Why Service Dogs Should NOT Be Faked

Service dogs. Do all people need one? Let’s talk about service dogs that are always in stores, restaurants, and other places without their vest that states, “Working service dog. DO NOT distract!” on either side of the vest. In some stores, such as Walmart, you will occasionally see a dog walking around with its owner and at first you would think “Oh its a service dog.” but then you see the said “service dog” not paying attention like it should and just sniffing things and that it does not have its vest on like it probably should when it goes places with its owner. Some “service dogs” will be at a hotel and try to play with an actual service dog that is tasking and paying attention to the owner in case something happens to the owner.

Some people need emotional service dogs to help with things like anxiety and PTSD. In personal experience my puppy Rolo is like my own service dog when I’m at home because he sits with me when I am in a bad mood or when my anxiety is bad. Rolo sits with me and does not leave my side unless someone in my family calls his name, or unless I tell him to go lay down.

In Alabama people are being fined for faking a service dog, or pretending that their pet is a service dog in order to gain access to buildings. Massachusetts is also starting to fine people for pretending that their dogs are service dogs. Other states should start fining people for faking a service dog because it is making it more difficult for legitimate service dogs to get into places like stores, restaurants, hotels, and airports with their owners at times. Service dogs are an important aspect of medical equipment for their owners. Medical equipment are not toys. So think of service dogs as medical equipment and do not try to fake one because it ruins it for people who truly really need a service dog to help them with their day to day lives.