#service familiar

[regulusmasamune]

More service dog shenanigans!

Tarot and I are still on vacation. Today we were somewhere that needed search dogs (the ones that smell for illicit substances or explosives.)

So important note: Tarot is trained to ignore other dogs and people when she's in her vest, unless I give her a command. Legit, her best friend lives across the street. That dog has literally jumped on Tarot, and Cards will sit there until I say okay or 'go say hi.' This is something service dog handlers are encouraged to teach.

So anyway. We go to this place. And the security guys have to let their coworkers know we are there and I'm told to stick to the left to stay away from the dogs. Which, fair enough. Those dogs have a job to do. So does mine. It's way easier for dogs to ignore each other when they are far away.

Except later: when we are getting ready to go to a new area. One of the search dogs sees Tarot and goes CRAZY. He was lunging, on his back legs and barking. So the security guy comes up to ME and tells me I need to step back behind a thing because Tarot is distracting this dog, *whose job is work in public and with the public.* So we move back. Except, even more of these sniffer dogs are around and at least two more start barking their heads off at Tarot.

I get service dogs are kinda rare. But! If your dog is dog aggressive they should NOT be a working dog. If you can't keep your dog under control, your dog should NOT be a working dog. Heck, if your dog doesn't know the 'leave it' command, they should NOT. BE. A. WORKING. DOG. Plus, it is insanely terrifying that security/police guys are allowing their dogs to show any form of aggression unless instructed to do so.

Control your dog. The same rules I follow as a service dog handler should apply to them too.

[regulusmasamune]

The Majestic Theatre Attempted to Deny my Service Dog and I Entry to Phantom of the Opera

I came to New York to see Phantom of the Opera. I could not have done so without my dog, Tarot. I have a severe anxiety disorder. Tarot keeps me from having or calming down from panic attacks that are so severe I stop functioning for days, if not weeks. Tarot has made a world of difference in my life. I've been able to go back to experiencing the world, try new things, and even do stuff like going to a movie alone. Before Tarot, I hadn't been able to do that in roughly 5 years. I do not function at all in public without her. Especially in crowded, bright, and loud spaces. Like Times Square.

I found out Phantom of the Opera was closing it's Broadway run earlier this year. I decided to go to New York, with the sole intention of seeing Phantom at the Majestic before it goes.

Except...when we got there Majestic's security pulled us aside. After a short wait, a manager came out. He asked me what the dog was for. I explained that she uses pressure therapy to prevent and stop panic attacks.

He proceeds to tell me the Justice Department has new rules (which I can't find) outlining differences between medical alert dogs, and service animals. He implied that the theatre only allows medical alert dogs, but he 'generously' was going to let us in anyway 'this time' because he didn't want 'to ruin our night.'

Now, I know the ADA policy on service animals. He. Cannot. Do. This. It. Is. ILLEGAL. Anywhere the public is allowed or invited in, a service dog is allowed. That includes theatres on Broadway.

The Majestic tried to keep me from seeing a show I've always dreamed about seeing on Broadway, the reason I came to NYC, because I need my dog to function.

[regulusmasamune]

I keep seeing all these PEOPLE FAKE HAVING A SERVICE ANIMAL articles. As someone eith a 'hidden' disability who has a service dog, why would you want to fake having a disability that needs a service animal??

Having a service dog may make it easier for me to live my life. It also has its own set of unique challenges.

When I told a previous boss I was struggling with depression and anxiety, the first thing she said to me was 'please don't shoot me when you go off the rails.' That sentiment is fairly common in the US. Showing you have a disability can make you a target for bullying and ridicule. I've been cussed at. I've gotten plenty of sneering looks. Having a service animal is broadcasting 'something is wrong with this person, therefore I can judge you.'

I want to be clear that most people are not like that. Most people just notice I have a dog with me, smile and move on with their lives. Some say your dog is super cute or pretty. I like these interactions. Then there's the 10% of the population who think they can pet your dog without permission and bombard you with questions about the dog and your personal life. And the people in stores or restaurants who ask if my dog is a service dog. And the times people have said I need documention (I don't.) And the security guard who illegally barred me from entering the store cuz he decided my dog wasnt a service animal.

The world is not made for disabled people. There are places I cannot go because I have my dog without making other arrangements. Like the pool, or an amusement park, or an avairy at a zoo. I cant go to any of those places and enjoy them fully by myself. If I want to get on a rollar coaster someone has to hold the leash.

By the way, any religious space, or organization can deny you access to their building. Some Christians dont believe mental health is a real disease. A pastor I talked to told me I just needed to push myself to outgrow needing a service animal. I dont go to that church anymore.

Bathroom stalls are the worst. Most of the time I end up needing to use the handicap one, and feel bad about it. Its hard to fit my dog and I into a small stall, and sometimes, there is no room for her at all, and she ends up being on the other side of the door.

By the way, my dog does not fit well in auditorium or stadium seats. Which means I have to sit on the end of rows or in handicap seats. Neither of these nessisarily offer the best view.

Then there's ice malt. Which is HORRIBLE for dog's paws and poisionous to boot. I can buy booties for close to $75 for that. I couldnt afford those until recently, so I ended up carrying my 50Ib dog into the stores most of winter.

Do not get me started on glass floors, stairs with pokey bits on them, and grated walkways.

The biggest thing I get confused about why someone would fake having a service animal: dogs gotta go to the bathroom. If they deficate in a store, you can be asked to leave. Same thing with aggression btw. Anyway. I had to train my dog to pee and poop on command. This is not accounting for her getting sick. She cant tell me her tummy hurts today. Which means I carry around baby wipes and poop bags whereever I go. And if something happens, I am the one who cleans it up. Its embarrassing. Why would anyone invite that situation to happen?

Long rant short, people with disabilities are DISCRIMINATED agaisnt. Why would anyone want to pretend to have one just to have their pet with them? I sometimes wonder if the problem is not people faking, but people seeing someone with a non-visible disability, like myself, and deciding they must be faking because they don't look disabled enough.

Life is better with my dog helping me, but it isnt all sunshine and rainbows.

[regulusmasamune]

Positive Service Familiar Stories

Almost all interactions I have with the public while going places with my service dog have been positive ones. Tarot gets lots of pets, and compliments from people we interact with.  Here are a few of my favorites:

I went to Doctor Strange ITMOM this year. (First time I went alone with Tarot, first time I went without another person in about five years.) On the way in, a lovely elderly couple stopped us to gush over how pretty Tarot was.  Even taking her picture!

A very young child asked me if she could pet Tarot. This time, I said no, she is working. Her parents gave me the opportunity to explain to her what a service dog was.  She kinda got it, saying ‘Oh, I can pet the puppy later?’ It was VERY cute.  (BTW, I am okay with people petting Tarot IF they ask first.)

The first week I felt like Tarot was ready for public access, I took her to an employment office, for ID reasons.  The receptionist thought I had a small child with me cuz of how I was holding Tarot’s leash.  She was VERY excited when she found out I had a dog. (I had not been able to get this task done for a previous 4 months before this.)

My family really likes estate sales. We are on the email list of a small business who holds them at a friends garage. All these employees know my dog by name, and are ALWAYS excited and warm with her when she and I are there.

Our local hockey team hosted a dog night at the arena a while ago.  Tarot had been to one game before this. It didn’t go well. She got scared of the super loud music, and we ended up leaving early (she also didn't fit in the seats, but thats a convo for another day.) After that experience, the arena allowed us to buy handicap tickets after that (including to Disney on Ice!)  At the Dog Night Game, sometime in the third period, I turned around and found a bright green dinosaur plushie sitting next to Tarot.  I have no idea who gave this to her. Tarot loves to cuddle with it if I give it to her. I felt very blessed and thankful to whoever had left it for her. 

[regulusmasamune]

Tarot has Instagram now! You can find her at Tarot_theServiceFamiliar.