Please Respect Service Dogs
1. Service dogs can be any breed (pure or mixed), any size, shape, gender, color, or coat type. Though Labs, Goldens, Poodles and a mix of these three may be a common sight in service dog work, any breed can be a service dog.Â
2. Every service dog is trained to perform a specific task. Leading the blind, detecting seizures or severe allergies, to assisting for balance and helping PTSD victims the possibilities in tasks these dogs are trained in are vast. Handlers who have service dogs have a disability (whether visible or not).
3. These dogs are doing a job. You wouldnât touch someoneâs wheelchair or hit a blind personâs cane. Service dogs are no different than medical equipment, they assist the disabled.
4. Please do not touch, pet, talk to, look at, stare at, feed, or even acknowledge a service dog. Completely ignore them. Distracting a service dog can literally mean life or death for someone. Seizure alert dogs can detect a seizure minutes before it happens, giving the handler time to get to a safe place to prevent injury. If a person has a seizure and cracks their head open because you distract that dog, that is on YOU. If a diabetic alert dog (?) fails to detect high/low blood sugar and that person goes into a diabetic coma because you pet that dog that is on YOU. Do not distract a service dog, regardless of how you feel. Dogs are not public property because they are in a public place.
5. Service dogs are not required by law to wear a vest.
6. You are not entitled to touch a dog merely because it is in a grocery store, park, train, bus, or anywhere. Even if the dog is just a pet, ask before you pet. And if there is a patch on the dog that clearly says DO NOT PET then do not pet. It is that simple.
7. Teach your children to ignore service dogs. Time and time again, children of many ages have ignored the vest, patches, and even myself. You have no right to get offended or angry when I tell your child âNo.â I do not have to give a reason. I should not have to school your kids on why they cannot touch my dog.
I have barely scratched the surface on the list of disabilities and tasks but that isnât the point. Handlers are getting sick and tired of ignorant people who think it is okay to mess with our dogs. I should not be afraid to go out in public with my dog because of the people who touch my dog, talk to my dog, call me out, or accuse me of faking my disability.
jacobvanloon
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