Service Dog or Not?

This is Port.  He is our second KSDS Service Dog in Training.  Today Port and I went out of the office on errands.  We went to our bank, with Port carrying the bank bag in and out of the bank.  The bank Vice President asked if he could pet Port and I allowed it today.  Port sat quietly and nicely while he got a rub down from the VP.  After our bank errand we stopped by our local Dollar General Store to pick up a few supplies for the clinic.  Port quietly and politely walked through the aisles and carried a fingernail brush for me to the check out.  At the check out, Port put the brush on the check out belt for me and a few other items that I handed him to place on the belt.  He did so quietly and enthusiastically.  Afterwards he sat quietly beside me, watching me intently, as I finished our business.  A woman behind us in line commented to me that she was happy to have come in and witnessed Port working.  It made her feel good to see Port working to learn how to help the disabled.  The check out woman also added that Port was the only Service Dog that comes in that truly acts like a Service Dog.  I was proud of Port.

Apparently the store has seen other dogs come in 'claiming" to be Service Dogs that have not behaved well.  I advised the check out attendant they had a right to ask the handler to remove the dog from the premises if they were not behaving well, but she said that their corporate office says they could not.  Since by law they cannot ask of the person's disability or cannot ask for any certification of their dog being a service dog, they have taken the position to not deny access; they have no way to be assured that a Service Dog is a Service Dog and not a 'wolf in sheep clothing'.

It is infuriating to me that there are people who misrepresent their dogs as Service Dogs, thus representing themselves as disabled.  They have no idea how their actions affect the disabled and the entire service dog community.  Through their actions, they leave the public with a negative perception about Service Dog Teams, making it harder for the legitimate.  Talk to a disabled person that uses a trained Service Dog and they can tell you of at least on circumstance where they have been denied access to a public place.  Their obstacles are already complicated without 'fake' dogs complicating their lives further.

By definition a service animal means any dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.  The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability.  A service dog receives extensive training to perform a job(s) which aid their disabled partner.  The two work together to achieve what was once impossible for the handler to do alone.

So how can a business owner/employee tell a REAL service dog from a fake?  The Department of Justice permits you to ask two questions:  1) Is this a service dog required because of disability?  2) What is it trained to do to aid you with your disability?

Animals whole sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits or to promote emotional well-being are not service dogs. A service dog must be specifically trained to DO SOMETHING.   Additionally, if the animal behaves inappropriately, disrupts business, acts aggressive, interferes with patrons or uses the 'toilet' indoors, then it doesn't matter whether it is a service dog, you have the right to deny it access to your business.

Be warned there are people who may offer to show you their 'service dog certification'.  Certification does not mean the dog is a service dog.  There are businesses that sell fake certification, registration and identifications, along with service dog vests and harnesses.  All a person has to do is to pay the fees.  These dogs were never tested nor the person's disability ever verified.  Certification is not required for a service dog, so long as the dog meets the legal definition.  Those who purchase fake certification do so because they anticipate the need for it.

Since it is not illegal for a person to make the claim their dog is a service dog, you have to use your best judgement.  Ask the above questions of the handler.  Watch them in action.  Is the dog providing a service?  Does the dog perform it's duties in an quiet and inconspicuous manner?  Does it 'mind it's own business' and serve it's handler attentively?  If not, then you have a right to deny access to your business.  And shame on them!