the topic of real or fake service dogs is getting hotter and hotter... assistance dogs international.org is struggling to define the difference and much as i do not like 99% of their rules and regulations, i have to admit i don't see any other group doing any better...
a perfectly behaved dog that is helpful to someone in need is a service dog-- it is that perfectly behaved part that is teh problem...
being on an airplane with a dog that does not behaVE IS SIMILAR TO BEING IN FRONT OF A KID ON A AIRPLANE WHO IS AMUSED BY KICKING THE BACK OF YOUR SEAt...the person who decides they can just say the dog is a service dog -s very similar tot he person who does not stop the kid from banging the seat, because if you tell the kid to knock it off, mom will come at you
swinging "you can't talk to my kid like that" with the same tenanacity of "that is a service dog and if you give me a hard time i will sue you."
it is a big game of "GOTTCHA"
I ONCE TOOK PITY ON A FAMILY WHO NEEDED A PLACE TO STAY FOR A MONTH-- I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHY... THEY WERE VERY NICE PLEASENT PEOPLE SO I LET THEM STAY IN "THE OFFICIAL APPARTMENT"- WHICH IS NOW OUR TRAINING ROOM AREA... AFTER THE MONTH, THEY WERE NO LONGEr PLEASENT- I COULD NOT GET THEM OUT-- THEY RAn the electric heat full on with a big fan in the window running up a huge electric bill-- and as they left, they flushed a box of q-tips down the toilet--
i took them to court many times-- expensively--- and all she had to tell the judge wqs "you can't throw me out, i have 2 kids" and i was stuck for another 6 months.. which is why i will never rent out anytihg else.
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the rest of this story is... ADI has a bunch of standards for service dogs......
i get requests all the time to certify someone's dog.-- to say absolutely no is not the right answer- there are dogs out there not "professionally trained" who are perfectly legitimate service dogs. i know a well trained service dog when i see one... i think one thing has something to do with eye contact... they are watchig thier partner 87.5% of the time.
soooo... i had an email from someone in Norway ( norway as in Sweden, not Maine) wanting to certify a dog. welll they are here... the dog has to pass being tested by the 3 of us ..me.. meg and steve they have passed my first part of my test...he came in to mail call last night with his dog - mayhem doesn't behave too well yet... eduardo got loose and ran around-- bentley was laying on the sofa grumbling under his breath about the male dog in th eliving room.-- and the guys dog behaved perfectly.
so i am going to pull a gottchA MOMENT THIS MORNING-- I AM GOING TO GET THEM TO TAKE ME TO BREAKFAST AT A RESTAURANT.--( I HAVE A REAL TALENT AT GETTING PEOPLE TO FEED ME)-- THAT WILL GIVE ME A GOOD LOOKK AT THE DOG UNDER TIGHT SITUATIONS IN PUBLIC.
THEN LATER THIS MORNING STEVE WILL GO TO THE MALL WITH THEM AND MEG WILL DO SOMETHING ELSE...
THE DOG PERFORMS FOR THE GUY ( I FORGOT HIS NAME) HE PULLS HIS CHAIR-- BIG TIME--- UP RAMPS... AND HE WEIGHS MORE THAN 40 POUND BELLA. SOME HILLS ARE TOO MUCH FOR THE WIFE OR THE DOG ALONE... BuT TOGETHER THEY GET ALL KINDS OF PLAces.... like our driveway-- which is at a good angle.
i see nothing wrong yet.
