Service Animals Redefined...

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Sure they can do it without the Service Dog label, but Charlie Chuckwagon can't go to where I need to go. My Service Dog can.

How am I abusing my dog?

 

[chickened]

Other than for physical limiting reason I don't think it is asking too much for a person with a service dog to leave the dog at home say while eating in a restaurant as if emotionally they cannot make it through the meal. I never said anyone was ABUSING their dog the service dogs just don't seem happy, my dog wags her tail when she is happy. Cruel doesn't always mean abusive.

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
I do not think that word means what you think it means.

cru·el (krl)
1. Disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
2. Causing suffering; painful.

a·bu·sive (-bysv, -zv)
adj.
1. Characterized by improper or wrongful use: abusive utilization of public funds.
2. Using or containing insulting or coarse language: finally reprimanded the abusive colleague.
3. Causing physical injury to another: abusive punishment.
4. Relating to or practicing sexual abuse.

Cruel implies that the person is abusing the dog - inflicting pain or suffering on it.

And no, just because the dog is calm and focused and not wagging his tail, doesn't mean he's being abused or that its owner is cruel.

ETA: And yes it *IS* too much to ask for someone who needs their service animal (for whatever disability) to go out without it, whether that's because the person gets severe anxiety attacks when alone in public or has a physical disability like blindness is irrelevant. What's relevant is whether that service dog is performing a service for a person with a disability. Not whether it's "physical".

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
My Service Dog is not for emotional support. Katie and before her, Spook, is trained to alert to things that will send me into anaphylatic shock. This could be as simple as someone who used a lotion on their hands that has Shea Butter in it. My dog comes in and sniffs my seat and table to see if the is 1 of the gazillion things I'm allergic to have come in contact with it.

How many times do you have to tell the goofy guy making balloon animals that he needs to move away from you. But he stands their with his back to you and this his balloon bouncing up and down inches from you face. The only thing that made him move was when Katie barked her alert that danger was near. The manager had to come over and tell the guy to move.


I'm sorry but you did make the comment, "it is being abused".

Neither my dogs have been abused. They do the work they do because it makes me happy which is a dogs goal, to make it's person happy. Wrestling on the bed, a enthusiastic game of fetch, or splashing in the pool? Would you like my vets phone number? They were my reference for the rescue where we got Katie. Would you care to know my other animals are just as happy and healthy. Butterscotch just turned 18 years old. I asked the vet to run some blood work on her to check to be sure there was nothing underlying that we were not aware of. PERFECT numbers for a cat a third of her age!!

I too have been training dogs for numerous years. Since I was 13 actually. Spook was my first Service Dog. A dog someone through away in a graveyard. Katie is my first deaf dog. We drove to Arkansas to save her from being put down. They aren't just animals, they are part of my family

 

[Lifesong Farm]

Now that do feel is absurd. Asking someone who needs a service dog to leave it at home while eating at a restaurant. That is as bad as telling them that because smoking is allowed in the restauran they have to leave their oxygen tank at home. That dog is litterally some peoples lifeline. It they don't have it they could die or that themselves. If they have the dog they can be a normal person. Without it they wouldn't be allowed to do anything. That is cruel to me!

 

[chickened]

Pain can be psychological also. Ihave been around service dogs and my observations are that they have been trained to do specific things and not allowed to do things natural to a dog in most cases. They usually sit like robots awaiting the next command. That is what I meant abut being cruel. Plain and simple the dogs just don't look happy I think they would enjoy a better life doing what comes natural to them thats all.
Quote:
I do not think that word means what you think it means.

cru·el (krl)
1. Disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
2. Causing suffering; painful.

a·bu·sive (-bysv, -zv)
adj.
1. Characterized by improper or wrongful use: abusive utilization of public funds.
2. Using or containing insulting or coarse language: finally reprimanded the abusive colleague.
3. Causing physical injury to another: abusive punishment.
4. Relating to or practicing sexual abuse.

Cruel implies that the person is abusing the dog - inflicting pain or suffering on it.

And no, just because the dog is calm and focused and not wagging his tail, doesn't mean he's being abused or that its owner is cruel.

ETA: And yes it *IS* too much to ask for someone who needs their service animal (for whatever disability) to go out without it, whether that's because the person gets severe anxiety attacks when alone in public or has a physical disability like blindness is irrelevant. What's relevant is whether that service dog is performing a service for a person with a disability. Not whether it's "physical".

 

[Lifesong Farm]

To clarify the statement I made, I was thinking of non emotional support dogs. However if a dog is all it takes to give a person the confidence to go out in public then I am all for it. Its better than them sitting at home in misery and in some cases planning to hurt people.
I don't agree that the dogs don't enjoy themselves. Dogs can think. If they don't like something they WON'T do it. A good example is my dog who one day decided he didn't want to work the goats. I admit it I yelled at him and no matter how much I yelled he still laid down and refused to work. I felt bad because he is the type that wants to please and just yelling at him causes him to react like you beat him. Even now after the lead doe died he still won't do it but once he sees his pack and gentle leader come out he is right there and steps into them himself. Before starting this job he would search and destroy the gentle leaders he hated them that much. After 1 day of his service dog training he started accepting the gentle leader. He had been using one since he was 4 months old. His service dog training started in Nov.

 

[chickpeaz]

Quote:
Just wagging my tail a little, as the dog pictured on the right is a CCI dog (blue vest w/CCI's logo).

 

[Happy Chooks]

This thread has been moderated again. Let's keep it on topic or it will be closed.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Spookwriter, I am so glad you've found a dog that can help you. I know that a lot of us were sad when your last dog passed. I could never use a deaf dog for my service dog though, since i need a 'hearing dog'! I can only imagine trying to get that to work