No Dogs Allowed Here! Service Dog Discrimination!

[Vests For Service Dogs]

This blog post is defiantly worth reading and shows just how much the public needs to be educated about service dogs.

http://service-dog-blog.com/2012/09/20/service-dog-discrimination/

[Ginny Nightingale]

Sorry to hear this--and it's my state! That should never happen to anyone with a service dog.

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

I find the ignorance of some people just amazing!!!! The dog is clearly identified as a service dog and the blogger is clearly identifiable as some requiring a service dog so how could anyone even attempt to hassle her about the dog!!

What I find totally ironic about this story is we just moved to Georgia a few months ago and for whatever reason it appears it is totally acceptable for people to take their NON-SERVICE/NON-ASSISTANCE dogs into any establishment here. We've seen people carrying or walking their Chihuahuas, Maltese, Shih-tzus, Pekingese, Jack Russel Terriers, large mixed breeds, etc. in the grocery stores, home improvement stores, Target, Walmart, Kohl's, the DMV, the bank, etc. None of these dogs were identified as service/assistance dogs (no vest) and yet no one seemed to care that they were there. And some of them were even snarling, barking and jumping on total strangers!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is sad that you had to go through all this. I hope with time people will be more educated. It is also sad that people bring non trained, misbehaving dogs into places thereby encouraging the fears and dislike of store owners and customers.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yes.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am sorry this person had to go through all of this. It is just wrong to discriminate against this individual and her service dog. Never should happen!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, that is just a little too much work.  I would have been exhausted from just arguing with people.  You can however bet that as soon as I got them to agree to allow me in I would have peed in their toilet and then left, not spending a penny of my money at their gas station, nor would I have stayed at their hotel.  I do though think I would scope out Pet Friendly hotels if at all possible even if I just had a service dog.  There is nothing that I hate worse than people who obviously do not like dogs.  They are normally just sour people.  Sadly though, I think that the Service Dog situation is going to get worse rather than better because it is being abused.  I am all about assistance dogs for people who need them, but I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about people getting their dogs registered just so they could fly on the plane with them or go places with them.  I meet people at the hospital when Sophie and I are visiting, that are visiting people there or there for a test and they tell me oh I have a Service Dog at home!  They will be by themselves with no assistance from anyone.  It is going in the way of Handicapped parking space permits ... such an abused program!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I truly wish that real registered service dogs could enter establishments without judgement or harassment. I agree with the comments below that it is an abused system. You have people trying to pass their dogs off as service dogs, and real service dogs not being allowed in. :-(