Registering your pet as a "service dog"?
Have you ever though about, or even considered registering your pet as a "service dog"? Do you know someone who has registered a dog or a pet on one of these site? Has a realtor or apartment complex stated that they needed papers for your dog and recommend a site?
We would like to invite everyone to complete a short that we have put together as part of a research project. We are working on identifying what the appeal is for service dog registries and why there are so many site, and more popping up all the time. "Voluntary Survey"
What are the facts about "service dog" registration?
Lets discuss the facts about service dog registration or certification sites. The short answer is easy, they are scams! They take your hard earned money and don't give you anything of true value in return, in fact they may even set you up to break the law. They claim to provide certification or registration for your pet...and now they are a service dog. The truth is that filling out their form and paying their fee DOES NOT make your pet a service dog. Your pet is still a pet, nothing has changed. Sure, you may have purchased a vest, identification badge, collar tag, leash, collar, patches, certificate, etc. This doesn't change the facts nor the legal definition of a service dog or service animal. If you are reading this and you have recently "registered" your dog, you may be able to file a claim with your bank or credit card company.
What are the legalities of "service dog" registration?
Lets discuss the legalities about service dog registration or certification sites. The short answer is easy, they are scams! Just because these site offer to provide a service, does not mean that the are providing a legal service. Let me explain this a little more in depth; there is a lot more to a service dog than "papers, registration, a doctors note, certification, or a vest" and from a legal stand point none of these things have anything to do with service dogs...period!
There are three specific things that are required by state and federal laws for a dog to be classified as a legal and legitimate service dog or service animal. First, of all a service animal needs to be a dog or a miniature horse under 36" at the shoulder. Second, the handler of the service animal must have a disability that cannot be mitigated solely by medication, therapies, or assistive devices. Third, the service animal needs to be task trained to specifically mitigate the handlers disability, have the correct temperament, be obedient and under control. This means the service animal should not be sniffing food, merchandise, looking for attention from other people, trying to interact with the general public, must potty trained, and not disruptive. It is also important to mention that service animals do not have the sole purpose of providing comfort or emotional support to their handler.
What are the dangers of "service dog" registration?
Service dog registration has the potential to cause a lot of different damages or dangers to other handlers and even the general public. Generally speaking when someone registers their pet on one of these sites it is for the sole purpose of being able to take their pet with them everywhere they go. Some examples are travel, housing, hotels, errands, grocery stores, malls, and even flights.
Here is where the caution lights start flashing. In general most pets do not have the right temperament or personality to even be considered suitable to be a service animal. When we go to the grocery store we know what to expect. We know that people all act, smell, move, talk, and sound different, that some people may even be angry, loud, aggressive, and can even be unpredictable. Dogs and pets are not wired the same as people. Unless they have been thru years of professional training and socializing, situations that may seem somewhat stressful to us, can be incredibly stressful to our pets.
Pets show stress differently than people do. Unfortunately dogs show stress in many ways that may or may not be easy to identify like toileting on the floor, panting, growling, biting, barking, shutting down, and aggression to list a few. There have been many cases reported across the county where pets, that have been misrepresented as service animals have bit children, adults, employees, and even attacked legitimate task trained service dogs. Pets do best in situations with familiar routines and surroundings, knowing what to expect.
What if someone recommended I register my pet?
I know that we have already covered a lot in the above sections. Most people trust what they read on the internet, but don't know what the legal basis of service dog or service animal registration, and that it is a scam. There are several thing that you can do. First, you can try to educate them, the individual may not know the legalities of what they are suggesting or recommending. Second you can direct them to this site, let them know that we have a lot of good information where they can learn more. If it is a business owner, manager or employee, we offer materials and on-site training.