what is with this flood of Service Dogs?

Service dogs (per federal law) do not have to be certified

however, there are also guidelines about the behavior of Service Dogs (in fact those guidelines were updated just last year by the DOJ... they also removed other types of animals from the list of Service Animals.. it is now only Dogs)

Peeing in a public place is completely against federal law

whining & walking circles would indicate either the dog was trying to alert her to something or the dog is not trained for this type of work

Dog without owner (sitting cart waiting on owner) is also against federal law (the dog must be on-leash unless the immediate specific task requires off-leash as the only option... and then returned to on-leash when task is completed & also must be under owner control at all times (even when off-leash)

and a Therapy Dog does not have the same access rights as SD --- even if it was her friend's SD, then it does not have access unless it is with it's disabled person

there was a problem like what you describe in the very small town of Robertsdale, AL

turns out a couple of local byb had started telling anyone that bought a dog from them that if they want to take it into the store with them & have them with them at all times, then they only had to claim SD at the door of the store

the stores were being legally threatened when they tried to not allow

and the health department was also on them because of allowing dogs who weren't SDs

they were between a rock & hard place

they would be violating law if they asked the owner's questions

but they wouldn't be in trouble if they allowed the people to get so pissed off that they did actually attempt to file with DOJ or Sue... because then they would have to prove the dog actually perform's SD work

Being a person who is the human member of an SD-Team..... I could see the problem

and I could casually ask questions of other shoppers with their supposed service dog

and, it didn't take long for me to figure out.... and then when I started asking... where did you get your dog...and 3 breeders names kept coming up.... then it got investigated

another person went to buy a puppy & was told that all they had to do was claim SD & take their dog in.... the video of that transaction was sent to Department of Justice & that person was sued.... and the store along with the federal government won in the end... it got settled out of court for LOTS of fines

Sarah.... being a hotel... you can't ask for proof of the dog being SD.. but you can ask for copy of the prescription from their doctor... and you can charge them for any & all damages done by the dog

When a service dog is out working, surely it should be wearing a coat to indicate it IS a service dog?

I suggest this is some excuse people have caught onto, so they can take their dogs everywhere with them. I don't like seeing dogs tied up outside stores mind you, but if you are going to a store or other places where dogs are not normally allowed, they should be LEFT AT HOME!!

True service dogs don't empty when they are working - once the harness/coat goes on, they are on duty.

Hospital visiting dogs are NOT service dogs. So challenge them - call the store manager!! Small wonder so many places say no dogs!

Nope no credentials needed. Its also at the point where many business owners are not aware of the the questions they can legally ask in regards to a so called service dog AND the fact any "service" dog that is disruptive can be removed from the building.

Huh, well I havent noticed it here.

It seems like alot of people having social anxiety disorder are getting service dogs...I used to actually have social anxiety when I was younger and was on meds for it...now i'm not and my friends would laugh if you told them I was shy with strangers. If I had got a dog certified as a "service dog" and took the dog everywhere, i'd probably still have social anxiety disorder. I honestly do not think getting a dog as a service dog for social anxiety is a very smart choice ---who would want to be reliant on a dog for everything? ...but I guess that's a whole other topic..

Also, as someone mentioned..they may not really be service dogs.

Likely these probably aren't even service dogs(I've seen it here in the DS before of bratty children coming on here stating that they lie to people and claim there dog is a service animal to get into restaurants,Disneyland and stores).Its a real shame because its making it so difficult for people with true disabilities and real service animals to get into places anymore.Next time bring it to the attention of a manager or employee if your suspicious these aren't service dogs.

ETA:Are you aware that this question(according to Yahoo) was asked in Canada?

I think a lot of people are using the "service dog" as an excuse to get their dog in any store or get into an apt that doesn't allow normal dogs. These days, doctors will sign anything as long as they are paid.

You don't need papers to prove your dog is a service animal, we have the same problem at the hotel I work with. People come in with chihuahuas and say it's a service animal and we're not allowed to ask them to prove it, and the dogs **** all over the carpets and beds.