Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Service Dogs? What's Up With Them?

What's up with these "Service Dogs?" Yesterday I was sitting in a Kosher Restaurant, and in came  an "alter kocker" with a dog that was dressed up in a "Chassidishe Vest" that read "Service Dog." 
There is a sign on the door of the Restaurant "No Dogs." I quickly googled "service dogs" and up came a complete description of what a "service dog" is all about.

"A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual difficulties,hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, autism, and more."

Now, dogs and me, don't actually get along; I never grew up with a dog. My opinion about dogs is that it belongs in a zoo like all other animals. "Seeing eye" dogs is a whole other story.
The guy looked healthy to me, he didn't outwardly show any of the symptoms that Wikipedia described.
I'm, of course, not a doctor, but I'm not an idiot either. 
So I respectfully asked him,

ME: "Are you ok?"
Him: "Sure."
ME: "No...visual difficulties,hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, autism,?"
HIM:Nope! Why do you ask?
ME: I'm wondering why you have the "Service Dog?"
Him (now irritated) :" I don't have to tell you.Its  none of your business"
ME: "It is my business,when your dog is salivating on my shoe and the sign clearly states "No Dogs" and you just told me you are ok" It just became my business"
ME Again: "Does the dog need special training?"
HIM: "NO!" 
ME: So you basically  took a dog from a kennel and dressed him up with  a vest embroided "Service Dog" and now it's a "Service dog?"

My friends, no need to bore you any further with my discussion with the "alter kocker." And I'm not against legitimate people using animals to help them with disabilities....
Just putting it out there ....what's up with this new phenomenon of perfectly healthy people walking around with these dogs, and dressing them up so they can bring them into places that prohibit dogs?  




10 comments:

Anonymous said...

whats your point?

Kosher Ham said...

It's high time that states present legislation that either the state or local jurisdictions issue "Service Animal" Licenses to prevent such blatant fraud as described in this story.

positive said...

regardless of your position on dogs, it's disrespectful and childish to call an elderly person an alter kocker.

Dusiznies said...

11;14
Welcome to my blog

Anonymous said...

The man should have sued you for discrimination. It is against the law ask someone to reveal his disability when he is accompanied by a service animal. Not only did you discriminate against him but you bullied him as well. In addition, it is foolish to think that you should be able to see his disability. There may be people who abuse the service dog allowance but you are not the judge of that. People abuse many laws for their own benefit, that has no bearing on one individual 's situation.

Dusiznies said...

2:59
1)There are no regulations in New York for a "service dog.
2)asking someone what his "disability" is not discrimination.
3) I was the one being bullied, after a guy who said he was "ok" had his dog, in a restaurant that clearly said "no dogs", salivating on my shoe!
4) I couldn't "see his disability" that's why I asked him nicely what it was?
5) If he had a disability, he would have responded nicely and explained..since he got defensive, I suspected that he was a fake,fraud and a phony
6) If the restaurant has a sign "No Dogs" then I have every right to ask him why he has a dog, since "service dogs" in New York mean absolutely nothing.
7) You are probably the "alter kocker" himself, that walks around with a dog, that has a vest that says "service dog" so you can "bully" and bring you beast anywhere, even though your dog belongs in a zoo, like lions and tigers.
I'm not fooled!
As an American I have every right to ask anyone anything, and you have the right not to answer.
You Mesugener!

Dusiznies said...

2:59
This from the regulations:
Some businesses, many of them online, sell fake service
dog certifications: certificates, licenses, tags, or harnesses that
identify service dogs in exchange for a fee. Individuals should be
careful when dealing with businesses selling such documentation
and accessories, especially those that do not provide training or
evaluation, or that charge high fees.

Dusiznies said...

2:59
Just checked.... The business may not ask if he has a disabilty, a customer may ask what the H--l he wants!

Anonymous said...

(Anon 2:59),
You've been out in the sun too much , or else you put ketchup on everything you eat.

Pnei Hador K'pnei Hakelev, boyz & girlz... Messiah is en route...


To 11:14.... Chill out... I've been called an alter kocker when I turned 33 ... Who cares? Reef mich (call me) Pisher for all I care...

Mortimer Snerd ( even I, don't parrot all of Edgar's talking points)..... puppeteering for the Derby.

Anonymous said...

I've found the trend disturbing as well. I am an animal lover, and I know that there are requirements that must be met for a service dog. They must be bathed very often, and if going in buildings like hospitals, they must have their toenails clipped on that day. They are required to pass obedience training, and must also be able to sit for long periods of time without making noise or soiling the carpet. A real obedience dog will NEVER pull on his leash and is dressed in a jacket so that he may be identified. Many have their paperwork in a pocket so that it is visible.

Last week a bratty obnoxious woman came in the door of the place where we were eating. She yelled at the owner and immediately began threatening her. I have a service dog here she said, and I'm bring it in. The dog that she was clearing a path for was not in a jacket, and was not even walking cooperatively at the end of her plaid leash. She didn't have any proof. The dog was filthy and matted. It ran around and yipped at the end of the leash, practically pulling her elder mother over.

It is people like this who give genuine service dog owners a bad name. They SHOULD be called out.