Should the parent get upset about the legal ramifications that will be following? The Dog and Handler were being forced to ride in a vehicle with the parent and child, The child was undisciplined and taunted the dog the whole trip, despite being told by the handler to stop it. The vehicle driver did nothing to stop the actions of the child. This was a shared cab providing paratransit services.
melissa_n_mitchell
Favorite Answer
If this truly was a child (under 12) the parent needed to respond to your requests that the child leave the dog along. However unless dog and/or handler suffered actual harm or this could be established as a pattern of behavior, i.e. harassment, then I doubt anything will come of any legal action on your part.
lil_farfa
As long as the handler has the person's contact information, they can still file a police report provided this was a recent event. Though, I would have informed the parent right then and there that if they did not control the child, I was calling the police and filing a report, as well what the possible penalties are in that state.
ETA: Melissa, it depends on the state. Some states, such as my own, have laws on the books where it is a felony to interfere with a working service dog.
mariahleadme
In many states, if one interferes with a service dog it is a punishable crime. It is up to the handler of the service dog to know the laws of the state in which they live, and to act appropriately within its bounds to avail themselves of the protections offered.
The para-transit driver has no responsibility whatsoever in controlling the actions of the child.
The handler of the service dog should have called law enforcement if the child's actions placed the team in danger.