Comfort pet or public risk?
Mar 4, 2019 23:28:26 #
Then if course are those who bring their dogs to the grocery store. They sit in the same cart where you put your food, and then they take their reusable shopping bags with dog hair all over it, and put them on the counter. It has gotten completely out of control.
Mar 4, 2019 23:43:17 #
Mar 5, 2019 05:26:46 #
rpavich wrote:
We live in a society where the rule is "whatever makes me happy is my right" and so we will see this sort of stuff more and more.
Add to that the second rule of our society "nobody's opinion is any more valid than anyone else's" and there you have the basis for more dumb stuff than you can keep track of.
Add to that the second rule of our society "nobody's opinion is any more valid than anyone else's" and there you have the basis for more dumb stuff than you can keep track of.
And, I'm guessing this didn't start from conservative pressures...
Mar 5, 2019 05:37:14 #
I'm guessing this is based in the "Americans with Disabilities Act," but I don't know for sure. Dog breeds have general characteristics, some good and some not so good. It doesn't mean that every individual in the breed will behave a certain way, but it does demonstrate a trend.
I live in a no pet building. A recent tenant in one of the units, requested that they be allowed to get a "comfort dog," since the lady of the family has macular degeneration. She drives, shops, reads, and gets along just fine by herself. While I understand the law, this seems like just one more example of an individual having the right to skirt the law/rule/policy for individual gain.
I live in a no pet building. A recent tenant in one of the units, requested that they be allowed to get a "comfort dog," since the lady of the family has macular degeneration. She drives, shops, reads, and gets along just fine by herself. While I understand the law, this seems like just one more example of an individual having the right to skirt the law/rule/policy for individual gain.
Mar 5, 2019 06:18:00 #
At our VA clinic, where many patients have comfort animals (most of us call them "our pets") the guideline is that you can bring a comfort animal with you if it is a dog, but if it barks at any person or other animal, or if it relieves itself, you have to take it out.
Different government agencies have different definitions of "service animal". HUD allows almost anything in government subsidized housing, and this started the trend, I think - people for years have come to their doctor begging for letters so that they could move in to government-subsidized housing with their cat or dog. The VA defines a service animal as "usually a dog that has been trained to perform specific tasks to help a disabled patient". Just because you go online and buy a vest and nice laminated card does not make your animal a service animal.
Different government agencies have different definitions of "service animal". HUD allows almost anything in government subsidized housing, and this started the trend, I think - people for years have come to their doctor begging for letters so that they could move in to government-subsidized housing with their cat or dog. The VA defines a service animal as "usually a dog that has been trained to perform specific tasks to help a disabled patient". Just because you go online and buy a vest and nice laminated card does not make your animal a service animal.
Mar 5, 2019 07:00:30 #
sb wrote:
At our VA clinic, where many patients have comfort... (show quote)
I am not an expert here....but this definition may be a part of the problem. We know that K-9 officers are trained and certified....we know that Guide dogs are trained and certified....we know that Service Animals are trained and certified....BUT, "Comfort Animals" are whatever the owner wants to have. I personally think it's a scam.
Mar 5, 2019 07:05:45 #
A friend who works at a National Park told me their policy for years had been “trained working dogs” allowed but no pets in the controlled areas, i.e, generally the areas where you had to enter through a security screening. Now, if a visitor comes through security with a dog without a vest, they assume it is a “working” dog. They do not ask for proof that it is a trained working dog and many of the dogs being brought in do not appear trained judging by how they want to interact with the other visitors.
Mar 5, 2019 07:07:05 #
I love dogs, to get a friendly dog it must be socialized from the time they are born every day patted and loved on by strangers, new people, not just a few family, if you do this your dog will grow up seeing strangers as friends they haven't met yet, not as someone to fear and bite. I was the ACO for 17 yrs in that job I had to investigate bites and do the "Bite Reports as required by the state. right now I see more and more people in the grocery stores small dogs setting in the kid seat while the owner shops other times people walking their dogs in the store and visiting in the isles and no cart and not shopping. Dogs should not be in Grocery stores or Hospitals use a little common sense. The only store I would be ok with is a pet store, and with permission. States should require training and a permit to own dangerous dogs or pets, also be required to have a bond or insurance of several million $$ so in the event of a bite or a child face being bit they could be compensated, because of the expense this would help keep these dogs out of the hands of erreasonable people.
Mar 5, 2019 07:15:45 #
Cookie223 wrote:
One would think that there should be some restrictions on where these animals are allowed.
Definitely! Comfort animals should be limited to small stuffed animals.
Mar 5, 2019 07:19:18 #
rpavich wrote:
Add to that the second rule of our society "nobody's opinion is any more valid than anyone else's"...
Add to that the second rule of our society "nobody's opinion is any more valid than anyone else's"...
That's true, but many people don't know the difference between fact and opinion. I'm going to watch "Beyond the Curve" on Netflix. It's about those people who "believe" the earth is flat. That's their opinion, despite facts to the contrary.
Mar 5, 2019 07:20:52 #
sourdough58 wrote:
I love dogs, to get a friendly dog it must be socialized from the time they are born every day patted and loved on by strangers, new people, not just a few family, if you do this your dog will grow up seeing strangers as friends they haven't met yet, not as someone to fear and bite.
Yes, but...
I still think that, like people, some animals are just born nasty.
Mar 5, 2019 07:22:50 #
Hi,
I have a dog (a boxer), and have had some others in the past.
She comes with me (when possible) wherever I go, but has been trained and obeys my orders. After 5.5 years, I have never had a problem.
I am convinced that 80% of how a dog will behave is the result of the dog's owner training and character: a non-trained dog will behave as the dog wants, will not listen, and will not understand why sometimes they can do something and other times not, independently of the bred they are.
Likewise, the dogs of aggressive owners will show aggressive character also.
Regards,
Miquel
I have a dog (a boxer), and have had some others in the past.
She comes with me (when possible) wherever I go, but has been trained and obeys my orders. After 5.5 years, I have never had a problem.
I am convinced that 80% of how a dog will behave is the result of the dog's owner training and character: a non-trained dog will behave as the dog wants, will not listen, and will not understand why sometimes they can do something and other times not, independently of the bred they are.
Likewise, the dogs of aggressive owners will show aggressive character also.
Regards,
Miquel
Mar 5, 2019 07:46:39 #
True service dogs for the blind, the police, and such are necessary. That said, the idea of a so-called comfort dog or any other animal is ludicrous. I don’t think they should be allowed anywhere outside the home under any circumstances, let alone in a public place like a hospital or airport.
By the way, the dog that bit the little girl was one of those kind, gentle pit bulls--whoda thunk it that one of those might bite.
By the way, the dog that bit the little girl was one of those kind, gentle pit bulls--whoda thunk it that one of those might bite.
Mar 5, 2019 08:12:54 #
Mar 5, 2019 09:21:09 #
Cookie223 wrote:
I recently saw a news story of an emotionally stre... (show quote)
The rest of us need to NOT feel guilty and say “no” when asked if the comfort pet can be involved.
Although some truly need them it’s also an area of a lot of scams.
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