SC's and service animals

[hecubus]

I've been known to ask permission to pet a service animal, but only if I'm already chatting with the owner or something. Most I've encountered have been more than happy to let me pet the dog after I've asked.

But, if someone is just walking down the street with a service dog, I leave them alone.

[Gilgamesh]

They are actually running a campaign here...

The yellow one looks like my dumbass.

I've never heard that there's much trouble with people not accepting service dogs. Then again, they're regularly shown on TV - the national broadcasting company is showing a series called Puppies and Service Dogs at the moment. It's easy to use the "PUPPY!!!" reaction to further knowledge.

Then again, small country, few TV channels...

[KhirasHY]

Service dogs are always one of my greatest source of displeasure...but not the dogs, nor their owners specifically. Our hotel is not "pet friendly" as far as that goes, so we don't allow people to just bring in their toy chihuahuas for fun (and if they do, we charge a cleaning fee for it). The thing I HATE most is when someone is denied their pet, only to see a service dog and pitch a bitch (usually in the lobby, within earshot of the person with the dog). It doesn't matter how much we explain what a service animal is, we always end up at the same argument:

"It's not fair!"

How do you figure? How about this, we'll make a trade, you can have a dog in the hotel, but you have to be blind for the rest of your life. Don't want to make that trade? I didn't think so.

[Becks]

I shit you not, blue eyes.

Bella and I once had a dog with blue eyes.

[Catwoman2965]

Another "OOOOOH PUPPY!!!" syndrome sufferer here.

Me too, me too! I LOVE puppies in any shape or form, but I also realize that service dogs are just that, providing a service, and don't need the distraction of being pet.

One amazing thing I remember seeing was at the town pool one summer. There was a woman with a beautiful German Shepard seeing eye dog. SHe wanted to swim, so her friends took the dog over to the side while she got in the pool, and swam around. Problem was, the dog wanted no part of her being away from the dog! She pulled the friend over to the edge of the pool, and whined and barked for her person to come out! I think she would have jumped in, given the chance. The woman had to get out and comfort the dog, and then snuck back in when the dog fell asleep! That's true dedication for you....

I also had a friend who adopted a seeing eye dropout. She was the most well behaved, well-trained dog I've ever seen...sweet as can be, but really dopey. But awesome with their two kids....unfortunately she got cancer....I still miss her.

[MadMike]

Back when I was still with the ex, we were out for dinner, and I saw a service dog quietly lying on the floor by the table across from us. She had her back to it, so she didn't see it. So I decided to mess with her.

I wondered aloud what kind of dog that was, and she's like, "Yeah right! You're just trying to make me look!"

"I'm serious! There's a dog in here!"

"I'm not looking!"

"OK, but there really is a dog in here!"

I can't remember if she finally did look, or if I told her it was a service animal.

[Emrld]

I knew someone who trained service dogs. I have a lot of respect for her. . . I would never be able to do it. (bond with animal and have to let them go - too hard for me)
The only time I would pet any of her dogs was when she specifically took off their blue training vest and gave command for play time. Then myself and a few others would specifically play with the dog.
I have seen the situation with owners in pools before.
I have seen a person at a hotel before getting mad . . .they had been told pet free hotel . . .in the end came down to severe allergy situation. They understood concept of Assistance Animal but felt should only be allowed in pet friendly hotels because of those with customers severe allergies shouldn't be put at risk.
I don't know how that one ended as my ride showed up.

[Kirkygirl]

Service dogs are always one of my greatest source of displeasure...

"It's not fair!"

"Oh really? And how fair is it to this person who is entirely dependant on another being for the rest of their life? How about the crap that you are giving them? How about the heartaches and the pain and the money it costs when their constant companion is sick!
Ye Gads, do you not have a lick of sense in your body? Grow a sense of decency, or at the very least, a brain."

Akasa, would it be considered rude for your friend if I said "good dog" or some such praise while it was waiting for its "friend"? Unfortunately, I have been afflicted by the need to lavish attention on cute puppies, but I know I must restrain myself with service dogs. "Do unto others..."

As for having dogs in any sort of building when I am working, I usually ask the owner if the animal is a legal service dog. If they are, I apologise, and leave them alone. If they're not, I ask them politely if they would remove the animal from the building. Kudos to those of you who have taken the time to educate themselves, and who will leave the furbabies alone when they are working. Esp. to those who have told their kids the same thing.

[mariamousie1]

What morons! I'm glad you pressed charges on those idiots!

[Dreamstalker]

I'm gutted every time I'm out and see a service dog, because I am a sufferer of "awww doggie - wanna PAT IT!!!" But I know that I cannot.

Ditto. I have asked though, if the location happens to be a subway car or elsewhere that the owner and dog are just chilling out. I've always gotten a "thank you for being polite" and I never go into full-on scritch mode like I do with some friendly nonworking dogs, just a quick pet or two.

One day on the Red Line, I was party to a small group of wigger ignoramuses hassling a seeing eye dog; I could tell the poor thing was getting annoyed (as was its owner). He said something to them, I said something and then a T employee said something. Cue them ignoring everyone and continuing to be jerks until the next stop, where two T police boarded and they were removed

[nihildark]

Kudos for calling the cops on those idiots.

About a year ago my boss at the time lost his eyesight. He wore the standard dark sunglasses all the time and had the red and white cane so it was pretty obvious he was blind. One day the higher ups were giving a tour to some random some-what important people and they came into the office to introduce them to my boss. One of the women in the tour group looked at him, gave him a disrespectful smirk, and said, "Do you think you're cool or something, wearing sunglasses inside?" My boss, without missing a beat, replied, "No. I'm blind" and gave her a smile. I thought she was going to fall on her ass backpedaling out of the office!

[Difdi]

Legally speaking, in the United States, a service dog is considered to be part of the human they are helping. Anywhere that human can go, so can the dog.

[hq_]

Not exactly service dog related, but...

Here in Finland one of the upper-class department store chains has a very liberal dog policy, meaning that you can bring your dog shopping with you. Not to grocery dept or restaurants, of course, but virtually everywhere else. I absolutely love that policy, especially because I live well within a walking distance from one of these department stores and walking the dogs is less of a chore when you can combine it with (window) shopping. The policy has raised its share of eyebrows, though, because many people don't know about it and tourists are usually shocked to see a large dog in a "classy" store. God knows how many times I've been reported to staff by someone and every time they're told that dogs ARE allowed, I haven't witnessed real SC behavior yet but I can only imagine the number of formal complaints filed by people who think they know better.

The reason behind this? A good number of clients are wealthy, elderly women who spend lots of money in the store and prefer to bring their pooch with them. They've been allowed to do so since early 1900's and there's no real reason to change that. Obviously they didn't originally have guys in their late thirties and 160lb+ furballs in mind but my dogs have always been well behaved and policy is policy is policy. I love it.

[RebeccaOTool]

Good for you, following thru on fines and such. It's the only way morons like that will learn.

[RetailWorkhorse]

I suffer from two affictions:

1) the "PUPPY!" syndrome

2) "ZOMG HUMAN CHEWTOY!!" syndrome (Also known as "GULLIBLE written in invisible ink across my forehead that only Dogs can see").

I spaz out over dogs and dogs spaz out over me (and Mom, I seem to have gotten it from her). Ya know the kind of spazzing some dogs do....the whole run-and-take-a-flying-leap-to-cover-you-in-dog-smoochies kind of spazzing.

I've been knocked down so many times it's amazing I haven't broken anything yet.