#allergies

[animentality]

[raccooncomic]

221. Peanut Butter

[luminesick]

Damian, with red puffy eyes: You too?

Tim, with red puffy eyes: *raises a brow* Yes?

Damian has severe pollen allergies. Tim was high.

[grub-muncher]

A service dog may perform a variety of tasks and fall into multiple categories, these dogs would be called multi-purpose service dogs. This is not an extensive list of tasks and only mention a few ways service dogs can aid their handlers.

[ravenslikebooks]

Okay Wait I need to test something

Do you have allergies?

Yes, food

Yes, skin

Yes, respiratory

Yes, seasonal

Yes, multiple of these

No because the fates love me and hate the rest of you

Something else (elaborate in notes please???)

Voting ended onSep 22, 2024

Editing for clarity as there's been some confusion in the notes:

If you're allergic to an animal that is respiratory or skin or both depending on what allergic reaction you get. If it happens after ingesting said animal that's food

Medicine falls under other, I am so sorry to all the people allergic to penicillin (&others) I forgot that medicine was a thing that existed

If you're allergic to something in the way all humans are allergic, like poison ivy or mosquitos, then you can hit no

That being said, if you're allergic to a certain plant or medication and it doesn't impact your life because you never interact with it, you're still allergic

Hopefully I addressed everything, more edits may be to come. Thank you all for participating in this incredibly scientific survey

[nonetoon]

A ghost and his roommate and some shrimp 🦐

[dustbunnyaac]

Of all of the issues with claiming a non service animal is a service animal, one I've been reminded of recently is the allergen risk.

I have a pretty bad animal dander allergy. If an animal brushes against my leg and I touch that part of my clothing and then my face, my face and airways will swell and I'll start audibly wheezing. If I touch my eyes they swell to the point I can't see.

Several times in the last few months I've had "service animals" jump on me/my wheelchair, press against me, or try to get me to pet them. Its happened in places only service animals are allowed. Every time this has happened the animal has been near the full range of its leash and looking away from its owner (who is talking to someone else and doesn't notice their animal is getting all over me).

When this happens I need to keep track of where the animal touched me, take a Benadryl if there's any risk it's gotten near my face/airways, and immediately wash that clothing when I get home so I don't experience anaphylaxis. If I can't do laundry then that clothing is quarantined for weeks on end, until I can eventually wash it.

Service animals do not act this way. Even in training the handler is aware enough of them to keep them close and off of other people. A service animal that is not focused on or even near its owner is failing at its job and not ready to work, never mind in sensitive places like doctors offices. The handlers I know irl have had better behaved months old puppies when it comes to this, unlike the adult dogs who've tried to get their paws in my lap.

These have not been situations where the animal is trying to get my attention to help its handler. These have been situations where the owner has been acting like a typical pet owner in places where only service animals are allowed. They are making the active choice to endanger me and other people with animal dander allergies, including people who have more severe allergies than me.