During the Fair a service dog was told to leave one of the big barns and the handler was belligerently questioned about the dog's legitimacy. The handler departed and returned with the dog in vest, which was then allowed access.
Are the two related? I believe so. If a personal pet, being passed off as a service dog, has behavior which calls into question the competency of the legitimate working service dog, then it makes it difficult for the actual service animals to learn and/or perform their duties and gives a bad rep to these wonderful dogs.
Just because a dog plays well with children doesn't mean it will be a good therapy dog. Just because a dog is nice in public, doesn't mean it will be a good service animal. I receive many calls from people throughout the state who want their dogs to become service animals, but they don't want to go the distance to insure that their dog is the real thing.
So, here's some information.
A service animal is any animal which is individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability (PWD) such as a guide dog for the blind, alert a person who is deaf, pull a wheelchair or retrieve dropped items, alert or protect a person with seizures or provide balance and mobility assistance, among other tasks. A service animal is NOT a pet.
Assistance Dogs, Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Dog Partners - we have a few of these animals in Great Falls. There is at least one dog for the blind and it is easily recognized by its harness. I know, though there may be more, of at least two legitimate therapy dogs, also. An Assistance Animal, depending on it's job, may be harder to recognize and so a vest was developed in order to more easily identify them. The vest can be any color, but it should carry a patch on it stating "Service Dog in Training" or "Service Dog at Work".
To become a service animal is a rigorous and long road. First the dog (let's use that term for ease as there are other animals now that qualify) must pass a temperament test, then, usually, it must be fostered, then it must pass with high scores obedience training, then a Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC), then a skills/task test, then the Delta Society's, TDI's therapy dog test or the Assistance Dog's Skills Test plus a Public Access Test, only the AD's test is acceptable in order to become certified a Service Animals.
On the average, only one in ten dogs makes the temperament test cut. Of those, only about one in ten makes the obedience cut. From that group, only about one in ten makes the grade at the final Public Access Test. If a non-profit group fosters and trains the dogs the average cost to produce one of these service animals, from acceptance into the program until presentation to an owner, is well over $100,000
The purpose for all the testing is to ensure that dogs that have public access have had the highest level of training and are stable, well-behaved and unobtrusive to the public. Also, to ensure the handler has control over the dog and the team isn't a public hazard. The handler is legally responsible for the actions of the animal.
There is a severe shortage and a high need for the dogs. This has led to private training by the PWD, individual trainers and therapists. Still, because of the fact that any single service animal is an ambassador for the all that follow, the quality of training is expected to be held to the highest standards.
The newest addition in GF is a young Cavalier King Charles Spaniel which is an Assistance Dog. This dog went through my obedience class when it was about 10 weeks old and the owner/handler spent a long year maintaining the behavioral-obedience expectations taught in class. When the service animal test was given, the owner who had been very nervous about what would be expected, was relieved to find that everything required of the dog had been taught in the obedience class and was normal behavior for both of them. She passed all the tests with flying colors both ON and OFF leash, something which is very rare, including the Public Access portion.
For business owners:
- A PWD may be asked what TASKS the service animals performs by may not be asked for special certification or ID cards for the animal and may not be asked about his disability.*
- A PWD may not be charged additional fees to be accompanied by a service animal
- A PWD accompanied by a service animal must be admitted and may not be isolated, segregated or treated less favorably than other persons.
You are in a tight spot and I sympathize. If you're told you can't ask about the dog without legal problems then how will you know if it's the legitimate thing or the the dog being passed off as a service animal?
*State and federal laws have no specific provisions for people to be accompanied by therapy and companions animals in places of public accommodation that have "no pets" policy. Therefore, you may ask for proof from the therapist/handler that the animal in question is, in fact, a registered therapy dog and if you have aren't displaying the "no pets" sign it is your decision to allow them, or any dog, entry.
I trust the business owners of this city as you all strive to be intelligent and fair and are polite to those with these valuable dogs. By allowing assistance dogs in training or identified service dogs into your establishments you are doing a great service. The business owner or employee that approaches a legitimate service dog handler will have their questions answered promptly and politely and proof offered as it is the community and dogs which will benefit.
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