7 replies to this topic

[willow]

I have a small *BEEP*zu that my son brought to me when the puppy was just 3 1/2 weeks old. I had to bottle feed him, and to keep him warm (don't laugh) I carried him in my bra most of the time. We bonded big time, and when he was about six months old he started howling like a basset hound right before i had an attack. It only took me 4 falls to realize what he was doing:)
My Dr. checked it out and had him licensed as a service dog. He has saved me a lot of falls, because when he starts howling I sit down right where I am.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience?
Thanks, Willow

[tabster1]

I didn't know doctors could license service dogs. I thought you had to go through all this training and they had to pass a test and everything through some type of official organization.

[Lorz]

That is a very interesting post, Willow. Did your dog have to go through any additional training? Are you now able to bring your dog everywhere with you because of this certification? I know it would be helpful for my dog to be there with me in the case of a full body cataplexy attack. If anyone has any info on this, or points me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

[willow]

That is a very interesting post, Willow. Did your dog have to go through any additional training? Are you now able to bring your dog everywhere with you because of this certification? I know it would be helpful for my dog to be there with me in the case of a full body cataplexy attack. If anyone has any info on this, or points me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

Hi,
No, my dog didn't have to go through any training, because (I Guess) he was already doing it. I take my dog everywhere I go.
He has to wear his service dog tag on his halter, but it's actually against the law to ask what he does or what my disability is. My Dr. wrote a letter to the county dog licensing dept., and they sent me a tag for him that says "DOG LIC. Jefferson Co. WA. LIFETIME.
He doesn't have to wear a special vest or anything like that, the only thing that I do is take along a small blanket for shopping carts so he is comfortable and the store employees are o.k.
Recently I was told by the Postmaster at the Post Office to get out because dogs weren't allowed. When I told him it is a service dog he asked for proof and asked me what was wrong with me.
I quietly told him that both of the questions are illegal under FEDERAL LAW, and that he could be fined 10.000 for it. I suggested a class on federal law.
So I guess if I were you I would start with my Dr. and explain why you need your dog with you, and ask them to write a letter to your County Dog license office. It's really a very simple process.
Willow

[tabster1]

Hi,
No, my dog didn't have to go through any training, because (I Guess) he was already doing it. I take my dog everywhere I go.
He has to wear his service dog tag on his halter, but it's actually against the law to ask what he does or what my disability is. My Dr. wrote a letter to the county dog licensing dept., and they sent me a tag for him that says "DOG LIC. Jefferson Co. WA. LIFETIME.
He doesn't have to wear a special vest or anything like that, the only thing that I do is take along a small blanket for shopping carts so he is comfortable and the store employees are o.k.
Recently I was told by the Postmaster at the Post Office to get out because dogs weren't allowed. When I told him it is a service dog he asked for proof and asked me what was wrong with me.
I quietly told him that both of the questions are illegal under FEDERAL LAW, and that he could be fined 10.000 for it. I suggested a class on federal law.
So I guess if I were you I would start with my Dr. and explain why you need your dog with you, and ask them to write a letter to your County Dog license office. It's really a very simple process.
Willow

Yes but aren't they required to wear a vest? Otherwise anyone could claim their dog is a service dog, and if it is illegal to ask for proof (which I am not sure about that at all, I was under the impression they could ask for documentation on the dog, but can't ask about the nature of the disability) then literally anyone could do this.

....ok; I just looked at the ADA website....apparently they can ask if it is certified but you aren't required to show documentation and they still have to let you in. What a load of crap. Only some states have certifications......blah blah blah....well geez what is the point of having any type of certification program if it isn't required? Geez this is not regulated well AT ALL. Oh, and just to be clear, my annoyance is not directed at the OP but at the laws/government/certification people in general. I hate that everything about service dogs is so vague. It makes it hard for people who need help. Here's what I found:

Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers. If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. However, an individual who is going to a restaurant or theater is not likely to be carrying documentation of his or her medical condition or disability. Therefore, such documentation generally may not be required as a condition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability.

[willow]

Yes but aren't they required to wear a vest? Otherwise anyone could claim their dog is a service dog, and if it is illegal to ask for proof (which I am not sure about that at all, I was under the impression they could ask for documentation on the dog, but can't ask about the nature of the disability) then literally anyone could do this.

....ok; I just looked at the ADA website....apparently they can ask if it is certified but you aren't required to show documentation and they still have to let you in. What a load of crap. Only some states have certifications......blah blah blah....well geez what is the point of having any type of certification program if it isn't required? Geez this is not regulated well AT ALL. Oh, and just to be clear, my annoyance is not directed at the OP but at the laws/government/certification people in general. I hate that everything about service dogs is so vague. It makes it hard for people who need help. Here's what I found:

Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers. If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. However, an individual who is going to a restaurant or theater is not likely to be carrying documentation of his or her medical condition or disability. Therefore, such documentation generally may not be required as a condition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability.

You are clearly right, and wrong. Persons with disabilities have to deal with people that question their disability on a regular basis. I don't know where you live but, in Washington state there are very clear penalties for a "fake" service animal. It's not perfect, and I'm sure people do fake certificates all the time. However, on the other hand...would you rather your privacy be invaded? My dog can only go where other people are permitted, he also has to be well behaved, which most fake service dogs probably are not, wandering at the end of their leash and not staying tuned to their owners. It seems like I am challenged regularly and if the laws were more strict I wouldn't be. But I guess that's the price for having a service dog. Sorry for spouting off like this, but my Dog has saved me from more falls than I can say. I don't know how or why, my Neuro can only guess that he is reading my electricity.
Thanks,
Willow

[tabster1]

You are clearly right, and wrong. Persons with disabilities have to deal with people that question their disability on a regular basis. I don't know where you live but, in Washington state there are very clear penalties for a "fake" service animal. It's not perfect, and I'm sure people do fake certificates all the time. However, on the other hand...would you rather your privacy be invaded? My dog can only go where other people are permitted, he also has to be well behaved, which most fake service dogs probably are not, wandering at the end of their leash and not staying tuned to their owners. It seems like I am challenged regularly and if the laws were more strict I wouldn't be. But I guess that's the price for having a service dog. Sorry for spouting off like this, but my Dog has saved me from more falls than I can say. I don't know how or why, my Neuro can only guess that he is reading my electricity.
Thanks,
Willow

I guess I'm just wondering how people with fake ones are penalized...if there aren't clear laws about certifications and whatnot? I assumed they would have some type of standardized process, but I guess that wouldn't work since everybody has a different disability.

I think you took what I was saying the wrong way. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have a dog, or that it should have been harder for you to get your dog. I actually think it's great that you were able to get one so easily. I'm just shocked because I always assumed it was something that you had to go through a lot of stuff for, and that they would make it as hard as possible. I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a child and just getting accommodations for school has been a major pain in the butt. I've had to go through 2 neuropsych evals to "prove" that I'm still disabled before they will give me something as simple as extra time for tests. So it's exciting that you could get something so helpful so quickly with the least amount of stress.

[SnoozleBear]

Wow.... I need sleep...that sentence was too much! haha..i read that as......If you are not certain that an animal is a service
animal, you may ask the animal if the person who has the animal has a disability....
 

 

I have looked into service dogs here, for another meidical condition ... though didnt go ahead with it... I thionk service dogs do so much good, for those who require them