Just found this article in my local paper online... Justice Department tightens definition of service animal
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/20/2936386/justice-department-tightens-definition.html#tvg
The Justice Department has issued a rule stating that only dogs, TRAINED dogs, can be used as service animals when it comes to going to restaurants, shops, etc.
Don't think it has any bearing at all on your own land or anything, only when other folks are effected. Evidently some folks were taking ferrets, giant cats, monkeys and whatnot into places and it was causing problems. The monkey for instance was taken to a horse thing... horses hate monkeys and view them as predators thus it would freak them out... and a freaked out horse is NOT a good thing. So these new rules were put into place. I can totally understand that. I wouldn't want to deal with two thousand pounds of panic just because someone "had to have" a monkey at the stock show.
But what I thought might cause some issues is that they also specified "Dogs that provide emotional support or comfort are not considered service animals under the new rules." An agoraphobic for instance that only feels safe with Rufus around will no longer be able to take him with when venturing out in public. Don't know for sure how I feel about that to be honest, I don't know anyone with that problem and haven't studied it in any way so best not to try and guess my way to an opinion... in any case, my main concern is that there are TONS of folks who have animals (chickens were mention here on BYC before) that are a part of their lives because they help with mental, not physical, issues. Depression, anxiety and whatnot are tough things to deal with and some folks do better adding an animal friend to their lives than they do with just medicating it into submission. Now that the JD has stated that even trained service dogs are not considered service animals in these circumstances is it possible that other government agencies will act the same?
Time will tell of course but I just thought it was an interesting little nugget.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/20/2936386/justice-department-tightens-definition.html#tvg
The Justice Department has issued a rule stating that only dogs, TRAINED dogs, can be used as service animals when it comes to going to restaurants, shops, etc.
Don't think it has any bearing at all on your own land or anything, only when other folks are effected. Evidently some folks were taking ferrets, giant cats, monkeys and whatnot into places and it was causing problems. The monkey for instance was taken to a horse thing... horses hate monkeys and view them as predators thus it would freak them out... and a freaked out horse is NOT a good thing. So these new rules were put into place. I can totally understand that. I wouldn't want to deal with two thousand pounds of panic just because someone "had to have" a monkey at the stock show.
But what I thought might cause some issues is that they also specified "Dogs that provide emotional support or comfort are not considered service animals under the new rules." An agoraphobic for instance that only feels safe with Rufus around will no longer be able to take him with when venturing out in public. Don't know for sure how I feel about that to be honest, I don't know anyone with that problem and haven't studied it in any way so best not to try and guess my way to an opinion... in any case, my main concern is that there are TONS of folks who have animals (chickens were mention here on BYC before) that are a part of their lives because they help with mental, not physical, issues. Depression, anxiety and whatnot are tough things to deal with and some folks do better adding an animal friend to their lives than they do with just medicating it into submission. Now that the JD has stated that even trained service dogs are not considered service animals in these circumstances is it possible that other government agencies will act the same?
Time will tell of course but I just thought it was an interesting little nugget.
