Fake Service Dogs IT'S A PROBLEM (Read Description)

SO why are fake service animals a problem?

Just because your state may not have a law regarding faking a service animal does not mean it's not illegal because it is still covered under federal law.

Why shouldn't you pass off your pet as a fake service animal? So Service Animals are trained to be obedient, to assist their handlers with their disabilities through tasks, (this task training is what makes a service animal a service animal). They are not supposed to be aggressive, are not supposed to be a disturbance. As stated in federal ada law Service Animals should not be in shopping carts. A service animal should always be walking on a leash properly. (Some cases like a small service animal being carried in a sling to help smell the owners breath easier for example diabetic alert or if the owners disabilities can hinder the dog at tasking or put it in danger by being on a leash). But the dog should be under control at ALL times. No sniffing (unless it's for allergen alert at that point the dog should only sniff on cue), no barking (some dogs bark as an alert or to get help but it should never be excessive and for no reason they should be silent otherwise).

A Service Animal is trained to be basically perfect. As perfect as can be anyway. They are still dogs and do get distracted. Which is why it is crucial to NEVER interfere with a service animal whether talking to them or petting them. Interfering with a service animal is also illegal.

So people passing off their pets as service animals causes a lot of issues. The dogs are hardly ever trained and put a bad reputation on real service dog teams making it harder for us to get public access because businesses are tired of people bringing their pets into stores. Pets can cause harm to service animals. If a service animal gets attacked they have to recover from their injuries, and get over the basically post traumatic stress from the attack before being able to work again. And sometimes they never get over that fear and can no longer work. Which causes a lot of problems for those of us that rely on our dogs to keep us safe.

If you think it's okay to buy a vest or try to go online to those fake service animal registries then I urge you to reconsider. It causes many problems and it CAN kill someone if their service dog gets distracted because of your pet dog or you distracting it.

And please. Don't ever tell a Service Dog handler that you have a pet that you pass off as a fake service animal. They probably won't leave you a tip.

PO Box 756 Moody, Al. 35004
Dominique or Max Graffeo

MY MEDICAL ISSUES. I have POTS Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system (including my heart) and causes me to faint among other symptoms. It comes from EDS Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Among other medical issues. I do have PTSD as well from childhood sexual assault that lasted over 10 years. But my fainting is related to my POTS and I can faint anytime, anywhere that I have been standing or walking too long. Basically my heart doesn't pump my blood right and it pools in my legs and I pass out.

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Max was a shelter rescue and I have been training him myself.

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[grayskindablue]

I see little chihuahuas and Pomeranian and shit sitting in freaking grocery carts with tiny pink service vests on and it makes me SO MAD. I need a service dog and I'm trying so hard to find an affordable way to get one to help alert me for various issues. It's so hard. Seeing people *faking* it with their yappy little dogs just enrages me, while I'm struggling daily to get a legitimate SD.

[emilywalton]

I hate when people fake service animals. It’s NOT okay!! Most people bring the pets and they mess around and can mess with the legitimate service dogs 🐕....
She definitely didn’t deserve that tip...

[brittanyh]

My dog just finished a training course and is going through a second one before I take her through the CGC test because I want her trained to the best I can as I work with her through task training with the trainer’s help. I faint and my doctors are currently trying to diagnose me and have agreed that a service dog would be a good option. My dog is able to alert me before I pass out so I am extremely luckily in being able to train her to become a service dog. Until I am 100% sure she will not be a distraction and is ready to work she will not accompany me to places that are not dog friendly. She is in training but I’ve seen so many fake service dogs in my area that make me angry to go anywhere knowing she will be under such judgement because of the fake service dogs misbehaving constantly.

[jaystorm]

This happened on a plane with me too. I had just gotten on the plane with my SD doing a guiding task. A lady sat next to me and began complimenting my dog's fur (she had been recently cleaned). We started talking while Sugar slept in a ball at my feet. The lady had told me she was a law attorney, yet a few chats later began asking how she can make her puppy a service dog. I started listing off good training programs and naming how to begin training but she had told me all she wanted was a certification and asked where Sugar got certified. All I could say at first is that there is no certification only training and my mom butted in to say that faking a service dog is illegal. She continued onto how much fun it would be to bring a dog everywhere and to work. At this point I was in utter shock and disbelief and so was my mom. We kinda just stayed silent and left it at "faking a service dog could result in jail and fines" and luckily it wasn't a long flight. It's hard to educate on why service dogs are important especially to someone who's never experienced a disability, and they already have this "amazing" vision of their dog dining with them at a fancy restaurant.

[jjtiger]

Not all us Floridian's are stupid. It SO pisses my family and I off to no extent when we see a "service" dog. My daughter is asd, add, anxiety, and diabetic. Her service dog was trained for asd but alerts when her diabetes goes high.

[jasminethompson]

I’m working on getting my dog trained as a service dog and I get people telling me “you can just buy a vest online and take him anywhere you want.” That’s not the point of getting him trained, and that’s suggesting I haven’t a legitimate reason to have a service animal. Fake service animals make it so much harder for people who have legitimate service dogs, people aren’t as likely believe you, especially if you have an “invisible” condition.

[anamariescrenock]

It is so horrible that people fake service dogs! WHAT THE HECK PEOPLE!?!? I'm training my own service dog right now for my various issues. And it is just SO disappointing that people would do that! People who have service dogs need them! It's stupid that people do that. Keep doing what your doing! Love you, Max, and your family! 💙

[alejandrajennifer]

Dude you have TONS of patience when it comes to this situation. A lot of props💖

[angelarcega]

I learned so much about your videos how you can tell between real or fake service dog and when I was on phone with my husband cuz he postman walking outside doing his job I heard dog Bark at him and owner told him that her dog is service dog and explain to my husband saying services dog don't bark at all or run to you at all. I got upset cuz he could off get bit again by fake service dog. Learning from you help so much.

[tjeanvlogs]

While going through some veg bins, a woman said something about reaching over me. I'm facing these bins in my wheelchair and Onyx is in tight next to the wheel. When she leans over, her fluffy ball of aggression started growling and barking in her purse. This purse was *on* Onyx's neck! as he was trying to block this woman from being on top of me. That dog was in my face, literally!
I firmly but politely asked her to remove her pet. She went off on how it was a "certified service dog", "I've got a card just like you do". (I've removed the expitives). I remarked, while going through the veg bins, "there is no recognized certification or registration federally recognized and those online things are scams. Also, service dogs do not bark or growl. Please remove your pet." This aggression ball was growling and barking anytime this woman got within 20 feet of us.
So I'm getting help packing up and she comes around the corner and just melts down. "Come on I'm going to cut you up." is one of the choice things that came out of her mouth. "You just leave! Get out of here!" I'm still packing up my groceries and calmly remark, "I will as soon as we finish packing up." Now there is a crowd and she's getting verbally worse. I can hear staff running (they have known me for years). They try to get her to leave as she's all bagged up, but know "She has to leave! I've got the certified SD! just leave. I'm going to (insert harming words - she used many)".
Finally, I was packed up and out at the curb waiting for my ride to get closer. Guess who "needs" to pass me and was still in full melt down. She tried to kick at Onyx but one of the staff was right there.
I run into at least one pet per week being passed off as SDs. I've changed my presentation when I see someone carrying their precious ball of aggression. In addition to telling them what they are doing is illegal, it also puts both of them at risk ("oh he doesn't bite; is said somewhere in the above). People bring in their untrained pets who then jump out of their owner's arms and attack the dog. I tell them about Onyx being in rehab and was bit a week ago (this last time) and so was one of the store's employees. This last time I said this the person was surprised at Onyx's lack of reaction during the incident and to her growling dog (whom she was trying to "shhh"). Then I was able to point out the difference in behavior of the two. She then remarked, as she was working harder to keep her pooch in arm (Onyx was doing his best door mat impression with the here we go again sigh), "Is this what you meant by public access training? He's not reacting at all!" Discussion continued for a bit longer and I went into the crowded fabric store. Down the sidewalk with her friend talking as I came out, she waved and said thank you while trying to get her aggression ball under control.
This nonna has both approaches, sweet and educational, and the stern - not taking this. Now I need to work on getting my blood pressure down after being the calmly stern nonna. I just want to put of few adults over my knee and Inhale and exhale, breath slowly... I should just.... Breath. So far the buddy on my shoulder saying breath in my ear is winning, but it was a close thing today.

[camrynjohnson]

OMG I KNOW. As you were going “AGHH” I was going AGHHH because there are LAWS that are saying what you are doing is ILLEGAL yet you do it and it’s like not stopping at a red light! Like what?

[dkliberty]

The struggle is real! I went to the Dr yesterday, and a lady was walking out with her "service dog", which tried to attack my SD! It makes me so pissed with those moronic, inconsiderate a holes.

[phoenixisntcrazy]

It’s so annoying how people absolutely don’t care about the consequences. “You could go to jail, ya know.”
“Oh, but I think it would be so fun to take *insert dog’s name here* to work!”
Like, are you kidding?! I know stealing is illegal, so (most) people don’t do it. But there seems to be this big grey area between peoples comprehension of service animals and how their little untrained pooch fits in. I don’t see why people think six months in jail is “worth it” for faking a service dog. They need to start listening. I was, sadly, one of those people who thought it would be fun. I never took my dog anywhere, but I did think about it and I am ashamed of myself for it. However, if anyone had told me the law, I would have listened. It doesn’t matter how much I wanted to do it, it’s illegal and that’s that. I don’t want to go to jail or pay a fine just to bring my dog to dinner. I don’t want the police showing up while I try to do my shopping. Some stores are pet friendly, so if people really want to have an outing with their dogs, go there! But don’t pass off your dog as something they aren’t. It’s just rude.

[ondyp]

Wow. My dog is my pet first, then my "helper". I have mobility issues and I trained him to carry things, help me out of chairs, supporting me going upstairs etc, but I would never dream of buying a service vest just so I can take him more places with me. I'm shocked at the waitress!

[jennythechihuahuaproductio]

I know! I took my Service Dog into TriState Outfitters and she was vested. We were doing great. Then this guy comes in with a pitbull wearing a service dog vest. That pitbull lunged at my Service Dog Jenny and tried to bite her. Jenny sat in front of me to protect me. I said "Get that dog out of here. Only service dogs are allowed. You can't convince me that's a legit service dog. " the manager kicked him out. I'm so sick and tired of fakes.

[TheHouseAgain]

Who tells them self " I want a service dog so I'll buy a vest I'm not hurting anybody".

[geokat]

Service dogs are very expensive and if you bring your untrained animal in public to disturb a highly trained dog trying to do its job and your dog bites it or traumatizes it in any way and makes it never be able to perform its duties again, yes, you deserve jail time and lots of fines.

[omnipotenthorseperson]

Fake service dogs make me sick. People who get them are a stain on the world.

[logicc]

I’m 11 so I can finally learn about this they don’t teach this in school and they should

[niar]

I can totally relate. I'm so sorry. It was arrogant and disrespectful