially with mental health. So if it's beneficial in that way for you, *you deserve* the extra rights it provides you - basically renter's rights. An ESA is not a "pet" under leasing laws. A legitimate therapist should also not write the letter unless they believe you actually need it. Any health professionals lying for their patients deserve to have their practicing license taken away.
There is no harm or shame in asking for a professional opinion on the matter.
As long as you aren't bringing your ESA into non pet friendly stores it really shouldn't matter
But I had the logic about my cane 🦯
I still have the majority of my vision
It's not particularly good vision compared to most.
But if you're worried about imposter syndrome chances are you're not faking it
Besides internalized ableism is a bitch to the best of us
Emotional support animals do not need to be trained, because they aren't allowed to attend you everywhere in public in the same way service animals are. If you find your dog to be emotionally therapeutic to your mental illness, then that's the only thing required of it. You might be confusing ESA's with psychiatric service animals which do need to be trained.
esa has no access rights. only actual trained service dogs.
esa is basically a pet that's allowed in non pet friendly housing
I saw that SteveO clip the other day as well, and it also rubbed me the wrong way, but I couldn't quite put words to it. Your comments on it definitely resonated with me.
I'm also a service dog handler. I think your hot take is totally reasonable. Well-trained dogs don't pose a legitimate threat to me and my dog. But untrained dogs have lunged at us, barked, pulled, etc. just to get to my SD in public. Not only is it anxiety inducing, of course, but it's dangerous like you mentioned. I wish there was a way to educate more people, and I do my absolute best whenever I'm questioned. I've even gone out of my way to try and offer training to businesses about SD etiquette. But by and large, they're not receptive. They don't *want* to learn, I think because they don't realize the legitimate risk that fake SDs pose to real working teams.
It's frustrating, and it makes it difficult to want to go out. Like you said, it's already a hassle to bring a dog everywhere with me. Yes, she helps me immensely and I am so grateful for her, but I'm always thinking about whether we'll be in legitimate danger if we go into Walmart or something.
Like Molly said, in the US service dogs do not need to be registered or professionally trained. As long as your dog performs specific tasks to help with a medical condition, they qualify as a service dog. They also don’t need to pass any formal tests.
When it comes to businesses, they are allowed to ask just two questions:
Is this a service dog?
What work or task does the service dog perform?
They cannot ask about your medical condition or require proof of your dog’s training. However, if a service dog is behaving disruptively, like being aggressive, running around, or biting, businesses can ask you to leave.
I have a self-trained service dog and have faced many challenges with people demanding certifications or proof of training. It’s been stressful, especially with the increase in untrained dogs being brought into public spaces. Recently, an untrained "service dog" almost bit my husband in the face because the owner wasn’t controlling it. When I inquired, the employees said they’re instructed not to question anyone to avoid potential lawsuits.
It’s important to understand that in the US, there will never be a national registry or certification for service dogs. This is to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities and avoid situations similar to historical abuses, like mandatory identification.
We barely regulate guns (by the standards of the civilized world as well as the several things that national polling has said there is very strong support for adding across the board that doesn’t get debated outside of candidate debates).
My avatar picture is a woman with long, curly brown hair. The image is cropped so my face and that of a blue merle Sheltie (primarily black, white and grey, with accents) who is sitting on my lap fill the circle. Chloe was nearly 15 when she died, but when she was 4 months old she broke all 4 bones in the foot/lower leg section, requiring surgery and pins and over 6 weeks of me keeping her from running. And she was a breed that, say, the AKC says doesn’t have to be thrilled with the Canine Good Citizen test parts where a random person is touching her or her human puts her in “stay” and walks off. And we lost those weeks of “this is normal”
Owner trained dogs (like any dog) are working both with and around their breed and their random early development and as someone on SSDI knowing any regulation would limit my chance at having a partner where we alternate solving the other’s problems between play, meals, and sleep. But I also have noped well away from what definitely was not a trained service dog and repeated until I asked my dad (we carpooled but did our own groceries) get the mayonnaise or whatever side quest I was blocked from completing until Dad came looking
If you are going go educate, at least make the effort TO QUOTE THE ADA CORRECTLY. Not all SDs task, and that is perfectly legal.
@@ohana8535 Oh sugar, before you try to come at me you might want to do your own proper research. All Service dogs must provide a task (work) to the handler, and only one task provided is needed to be a service dog. Taken directly from the ADA page "Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."
@@ohana8535 Oh wow, look at you! Someone's really striving for that 'I'm-better-than-you' award, huh? Instead of just kindly reminding me that I forgot to add the word 'work,' you decided to go full-on superior mode. Just a friendly tip-when you eventually tumble off that high horse, it's going to be a looong way down. So, you know, be careful!
@@RayneZaleska In your case I don't have to strive at all. It is literally no effort to be better than you.
“Im brining my own personal perspective and opinions but that doesn’t mean that Im the authority on this and it certainly doesn’t mean that Im right. It’s just my opinion and my perspective which has been formed from my experience” is how everyone should approach every conversation! Im specifically thinking of a lot of political conversations that I’ve had but wow Molly you are so smart and so inspiring in how you share your views and thoughts ❤
Yes I thought the exact same thing but didn’t know how to verbalize it. I thought I should save what you wrote when she said it because I want to behave and think more like this.
Here where I live in Florida the law agrees with you. There was a period a few years ago when fake service dogs were a huge issue and I found myself constantly educating businesses and I don't even have a service dog! (I can't afford one and the programs here are only for veterans.) Here how it works is if a service dog misbehaves in public the police will issue a citation and you have to go to a licensed school to get public access training done and then submit that to the police before taking your dog out in public again. If you don't you can be fined, arrested, or even have the dog taken from you. In the case of any violence against another service dog or person the offending dog is nearly always put down and the owner has to pay for all damages including replacing a service dog if needed.
I had to reach out to my local district attorneys office to get this information sadly and it wasn't available publicly anywhere I could find. This should be part of training for all public facing jobs. It protects everyone from harm and harassment.
So the fakers, sadly, are putting the lives of otherwise innocent animals at risk.
This type of rule can backfire. Someone called the cops on me and said my dog was attacking people. The person was apparently allergic to dogs and called the cops because they wanted to force me to leave. Anyways the cop looks at my calm and friendly dog then looks at the kids nearby and asks "is this dog biting people?" and the kids say no. The cop then told off the woman who called. This could have gone very differently though.
I just read Florida law, and your comment is complete BS. There is a fine, and possible jail time and that is the extent. Plus, it has never been enforced. There is not training requirement. There is no such thing as a "licensed school", and you do not have to get permission from police to take your dog in public. If you really got it from the DA, they were yanking your chain.
Could you send me a link to the information you found? A friend of mine lives part time in Florida and she’s gonna be getting her first Guide Dog soon. I hadn’t heard that the local laws were so different a far as if a dog miss behave in public there’s a fine to the owner and then extra training they required to do. That seems like a bit much.
@@Meskarune yeah and a lot of police aren't aware of the procedures even. Plus, for awhile there was a lot of police shootings here, even made national news when our sheriff deputized biker "clubs" to fight blm protesters (about 10people stood on the side of the main road and waved signs) but recently the cops have been much better and they get really annoyed with people using them to harass others. I had to call for a trespasser and they really laid into him and nearly arrested him for making them come out and tell him to leave the third time. But really any rule can be abused and I think there should be a requirement to give them a trial and not just slap on the requirement to pay for extra training which might make the dog less able to do it's job.
Not related to the topic, but holy shit you are GLOWING in this video! The hair, the tan, makeup, and outfit are so good!
She is!
came here to say this!
I thought the same thing!!
Agreed!!!
My hubby drives Uber, and he so loves when someone has an animal with them that I get a photo and report at the end of the ride. I cannot understand why anyone would object to an obvious guide dog
I wish that drive-share like Uber was like this and what a lovely way of knowing that ur husband had a wonderful shift ❤
My biggest fear is needing to use an Uber and getting turned away for my service animal
That is the BEST feeling when an Uber driver is excited about the dog! It feels so good, especially in comparison to the access denials.
If I was an Uber driver, I'd be like dogs yes, but child, absolutely not.
@@Starry_Night_Sky7455 same
My next door neighbor has a service dog vest so he can take his dog into stores. I want to scream every time I see it
If his dog is behaved alright, who cares. Get over it.
@Uhohohno319
I live in Australia🇦🇺, but I agree with you. I can't stand people that blatantly try to abuse the system. It only takes one person to stuff things up for all the people that have legitimate Service Animals.
omg yes this pisses me off so much!!! you can live without your dog, don’t make it harder for people who can’t. my grandpa’s best friend has a fake service vest & i was venting to my mom so hard i was livid
That makes me so mad, especially if his dog isn't an actual service dog. If a regular dog attacks a real service dog, that can be so traumatic for both the working dog and the owner. I wish people were more sensitive to the need for service dogs.
Scream Karen
OMG Molly listening to you talk about the BC certification card vs your MIRA card makes me think about the fact that I live in the National Capital Region and was living in Ottawa Ontario when I got my guide dog from the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) which is an accredited school but now live in Gatineau Quebec and EVERYONE wants my MIRA card because MIRA is in Quebec and no one living in Quebec COULD EVER possibly get a guide dog from another school in another province in Canada could they? It drives me bonkers. So I feel you Molly I feel you.
That's crazy though, since Gatineau is at least a 3 hour drive from Mira 😳
My first therapist was seriously debating about getting me a service dog because I have severe depression, c-ptsd, and dissociation. I didn't want one because I didn't want people to think I was impersonating, or having a fake service dog. Or have another dog, that's not a service dog, be crazy or harm myself or the dog. And like I do terrible with confrontation. It also makes me sad when I see straight up adults try to distract a service animal while it's working.
I 100% agree with everything you said here. Especially about other well behaved dogs being in public. My son has an Owner Trained Autism Dog and it was expensive. I say owner trained but we hired a personal dog trainer to work with us weekly/bi-weekly until he was service dog standard behavior and task trained.
If you don't mind answering, what tasks does his dog perform? I'm an autistic adult, and I think I'd like to self train a service dog someday but I dunno
@@jenna739 I'm an Autistic adult with an owner-trained SD. She can: alert for meltdowns, provide deep pressure on my legs (which often brings me out of a meltdown), wake me up from sleep paralysis or other sleep disturbances, interrupt self-destructive behaviors, and make sure I go to bed on time. We're currently working on "find where I parked the car." She, on her own, started alerting me when I get hyperfocused and stop breathing. I didn't even know I did that before she started alerting to it.
@addiekingsland2649 whoa that sounds great. Especially the breathing part. I get so focused that breathing and blinking are forgotten at times. How tough was the training?
@@jenna739 I found it pretty easy, but animal training is one of my special interests. I taught her to paw alert and then do the thing you want alerted and ask for paw. They pick it up quick. The hardest part is then NOT praising/reacting when they inevitably alert for everything. Honestly the things I spend the most time on are manners in public because I'm mortified at the idea of being *that* handler.
The problem these days is that many entitled people will misuse anything that they think will gives them a leg-up. The last time I flew with my service dog we sadly were in a row with a woman with a child and this child needlessly would not stop messing with him. He was touching him and kicking him and his mother wouldn't do anything about her child's behavior. To the point he got so stressed out, he ended up being sick. Then everyone on the plane was pissed off about the mess and smell and finally at that point the staff stepped in and moved us away from the pain in our necks. But most of the people on the plane will most likely think the service dog was the problem but he was only doing his job and the badly behaved child was the problem. I haven't flown anywhere since and that was 2013
Something that's popped up more and more in the last year is that airlines specifically here in Europe now require assistance and guide dogs to have certifications through either IGDF (International Guide Dog Federation) or ADI/ADEu (Assistance Dogs International /Assistance Dogs Europe). The problem is that those umbrella organizations have rather specific criteria for what organizations can fall under them. Here in Sweden, and the same in Iceland, guide dogs are paid for by the state meaning their paperwork is not through IGDF, meaning they cannot fly with the airlines that require such paperwork. Similarly, my own assistance dog is fully valid in my country of Sweden, but the organization I trained through was not approved by ADEu, meaning I will run into trouble if I decide to try and travel internationally with him. Where has this come from? people bringing untrained pets claiming they are guide or assistance dogs and causing problems on flights.
I'd also like to add that although there is no law regarding this in Sweden, som estate bureaus including the Discrimination Ombudsman have made public statements favouring assistance dogs with a certification and proof of training. Guide dogs are fully paid for by the state and technically owned by the state, where the handler gets a "right to use"-contract There are two main organizations that certify other assistance dogs. One is ADI ackredited, one is not (I've trained through the latter. Then there are two more that I know of, one of which utterly lacks transparancy on their certification process, one that has certified some truly questionable dogs including one with severe hip dysplasia and one that's dog aggressive. Anyway, the two big organizations have ID-cards that work similarly to a driver's license, with an expiration date and everything, because the team needs to re-take their graduation test regularly to prove the dog is still working correctly. They each also have their signature look of gear, to help make it easier for the public to identify legitimate teams. That, so far, doesn't seem to be working too well though, mainly because so many Swedes consume a lot of social media content from the US and have basically been lead to believe real assistance dogs don't exist. I have to argue basically everyt ime I go into a non-pet-friendly establishment, because despite his training and his guide harness, staff simply cannot grasp that my assistance dog is with me for a legitimate, medical reason.
@@Scarletlight525But isn't assistance dogs even more common in US? I live in Sweden too and that's my impression at least that assistance dogs have become more popular for different disabilities and not just blindness comes from the US.
@@teijaflink2226 oh definitely! Numbers have tripled here since 2016, but we're still only talking about roughly 260 guide dogs and 300 other assistance dogs.
The truly sad thing is u have seen a couple cases of people faking here too, and just the other day a tiny dog in a shopping trolley went ballistic at my assistance dog while I was shopping at Coop! Staff did nothing!
@@teijaflink2226that would be correct. Here in the US there’s guide dogs for blindness and deafness. We also have seizure alert, cardiac, psychiatric, diabetic, gluten and other food allergies, migraine, autism support (though that might fall under psychiatric), mobility and I think even fetal alcohol syndrome dogs.
I've mainly had trouble with hotel reservations in the US. I can call or email ahead, work out all the details about bringing a service dog, answer any questions and educate people from the peace of my own home. But then that info doesn't get communicated to the front desk staff. So when my family arrives tired and frazzled from travel, we get questioned all over again by whoever is working the desk that day. I have printed a letter from the dog trainer we worked with just to end these conversations quickly so we can go and rest.
Oh gosh, I only traveled once with a service dog I was training for an organization years ago and didn't have any issues (it was a pet friendly hotel already). Whenever I travel with my two dogs, I always put on the reservation that I am bringing a dog, I don't usually take them with me to check in, but sometimes I do and just have my fiance sit with them while I check in. And I swear I have only ever been charged a pet fee a couple times. My dogs are completely house-trained/crate-trained, are always freshly groomed before traveling, and are very used to traveling so they don't get much anxiety.
@@ashlynmccain6155 That's awesome. I'm glad you've been able to travel easily. I think the problems for me have been in places where there isn't a pet-friendly hotel option. So legally a service dog is allowed, but the hotel is not used to having dogs.
I adopted a Great Pyrenees that was abused until she was surrendered at 7 months old. She is the sweetest dog I’ve ever had. Such a love. I am her service animal 🥹
GP hoooman here too 🥰
Aww I have a great Pyrenees and he is the sweetest and biggest baby
Yes, I am also a Service Hooman.
Yup, I have a 12# rabbit and my roommate says that he gets super distressed when I am away. So we support each other
@@FrequencyFit 👍🏼😆
In the spirit of education about the ADA laws, I did want to point out that the phrasing says "Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." [ADA Title III 36.104 - Definitions]
There is no mention of the dog needing to know at least 3 tasks. The 3 tasks rule is typically used by organizations that train service dogs to ensure that the investment into the dog is worthwhile. Most disabled people do typically require more than one task, but there is no requirement as long as the dog can "do work or perform tasks", especially if the dog is behaving to the standard expected in public.
I’m not afraid to admit that I cried watching this. I’ve been a service dog (mobility support) user for 2 years and agree with you on nearly every point. And right now, I’m not sure if I’ll continue being a service dog user when my boy retires because of issues we face in public.
I have an owner trained seizure alert and response assistance dog in the UK. I trained her myself because I am a trainer before I got ill, I live on a remote and have a rare condition so there are no organisations that could help me. In the UK, assistance dogs can be owner trained. My opinion:
- if a dog is an assistance dog but behaves badly, that is irresponsible, is dangerous for everyone involved, and is what gives assistance dogs a bad name
- if a dog is well behaved but is not an assistance dog, that's still illegal but is not directly dangerous, and effects me a lot less
UK law is that assistance dogs (definition given in the legislation) can be classed as an auxiliary aid, for a disabled person, and allowed into non-pet-friendly places (Equality Act 2010). UK law also requires dogs to behave appropriately safe in the environment they are in, including assistance dogs (Dangerous Dogs Act 1991). The problem is service providers and general public don't know the law so have one bad experience and start a blanket ban.
I will never get one of those fake "id cards" and I hate those that do, even if it is a good assistance dogs; it prevails this scam and makes it harder for other people who refuse to give into it. My assistance dog does not require equipment to do her tasks, her primary tasks are alerting and responding to my seizures which she does 24hrs a day. She's been in ambulances and in hospital without her working gear on because we were at home when the seizure happened etc and it does not effect her behaviour. In places we visit regularly she sometimes doesn't wear her vest because it's too hot or she's wet so in a towel coat etc. But the vest does make it easier for people to identify her, especially if I do have a seizure alone in public, so people understand she's helping. But the equipment doesn't make the dog an assistance dog, their handler and their behaviour does.
I struggle with the certification argument. In theory, it's ideal but in practice, it causes some serious issues. One way is to make only certain assistance dogs trained but certain organisations legal; most likely in the UK this would be ADUK, as they have tried to make this the law in the past. However, most organisations are not part of the ADUK, and it would cut off SOOO many disabled people off from accessing assistance dogs, including myself. The other option is to install a national test, but thus raises so many unanswered questions: who would pay for this, who would certify the examiners, would the examiners go to every part of the UK (I'm on a remote island), how long would the waiting lists be, would this just cover public behaviour or every possible task behaviour, etc?
The law is already there to define and protect assistance dogs, and makes their behaviour a legal requirement to be safe and appropriate. The issue is people don't know the laws that already exist, and people take advantage of that
My country requires ID's for dogs to be considered service dogs. Training schools need a certification from the government before they are allowed to give ID's for service dogs. If a school want to get a certification, they have to pay for an audit by the state to see if they meet training standards. The school also provides the dogs. People with disabilities can not just get a dog and then go to training. Because all the dogs have to be pre-trained before they can start training with a disabled person.
I don't know how well/bad the system works, but since I hardly hear anything about it, I think it works pretty decently.
@Robbedem I live on a remote island and have an uncommon condition, there are no assistance dog organisations that could provide an assistance dog for me. There is literally no other option. I have to take the risk in getting my own dog and training them up myself. My disability has been determined by my government as meaning I cannot go outside without a carer or an assistance dog, but there is no organisation that will assist with that. And cannot afford/don't have enough availability to have a regular carer. So option is either train an assistance dog myself or I'm housebound
@@AliceSylph my country is rather small and doesn't have remote places.
Also, how can the government say you aren't allowed to go outside without a carer and then not provide the option to get someone if you want to go out? That seems weird to me.
@Robbedem I live in UK, Scotland, on the remote islands of Shetland. The government has to assess your disability to decide whether you get benefits and can park in disabled bays etc, part of it is assessing if you can go outside on your own and they have determined I get full points, and stated without a carer or assistance dog I cannot go outside. We also have the nhs, and being on a remote island there's no private option and not enough staff to use the nhs system in place. I had an nhs carer for a little while before my dog, they came for one hour once a week. Also living on a remote island there are no takeaways or anything like that. If you are housebound you just sort of are left to die if you don't have family to become your carer
I always appreciate and respect how well you are able to talk and get your point across. There is so much negativity and hate so it's nice to see someone be able to disagree with someone and correct them in such a classy way. Thank you for spreading the correct information and sharing your experiences, and of course we all love hearing your rambles lol I hope you're having a good day :)
Spot on for every thing. I am an owner trainer and program accredited. My retired service dog was owner trained, and we struggled to have a paper trail of training just to have some sort of “proof”. AKC CGC tests are a good way to do that. But my current service dog, she is also owner trained, but we applied to a program, got accepted, and graduated all their phases of training 2 years ago. We don’t have an ID but we have a Paper, like program accreditation. We still aren’t supposed to show it. But to stand our ground as long as we are comfortable and explain our legal rights.
The burden of requiring a service dog is heavier than people think it is. If I didn’t pass out and have my heart rate problems, I would never bring my dog. It is SO much more complicated as a mom with kids in tow as well. It’s not fun at all.
And a bark alert is so much different from uncontrollable barking. ❤ Fake service dogs do cause so many problems and cause many service dogs to be unable to work. It’s a public safety issue period. Not JUST dangerous to our dogs and us, but those untrained dogs aren’t safe to the 3 year old that runs up in their face or grabs their ears or tail. Because it happens. We see stories of kids bit all the time. Where our dogs have been trained to not be bothered by ear or tail pulling. Not to bite when stepped on. My girl has been stepped on so many times by huge grown men not paying attention. And as much as it hurt, she never bit. Just moved away as quick as possible. You don’t get that behavior in a dog without training. And many people don’t realize how much truly goes into training our service dogs to be safe..
Love you Molly. As always, you inspire us to do better, and you hit everything spot on.❤❤
***The accreditation via a program is not legally required in the US. It is helpful for traveling to other countries who require service dogs be trained via a program.
You do realize that those programs are legally useless, right? There is no such thing as a recognized "accreditation" for legitimizing a dog for access.
@@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676 You misunderstand. Our paper from the program, just simply states that the dog has been trained via PAD, etc. it explains some laws. And if they have further questions to reach out. We are very aware we aren’t to use it. And that’s not what it’s for. I say accredited because she’s trained and graduated through a program. But she’s still an owner trained dog. We are not program trained, but we are graduated. She was fully trained when we entered, and all we had to do was test through their phases for a few months, before doing their Public Access Test and graduating. And we are required to redo that public access test every few years to keep our accreditation. As it’s not a certificate/certification. Hope that’s makes sense.
It holds no legal authority. Just states she’s trained/graduated.
We chose to use a program to make travel easier. They’ve had teams successfully travel out of country. That’s nearly impossible to do as an owner trainer as most countries require dogs to be trained via a program. So I need that to travel out of country with my service dog.
@@rustythegreatandpowerfulla2676 maybe for the US, but having gone through a program and graduated, you are able to gain access in countries that do require proof of training/being from an accredited school.
@@ServiceDogPaws I'm glad you cleared that up, but it should have been in the original comment that it was not legally necessary or required.
@@_Thymelessx Since we are talking about the US, your comment is kind of moot.
As an able-bodied person, I lean to agree with what you've said. Certification feels like although it could help in some ways, because of all the different things and ways to train dogs, it feels like it'd be more harmful than anything to the service dog community. Having well-trained dogs, and well-trained PEOPLE to work with said dogs feels like a necessity. If you do not have the energy, the time, and the dedication to properly train a dog you should not have one. As someone who's grown up with dogs in my family, between immediate family, aunts, and my grandma all having dogs. We shouldn't have had them. None of us properly knew how to train or care for our dogs the way they should have been cared for. I currently have one of our 2 childhood dogs, he is 18 years old, he is decently trained, but not well. He is not aggressive with dogs or people, on the contrary, all he wants to do is make friends. But he is not properly trained, and as kids we were never properly trained to help them. Now, as an adult, I've done my research, I've looked up ways of training, and I've been using it with my aunt's dog who also lives in the house, who is a hound mix, strong-willed and a tanky short little man, but he listens to me, because I've done what training I can with him, and because my aunt also works on it.
This is so important! If dogs will live in the city and be in public all the time they need to have some basic social training. Service dog or not. In my country, besides the laws for services dogs there are laws for public health and public order that includes how dogs can share public spaces. Ignorance of the law does not allow to break it. We just need to be more aware of the laws (so many people worked so hard to have them!)
Something I've said for a while is certifications are more helpful for people who have to deal with service dogs (ie businesses) they can just be like ok cool you got papers i dont have to worry about you. Vs having to engage in a conversation and make judgements on if the dog is acting appropriately and if not, removing them. Where as certifications add so many extra barriers to a medical aid that already has a lot of barriers to entry- making a life saving tool even harder to access unfortunately. The problem isnt the current laws- they work, but only when they are enforced. Thats where the biggest problem comes in imo
The countries that do have certification requirements are also extremely limited as to who or can’t get a service dog. I can think of at least a handful of countries right now that my teenage nephews wouldn’t be able to have their dogs. One is because of their age. Two is because they both have epilepsy and one of them also has celiac’s disease. Neither of which are listed as conditions that require SD’s in these countries. The strictest I’m aware of is Japan where only blind, deaf and mobility dogs are a thing. And they have to be trained by government approved organizations and they’re not paid for by anyone but the person getting the dog.
It also puts stress on animals who haven’t been trained, as they might not be the right fit. That’s the reason so many guide dogs fail is because they weren’t fit to do their job. I personally would support a system where there was a way to register service animals, and put harsher penalties for people who have fake service animals. We as Disney people shouldn’t have to have one more stressor of a dog that is untrained hurting us, or making it harder for legitimate service dog users to get the support they need from heir animals. This is really making me second guess considering a guide dog (and for a few other reasons, too).
Definitely! My Golden Retriever is definitely exactly what anyone thinks a Golden is, but he is not good with sudden noises and is much happier at home.
I have trained service dogs, and been screamed at and thrown out of businesses. We are in a fairly small town (Virginia), so many places were used to seeing the dogs come in and didn't ask. Most of the issue I had was in places where staff was likely very untrained on the topic, like convenience stores or ethnic restaurants. I trained and puppy raised for an accredited ADI organization, we adhered to the ADI requirements and had high standards for appearance and behavior in public. When I did this 15 yrs ago, it was just the beginning of the fake service dog craze. I used to take phone calls at the program asking me where to buy the vests so they could take the dog on an airplane. At that point it wasn't widely known to buy them on line. I have no answers to how to deal with the situation either. I can't see a practical way to provide true certification plus more government is rarely the answer. I think this is a great video on this topic, Molly. I hate to see anyone, even joking, promoting fake service dogs and people taking their untrained pets into public.
Just for the record, it is my firm belief that most dogs, if asked, would not want to be a service dog. It is a much harder and more stressful job than the average pet dog has. And if that pet dog has not been trained from early on to deal with all the sounds, experiences, environments, stress, training and visual stimuli of public access, it would be asking a lot of the dog to do.
Something that is so frustrating is not one job that I've worked at here in the United States has trained me on how to identify a service dog and what to do when we see them. All jobs should have a training course on the laws for service dogs and what we're supposed to do, especially in restaurants, stores, and travel services. I know what to do because I took the time to look it up, which is easy to do. But not everyone looks it up. If I ever own a business, I will teach my employees. The United States needs to do better.
You’re so thoughtful, and really put your message together very well. I’m so sorry that this is a constant problem for you and other disabled people.
I think it’s so cool to see your eyes moving even though you can’t see that well
same I think it's unique
Exactly! I work in hospitality and when people enter the hotel with service dogs fake or not, unless you’re dog is giving us reason to be worried then we aren’t, plus’s everyone at my work loves animals
My girl was nearly attacked when she was 5, she was so focused on her task that when the snarling dog ran at her she didn't even notice until I fiscally grabbed her and pulled her behind me to protect her. Now when a dog starts walking towards us in PA she always falters a little and watches them until they pass us or she decides there safe, luckily it doesn't impact her job, but it really upsets me that she has to be worried about it in a place that she should only have positive vibes and attention to her job.
I respect, and would defend with my last breath, to make sure that anyone with any type of service dog is allowed access to any public space. The problem is, in my experience in the USA, is the incompetence uphill of the leash with most dogs in America.
Under the ADA a service dog only needs to do ONE task, not 3. Preach girl! I just did a presentation at work on this topic.
I thought it was two for some reason.
@@ReineDeLaSeine14 I don't know about other countries but in the USA it's just one
As someone who researched fake service dogs as my senior project in high school I really enjoyed hearing your opinion on this!
In New Zealand most dogs are trained. It was super weird for me to move here, coming from South Africa where the dogs are barking non stop. But here in New Zealand, you would hardly ever hear a dog bark. There are strict rules on where and when dogs are allowed off leash. But mostly, at least the town I stay in, restaurants have water bowls outside for any pup. I am not a dog owner, but I have also seen some shops hand doggy treats out. At the same time, I have also been in situations where a dog chased my then 5 year old daughter on the beach and she's now petrified of dogs. The owner kept on telling me her dog was just playing and that just pushed me over the edge as she did not even call her dog back.
My daughter always watch your show with me. And I have explained to her about service dogs. Now it's the only type of dogs she's not afraid of. At least here we do not have a lot of fake service dogs and they do go out teaching people of service dogs at pet stores.
I think the discussion needs to be around “dogs in public” in general, we will all benefit from it.
Also, every person working with public needs to know the laws that is for sure. But I think most issue will resolve by just socially requiring all dogs to behave in public
Yeah i wouldn't care if it was a good fake service dog, well behaved, etc. My service dog has been attacked and lunged at by fake service dogs and now i have to habe her partially retired. So frustrating.
That disclaimer was so genuine Molly. Your heart is so kind ❤
I completely agree with you and thrilled that such a well-known member of the disabled community is talking about it. I am currently in the process of applying for a service dog for my mobility and hearing. I have attempted to train my own dog to be a service dog, who is now career changed to a highly trained pet. My disability is very visible so it was funny to see the shame wipe across the faces of the family that decides to bring their little barker when my dog was present with me. Even before public access training, I specifically made sure my dog would not react to others even if they are the ones barking. If only people who want to bring their dogs everywhere gave that same care. It’s so bad that stores that were previously pet friendly in my area that my dog and I have regularly visited (like Home Depot), are now service dog only. All I want is a. People to leash their dogs, b. People to train their dogs basic manners before taking them out, and c. People to stop making up nonsense about service dogs.
I think you've changed my mind too. I've wondered if certification could make a difference... but your experience at how it makes business owners even more combative rather than more accepting is pretty strong. If it fails at the very purpose it could serve, then it's wrong. I mean, the practical considerations of cost and travel are clearly an issue too, but they seem like things you can work out if it is working toward a better end goal.
But if it isn't, then no. Noone needs to spend one single dime on something that doesn't bring actual benefit. That seems very clear. So thanks!
(And also, yes. If we're talking well behaved dogs, it almost has no impact on anything. Not even when I'm allergic - not severely but enough to not enjoy boarding a train next to a dog usually. They're small issues. That's not surely not the argument for harassing people with service dogs.)
To be quite honest in the US until there is a federal law against faking a service dog (only 33/50 states have laws and of course no one is really upholding them) and it is legally required for businesses to educate themselves and their staff about service dog law and pushing them to uphold themselves and their staff to these standards by holding the business accountable for both allowing fake service dogs in their business and creating access issues for legitimate handlers nothing is going to get better. Education is key but getting people to care is even more of an issue.
The biggest problem is: that unless you are blind than there is basically very very little help paying for any certification or training to help train the dog. There are so many people who do need service dogs yet because they are not blind then the USA does not have any programs for service animals. It’s like the only need is for the blind as if there aren’t any other individuals with disabilities. My nephew is on the spectrum and having a service dog to help him would impact his life in a positive way drastically, yet there is not such help, program or recognition. That’s crazy! That is what is wrong … service dogs shouldn’t be only associated with the blind. I’m an individual with “low vision.” However, I can’t get any help because technically I am not considered blind. I don’t drive and can see at night. It sucks! I’ve had to call my family and friends when I’ve gotten stuck after dark in a neighborhood or good which I can’t see. It devastating. Yet I have no assistance, don’t qualify for anything, and this negatively impacts my daily life. I can’t leave my house after dark alone.
I needed a psychiatric service dog and when they are offered they are either for autism or ptsd
I work at a restaurant, and the amount of people with fake service dogs is insane, and management is too scared to question the customers. We just have untrained dogs just running around. Not good.
You actually told the REAL problem. It is managers like yours. If businesses enforced their own policy, disabled people would not have to face these hardships. Shame on your management for being such ableist cowards.
@@littlebitofhope1489 100% this!!!
Hi I’m a guide dog owner from the uk, I feel the exact same way as you do! This was very well said! ❤
I leave to train with my future diabetic alert dog (through LFCDG) on Monday. I am so excited to gain independence but I’m also worried on how much harder accessing places to be.
He's a medical device is the answer I get & often leave frustrated due to the ignorance. You deserve access but be prepared to leave. It sucks. I'm sorry but that said my boy has saved my life too many times to recount
It’s so worth the trouble for me, it’s life changing.
Just remember it’s no different. You don’t need to walk into anywhere any different than now. You don’t need to look for permission. You already have permission. No one’s looking at you, just do your thing.
I’ve been a SD handler for 9 years and also teach others. It took years for me to completely forget the people around me but I sure wish I had figured out sooner not to wait for something to happen. If anyone decides to interrupt that’s 100% them interrupting, don’t expect interruptions.
When you expect them, even when totally dreaded, I’ve found that somehow it leads to having more of those encounters. I’m not sure why, but once there weren’t those holes in my bubble- maybe it was just how I was carrying myself- it cut down on public interactions like 75% vs what I’d had before.
(Also, I’m not saying don’t keep an eye out for potentially problematic/dangerous scenarios. Do do that of course, don’t 100% ignore what’s around you. But the people is what I mean, don’t think about what they’re up to any differently than you do without your SD. It’s so much less draining too.) Anyways, just a random word of advice from a fellow SD handler. You’ve got this!
1. Thank you for your videos. I have been learning so much and am hopefully correcting my behavior to make me a better societal partner!
2. "Bring a giant toddler with me" killed me. 😂 But, seriously, you beautifully captured the fact that you and your dog are partners who take care of each other.
absolutely agreed, I get so incredibly frustrated by people abusing a system that is not meant for them. I work in hospitality so I had a whole hour or so section of training on ada compliance and I still get people in my life fighting me on the laws. I feel for you with how frequently you have to be questioned in that way, and I really hope that pet owners stop it with their "he's well trained" delusion when their dog doesn't even know all the basic commands
Thank you Molly. I’ve been severely visually impaired since birth but have a bit too much residual vision to be eligible for most guide dog schools and have used a cane most of my life. So about six years ago I rescued my best friend. As soon as I did, numerous well meaning people started telling me to get him an ESA vest so he could be, basically, a bootleg guide dog. I was very clear very quickly with them why I would never even consider doing that and pointed them to your videos on the subject.
I hate that for you and so many others in the B/VI community this is such a frequently recurring problem and you’re absolutely right to call it discrimination, discrimination enabled and enhanced by the behavior of selfish fraudsters. Rescuing my boy Bartlet is the best thing I’ve ever done but I wouldn’t trust him to guide me into anything other than trees and I definitely wouldn’t put him or my friends who are guide dog users in a position to have to deal with his energy when trying to work their dog.
Omg I love his name ❤
@@jenniferpalmer5130 Thank you, I’m a big ole nerd and he’s named after the fictional US President on the 2000s’ TV show The West Wing.
I also have a rescue dog and he is also the best ❤
The problem with getting some kind of real, standardized certification is the cost. Disabled people are usually impoverished, or at least have problems with the cost of living, since they cannot work the same jobs as abled people, due to physical restrictions, problems with traveling far, or any number of reasons. The guide/service dog itself already is expensive, and now with a proposed certification, we'd be demanding disabled people to spend even more money and time, and that's not fair to them.
I'm so glad someone called him out on this. Forever glad we have advocates like you in the world molly. Sending love ❤️
I have a psychiatric service dog for severe chronic depression and I am lucky enough to not have to take him everywhere with me. I primarily need his support at home and while i am traveling. He wakes me up each morning and makes sure I get out of bed when my alarm goes off, hes trained to not let me stay in bed for more than a couple of hours at a time during the day, he brings me my medication and will even help me clean up if I leave clothes or blankets on the floor instead of where they go. He is an amazing help and gets me through my bad days, but I'm still very happy that im able to leave him at home when I go out. People don't seem to understand how stressful it can be to have a dog in non dog friendly places. The amount of attention you get and the constant questions can cause a lot more anxiety than the dog can help ease in some cases. My dog is public access trained so that he can join me when I have to travel or stay somewhere overnight but I think he's better off not needing to utilize that training everywhere I go
I know a few people who have owner trained dogs, one was trained to tell her that sugar was low and literally saved her life when she was on a plane.
They also alert to high sugar.
I got your book when it came out a few years ago. I enjoyed it. Since I’m blind, I got the audible version.
As a bartender who sometimes encounters service dogs on occasion. I agree that as long as the dog is behaving like a service dog. I do not care. Im only going to even bother asking the questions if another customer has an issue like an allergy. I do not need to single anyone out without a reason. It affects me zero to have a well behaved dog sitting on the floor.
It’s important to mention that in the states there’s no actual certification for service dogs. I don’t know this person but based on his accent I assume he’s from the states. He may not be lying or misinformed, it really depends on where he lives.
I am not a service dog user , but I have worked retail for about 3 decades and all the formal training I received could be summed up as
1. Ignore the service animal unless they actively pose a danger to others or are causing a sanitary problem
2. If there is problem offer the handler/user assistance for the service animal if any is needed/ or helpful.
3. If the service animal is a danger to others or is causing sanitary issues due to poor manners/training. Ask them to leave politely and calmly.
In that time I have had zero issues with service animals. Though I do suspect that of the 20 plus I have encountered while working the majority were not formally/ properly trained however they caused no problems so no interactions occurred. And yes you can tell by the animals demeanor and personality which were legitimate. On a side note there was one man that for the better part of 15 years brought his 'standard poodle' (I think he said it weighed about 30 pounds ) with him nearly every day in a rucksac style backpack with the drawstring top and flap style top cover... it was absolutely silent and would stick its head out of the drawstring and look around and pull it back in when it wasn't interested. I finally had to ask out of curiosity what was up with that and he said his dog enjoyed it and it gave him exercise carrying the extra weight. Even after all that time i had coworkers who didn't know or wouldn't believe that he had a dog in his backpack 😂
Now that guy is reqlly giving his dog the world lol
My dad has a service dog (this is his 2nd one). One thing I have noticed over the years is how the public responds. For example, when going to the grocery store people come up and just start petting her or talking to her. When we say she’s working and please do not do that, they get upset. I feel like people think that she’s there for the enjoyment of the public, not for the tasks she performs for my Dad.
I am also disabled and I struggle with the fact that things that are created for disabled people get taken advantage of by non disabled people which makes it harder for disabled people. (I hope that sentence made sense lol). This is seen with fake service dogs, but also the disability pass at Disneyland. I wish I didn’t need accommodations for my disability and that I could act like a typical person, yet there are some non disabled people feel like they have the right to the things created for disabled people just because. I wish there was more education and respect for the disabled community.
A lot of the fault lies with You Tubers like this. They say they are educating, but in reality they are teaching people how to use accommodations to their advantage, and that means they get taken away from the disabled people who need them. I guess when you commercialize disability, it can have unintended consequences like this. One thing I do when people try to pet my dog, is ask if I can pet them and it works especially well with parents who let their children pet without permission. When they get all huffy, I say something like " Oh I thought you were ok with people disrespecting boundaries since you are doing it" They usually leave quickly.
@@ohana8535
What specifically do you object to Molly doing, and why do you think scamers would not figure it out anyway?
A tip for not forgetting your card is putting it in your phone case. I do this myself and since you take your phone everywhere you won't forget it and are always prepared if someone asks for it
There IS no card. The cards are scams and showing cards hurts legitimate service dog teams who know there is no card.
@@brittssleepsaround She literally said she has a card though...
@@brittssleepsaround She has a card from Mera, and in canada you have to show it. She talks about this in this video. Watch the whole video
@@pattyfluegel7816 fully aware, but Molly didn't mention forgetting it.
@fluffyou9276 I'm aware. But I was referencing Steveo, wasn't aware this person was referencing Mollys MIRA card.
It is a big problem here in Australia,as we don’t use the term service dog . We use assistant dog. So many Temu and eBay jackets seen on dogs here.
Very well said, Molly! I am just a puppy raiser, but I still see a lot of what you are talking about, when we are out training. Actually agree on the hot take, as long as the dog is calm, quiet, ignoring my dog, and not up on the furniture or in the freaking grocery cart (or the strollers, because I can't tell you how many of those dogs are dog reactive and have surprised the crap out of me and my puppy because we thought we were just walking past a baby stroller). Educational and helpful to hear what the effect of the "certification requirement" is in practice. Great video today!
SAME!!! I'm a puppy raiser for the same school Molly goes to (Mira) so my pup has a scarf when we go to non-dog-friendly spaces. The trainers tell us to step out if the puppy starts acting out (which she will, she's only 5 months) to not disturb anyone else!!!! Even though she's in training! Also! Even with the scarf, some people have apparently complained to our favourite breakfast/brunch restaurant that we go to every week. They told us to not forget her scarf and card, even though they know that she tucks herself at our feet and bothers nobody :(
A friend of mine was on a flight recently with two dogs in vests. One was barking and snarling at other passengers and lunging at small children. The other completely ignored all that mess and sat silently beside its handler. My friend isn’t a service dog user but does foster high needs dogs and was absolutely livid about the harm the poorly behaved dog was doing.
Hi molly! Thanks for sharing this. I always enjoy hearing about your experience and I absolutely hate that you have to deal with all this! I didn't realize how prevalent it is that people are questioning you in public spaces.
It also just blows my mind that you can tell people point blank you are blind and that it is illegal for them to ask and for them not to know better or to back down. I feel like service dogs are easily associated with blind people and to know you get questioned this much I can't imagine how much harder it probably is for people with less recognizable disabilities. Like do you want me to have a seizure on the floor right now to prove I need this service dog?! I'm so sorry to hear so many people struggle with this! Please let me know if there's any way I can help!
as someone who isn’t disabled and doesn’t own a service dog but owns a dog who is very well behaved but she does have her moments, this has really opened my eyes about how much more considerate i can be if my dog encounters a service dog (or any dog because i now know they don’t need a vest saying “service dog”). i live in the uk and i’m not sure on the laws but either way, this has made me a lot more aware of how i can be more respectful with others that have service dogs. so thank you! i love your videos and i love learning new things about how i can be a little bit better as a human, when it comes to disability awareness ❤
I work in a medical office. Patients come in often with guide dogs or cardiac alert dogs, no issue. They are not questioned by staff.
But I have been bitten by a PTSD “service dog”. I handled the situation as calmly as possible and informed my patient that her dog needs retraining or should be left at home. The patient freely admitted that she “self trained” her dog to keep others away from her due to PTSD. And purchased the service dog vest online. She refused to understand that she was part of the problem and had a fake service dog.
Oh my gosh. She didn't forsee someone in a medical setting needing to touch her so her dog might be an issue?! I'm so sorry that happened to you.
self-trained (AKA owner-trained) service dogs are NOT fake service dogs! owner-trained SDs are equally as valid and legal as those trained in facilities. however, yes, she clearly hadn't done the best job and either the dog needed more training (which includes her educating herself on more/better training techniques and cues), or it was not the right choice as a service dog and she needed to try again with a different one. so sorry that happened to you, but just as a reminder real service dogs absolutely CAN be self-trained.
I just deleted my long complaining reply. My point is that most of my encounters with service dogs have been great! They usually lay down where instructed and don’t interfere. The ones I remember more are the dogs we write incidents reports for. Every single incident I’ve had to write up has been owner trained and questionable. But I don’t ask questions for the well trained ones, so they could be owner trained as well and I’d never know.
My ex used to say "lets get a service dog vest for our dog" and I would protest and not allow it because I am aware of all the negative implications! It makes me so sad that people think they can do what they want even though it hurts other people!
The law may have changed, but from the recent time I have looked at what the requirements are to have a service dog. It's one be disabled and two have a task trained Animal to help with that, but there is no set limit of tasks, so they are required to have one trained task to my knowledge of ADA currently
The one thing that infuriates me is people bringing there pet dog into places like Walmart, Walgreens etc. even when those places have on there doors only service dogs. And business do nothing
You hit on the real issue.
To me, the best way to decide if a dog should be in a public environment should be decided based on the dog’s behavior. I have believed that for years. The behavior matters so much for a service dog and the person of a service dog team. Like it or not, that team is a representative of all service dog teams. The next team that is in that restaurant, store or whatever place will be treated well or poorly based on how the previous team was perceived. People judge by experience. If their experience with a service dog team was good, they will, fairly or not, have expectations of the same kind of experience based on the previous service dog team. I had a service dog, but after one, I realized that life wasn’t for me. The biggest reason was not about the dog. It was about dealing with people when I was in a public environment with my dog. It was too stressful. Fake service dogs were a problem then and it’s only become worse.
You go Molly ❣️ I am on your side. I worked hard for my dog that I saved to be my service dog. I have PTSD from rape and assault. I am alone and it was either I take her or she gets put down. I chose her because I needed a dog for comfort. I contacted Medicaid and got the number for me to get her certified. I followed their requirements, which you covered, and got her certified at the airport for public transportation. My issue is because of her breed. Always questioned. I have gotten as to where if I am challenged I just say, vet, PTSD, diabetic. And keep walking. Those that think it's fun to have fake service dogs are very disappointing. I was challenged in a restaurant when we got up to leave. They went all Karen on me and said I didn't deserve to have a dog in public because she's not a service dog breed. When she went Karen, Phoenix pointed and started to growl to alert. Then she said my dog was vicious because she was doing her job. What about those that say their service dog is not on leash because if something happens the dog has to be able to go get someone... Umm no .. a trained service dog will posture over their human to make sure nothing happens to them. Then their dog comes at my girl. I've started informing people of the misdemeanor and felony charges I can bring to them if they don't control their dog. She postured when a loose dog attacked her. She guarded and the other dog owner proceeded to hit my dog to get her off her dog. I recorded it and filed felony charges against her. The money we won I used to set up Phoenix revolving vet account. Blessings and journey Mercy with you, Elvis and your boyfriend. I follow you always and Wich I could send you a picture of my Phoenix. Did I mention she is an American Staffordshire terrier and loves babies and women and some men 🙃. I have had Drs tell me my service dog for her breed behaves better than most other service dogs they have seen that jump all over all the furniture and are all over everybody.
Literally stopped rewatching an old molly video to watch this 😂
I have a service dog. One of the first pictures show a dog sleeping in an airplane seat and a service dog is not allowed to be in a seat, they need to stay on the floor.
Fake service dogs make me insanely irritated. Like, Why does your dog all of a sudden need to go to Walmart Sherry.....
Children at stores, why do they need to go there, omg?!? How about you scurry on your way, and pay attention to your own business. However if you have a service dog, are those other dogs on leash interfering with you? Wait, are they 30 to 50 feet away? If they aren't in your personal space, let it go.
@Starry_Night_Sky7455 Calm down Sherry.
My point was simply that there's no need to bring a pet into a store.
Service dogs are performing a job. Your dog is just there for you to get attention.
This!
@@tbella5186except I see many homeless people bringing their dogs into Walmart (they are obviously homeless (carrying giant black garbage bags filled with their possessions)I feel bad that they don’t have a place to put their dog while they go into Walmart, but their dogs are never trained.
I worked at a restaurant, a lady comes in with a chihuahua in a STROLLER. Anytime anyone can with in feet it starting barking. She tried to say it was a service dog. I called epilepsy Canada to ask questions. Yeahshe got kicked out
Almost embarrassed at how quickly I clicked on this 😂
Ohh, big topics. I thought about buying one of those cards that "say" your dog is a service dog just to show something to those who ask but I decided educating people and not perpetuating the "papers" idea would be better. So glad I did that. I'm 8 years in with my little bit & I hate unruly dogs in public.
My assistance dog came home today (UK version of service dog)
congrats! i hope you enjoy your new friend:)
Congrats and happy bonding/learning/training together!
🩷💙🦮
It’s really sad that so much of society doesn't see faking a service dog as selfishly faking disability accommodations. And agree about well behaved dogs, if you're dog isn't being disruptive to me or the environment idc- I’m all for people socializing thier dogs responsibily. But there has only been an increase in poorly trained/aggressive vested dogs (especially at airports). Soo frustrating, but you did a great job educating in this video.💕
A “service dog” tried to attack my 3 yo in Walmart completely unprovoked.
Walmart allows all dogs in. Never assume any dog in Walmart is a Service Dog. Ever.
I'd have to see video before 100% believing your story. It's possible, but I've seen enough kids that are often being obnoxious, straying from the parent, or poking around in others business. Having said that, as with unruly, poorly socialized, reactive humans, an unknown dog may be the same. So, don't let your kiddo run scot free, probably touching everything. A person's dog needs to be under control. So do kids.
Thank you for sharing your throughts, loved hearing your perspective on this topic. As a SD user, I wanted to add a caveat to your point that we shouldn't care if people bring their dog in public if it's well behaved, as I slightly disagree. I think many people who own pet dogs believe that their dogs are well behaved, and they might be under normal circumstances of day to day life, however those dogs did not go through all of the training that SD go through, which includes teaching them how to handle stressful environments and desensitization to various objects and sounds. The issue arises when people bring their "well behaved" pets into non pet friendly spaces, and all of a sudden those dogs are put into an environment with stressors they are not equipped to handle properly, which can lead to trigger stacking and eventually lashing out, seemengly out of nowhere, at which point it might be too late. This unfortunately happened to me and my SD, as we were shopping in a grocery store when she got attacked by a nearby dog. I know you have a large platform, and I would hate for people to come away thinking it's ok for them to bring their dog that behaves well at home into a grocery store where all of a sudden there might be someone using crutches, which the dog never encountered before, and they are smelling raw meat that might be triggering their food aggression, and maybe there's a crackling overhead speaker that's reminding them of fireworks, etc.
I don't disagree with what you are saying, but in other countries people manage it just fine. They do bring their pets in public and they do handle it, so it is possible. It just takes training. For some reason Americans have an aversion to training their pets.
It’s concerning because there are certainly people that DONT train their dogs. They just slap a harness on their regular dog and say it’s a sd.
But there’s also dogs that are home trained and well trained to be ESA but don’t belong in spaces that sd are allowed.
Then there are Serbice dogs.
I personally have a ESA. He is home trained. I have had him for almost 17 years. He has no bite record and has been around service dogs. I don’t take him anywhere dogs are not allowed because I don’t want to test those boundaries. But I understand why others might need their ESA in those circumstances if they don’t qualify for a SD. I will be looking for a SD when my ESA passes bc my medical issues have gotten to the point I do need one. And an ESA is not enough now. I’m genuinely scared to have a SD bc of how they are treated. Despite knowing that I need one. - for clarification I need a seizure alert dog. Knowing this is why my parents chose to train my dog so well they knew id probably need a sd later in life I just didn’t need more than an ESA then.
I would like to clarify your understanding.
ESAs typically are not task-trained, though they provide benefit through natural behaviors.
At-Home Service Dogs are valid. They are task-trained but either because of the handler's disability and/or the temperament of the dog, they do not go into public spaces.
Public Access Service Dogs are what most people think of when they say Service Dog. These dogs are task-trained and trained to go into public spaces.
I did want to make sure that you were aware that At-Home Service Dogs did exist, in case that helps you evaluate your current options.
@@TuxReadyAussie right. Mine has received permission to be permitted in homes where pets aren’t normally allowed bc I need him there. So
I know what you mean. I’m just meaning that there are people that don’t provide any sort of basic behavioral training let alone service training for their dog and then take them to places and put people’s sd at risk.
My dog rarely goes with me but my parents made sure he was very well trained. He’s been around trained sd, cats, smaller rodents, turtles etc. he’s extremely docile. It’s been beneficial bc while he’s not able to be trained to alert for my seizures he is able to keep me calm when I do seize. I could technically justify taking him with me now to calm me when I have one but it’s too stressful with how people treat them. I’m scared honestly.
People in my town take their dogs around in the stores off leash in the carts and they often seem aggressive. The stores don’t say anything to them. It’s scary to make the transition from ESA to a SD knowing that
@@TuxReadyAussie cause right now I have done my job making sure to protect other sd from my ESA.
But how do you deal with the fear of others for your sd?
@@myliza700 A Service Dog is not for everyone, especially now that there are plenty of anxiety-inducing situations aground having one.
If you can be your dog's advocate in any situation, then that is how you protect a public access service dog. I know service dogs are supposed to increase independence, but you can consider going out with another person at least until you become comfortable advocating for the dog and you feel you can trust that store and other users.
I personally have a motto "Give Dogs Space". If possible, I will alter my path to avoid other dogs both for my dog and their dog. Sometimes this isn't possible. So, I am actually (1-2 yrs after he was labeled fully trained) teaching a command to walk on my opposite side and a command to stand and stay behind me. Previously, I would actively use my body to block him as opposed to having him do the action for me.
Hello, California service dog owner here... This is exactly why I do not bring my dog everywhere. She is a seizer alert dog, she was not supposed to be one. She was a stray that became a family member, however both my father and I have epilepsy, and from the first week we had her, would jump up on our laps and lick us incessantly. This was her way of letting us know we were going to have a seizer, because every time after she would do that within about 5 minutes either I or my dad would have a seizer. We took her to the trainer where I got my last service dog and put her to the test and she was able to detect the seizures 100% of the time. She has been with us since 2014. And yes technically she is retired, but I chose to not get another one after her retirement, because I got tired of having to prove my disability every time I took her out. So now she is just a family pet that also can detect if my father or I are having a seizure. Knock on wood I have not had one in almost a year, and for my dad it has been close to 3. I have had a total of 4 service dogs in my lifetime, and unless something changes I don't think I will ever get another. It is just to much trouble.
Stevo said two things in his video clips. 1. He found the best trainer he could find to train the dog. 2. He got a letter from his doctor saying that he needed the dog to fly. He didn't mention anything about the dog needing to perform tasks, but that he needed the dog on the airplane. Without more context, it sounds like he has one of the best-trained emotional support dogs around. If all people needed emotional support animals (dogs, no peacocks, alligators, snakes, or other types of animals) then it wouldn't be a problem if they took them out in public. That said, I still think that ESAs need to be marked as ESAs. Something needs to be fixed. The laws pertaining to the companies that give out the certification cards need to be stricter, and the government needs to shut them down. It should be illegal to sell certifications. There is a fine line between making it expensive for those who really need it, and those who are fakes or think they can take their dogs anywhere. Some type of education to get an ESA dog is that you have to learn and pass a test of where your ESA is and is not allowed.
I have a friend who cannot work with her service dog anymore because he was attacked by another dog that was in training with him. Her dog now has severe anxiety and she tried working with him for some time after that, but he did not overcome his PTSD with certain sounds and environments. Sadly that place "passed" the dog that attacked him and is a working service dog for someone.
My service dog was denied access at a hospital because she was wearing shoes....on a 90 degree day. They called security on me & ended up having security on my side. Theres so much misinformation. Service dogs can definitely wear protective gear.
Ps: its one task, not 3 Molly.