Artemis And Kye

| 17 | He/They | Kye, Phoenix, or Arden | Artemis | 11 months | She/Her |

[notactuallyaccessible]

Lifehacker just posted a terrible article about how to interact with service animals and I’m willing to bet it was written by an abled writer without consulting enough disabled people/service animal handlers because the only advice they should be doling out on how to interact with service dogs is “DON’T.”

Seriously people, no matter how cute the pup is, just IGNORE service animals. They are doing a job. Distracting them can actually be life-threatening. Their handlers just want to go about their day. Don’t use disability or disability aids (including service dogs) as conversation starters. And you can’t tell by looking if a service dog is assisting with anxiety, PTSD, or other conditions that would mean strangers approaching will have a serious negative effect on the handler.

IGNORE. IGNORE. IGNORE.

There is no shortage of NON-service dogs you can interact with in the world. Leave handler teams alone. Even if your neighbor’s friend’s sister has a service dog and doesn’t mind letting people pet it, that doesn’t make it ok for you to approach handlers and ask to pet their dog. Just leave them alone. Please.

[theowlsarequeer]

Note: I am working on becoming a therapy dog handler. While it is 100% okay to pet a therapy dog while they’re on duty at a hospital/library/school AFTER ASKING THE HANDLER, it’s important that you make the distinction between a therapy dog and an emotional support dog. A therapy dog is there to assist with needs that are not the handler’s. The handler is also there to help you. And you are almost always allowed to pet them. However, that is not an excuse to distract the dog if it’s doing something specific. If the handler says NO, the answer is no. But an emotional support dog is there FOR their handler’s specific emotional needs, like PTSD or severe anxiety. It is vital that those dogs are not distracted, for the handler’s sake as well as the dog’s sake.

You can tell the difference because, at least with the registration service I use, service dogs wear green vests, emotional support dogs wear red vests, and therapy dogs wear gray vests. The dog’s job is also usually written on the vest. If the dog is in a public place where therapy dogs are not allowed, like an airplane or a store, then odds are they are not a therapy dog. 

IF A DOG HAS A GREEN, OR RED VEST, DO NOT INTERACT.

[working-mythos]

Hey! No hate, but are you American (not sure about laws for other countries which is why I ask)? If so, what do you mean by “registration service”? According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) there is no such thing as registration. Otherwise... if you’re not American and and it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I wouldn’t mind learning about what you mean. ^^;

[twocorndogs]

DO NOT interact with service dogs while they're working

DO NOT make eye contact or stare DO NOT take pictures or video DO NOT touch DO NOT make noises honestly this should apply to all dogs that aren’t yours but distracting a service dog is a CRIME; it can and does ENDANGER THE HANDLER

[joqatana]

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOG TO STICK ITS NOSE UP A SERVICE DOG’S ASS WHILE IT IS WEARING A VEST. AND DO NOT TALK BACK WHEN THE DOG’S HANDLER REPRIMANDS YOU. YOU BROKE A LAW.

[themajorbarkana]

Reblog if you recognize that psychiatric service dogs are just as valid as all other types of service dogs

[working-mythos]

As a PSDit handler, I very much agree

[notactuallyaccessible]

Lifehacker just posted a terrible article about how to interact with service animals and I’m willing to bet it was written by an abled writer without consulting enough disabled people/service animal handlers because the only advice they should be doling out on how to interact with service dogs is “DON’T.”

Seriously people, no matter how cute the pup is, just IGNORE service animals. They are doing a job. Distracting them can actually be life-threatening. Their handlers just want to go about their day. Don’t use disability or disability aids (including service dogs) as conversation starters. And you can’t tell by looking if a service dog is assisting with anxiety, PTSD, or other conditions that would mean strangers approaching will have a serious negative effect on the handler.

IGNORE. IGNORE. IGNORE.

There is no shortage of NON-service dogs you can interact with in the world. Leave handler teams alone. Even if your neighbor’s friend’s sister has a service dog and doesn’t mind letting people pet it, that doesn’t make it ok for you to approach handlers and ask to pet their dog. Just leave them alone. Please.

[cg--archive-deactivated20220308]

talking to a service dog is just as bad as petting them. the reason you are not allowed to pet service dogs is because it can be a distraction, therefore interferes with their job. talking to them, literally trying to DRAW THEIR ATTENTION, can be a massive distraction.

ignore service dogs. “I know I can’t pet it, so I’ll just say hi–” NO! do not wave at them, do not kiss at them, do not greet them, do not call out their names, do not distract service dogs in literally any way. leave them alone. 

[working-mythos]

Also- this should apply to literally any dog as well, I can’t count the amount of times I’ve had one of my PET dogs out at petsmart or somewhere similar because they’re allowed to be there, so why not? And I’ve had people kiss at them or coo at them or whatever, and bear in mind, these guys aren’t like... little chihuahuas or whatever, they’re big ole rottie and GSD mixes. My SDit is a small ass lab mix (shelter said lab mix, so until I can get her embark tested that’s what I’ll go by), it so much worse with her and so much more frequent and it’s not only distracting for the dog, but for the handler as well in some cases. Especially with new handlers such as myself.

[shadesspecialmagic]

Today I found the best service dog patch by https://www.instagram.com/muttbuttgear. Shade and Chief aren’t service dogs but I figured some of you service dog blogs would like to see this

[autspoon]

By the way, the reason why you shouldn’t touch a dog that’s working… Is primarily because it confuses the dogs.

They are trained to take orders and do specific tasks. If a human interacts with them, they try to focus on that because they’re taught to listen to humans.

If they’ve been put to guide someone somewhere, it can go as bad that the dog gets disoriented or forgets the task. That’s a danger.

If the dog is trained to track or notice something, like allergens or something to do with your health.. They might forget to take notice to this or get distracted to a point where they forget it.

It’s not just that it’s rude or a principle of “no touch” with no basis… You’re being selfish and you might legitimately endanger someone.

Dogs aren’t all just magical creatures that can keep to their tasks, and be cuddling machines at the same time. That’s not how things work.

So please, stay away from dogs that are at work… Or you might confuse or distract them, leading to your own desires literally endangering someone. Which is really shitty and selfish.

[twocorndogs]

DO NOT interact with service dogs while they're working

DO NOT make eye contact or stare DO NOT take pictures or video DO NOT touch DO NOT make noises honestly this should apply to all dogs that aren’t yours but distracting a service dog is a CRIME; it can and does ENDANGER THE HANDLER

[babyanimalgifs]

literally me

[heyatleastitsnotcancer]

People shouldn’t touch or distract services dogs while they’re working. But please don’t say “you wouldn’t let your child grab someone’s cane or nasal cannula so don’t let them touch a service dog.”

I’ve had multiple kids grab my cane out from me in the same way they shouldn’t touch a service dog. I’ve also had adults grab and kick my cane out from under me knowingly (years ago an adult laughed after she kicked my cane out and I bit it).

It’s all a matter of people not respecting disabled people. Any awareness and education we can bring to this is amazing. So please abled people respect a disabled person’s mobility and disability aids. Yes that includes canes, nasal cannulas, and service dogs.

[chowowed]

My Service Dog got attacked. (Lend a hand?)

This is Gia. She is the sweetest, most loving service dog. She was basically retired, but still does her job occasionally. She got mauled by another dog about a week ago, and the image on the right is her now.  For More Images/Proof: Go Here *GRAPHIC*

Now, I’m not asking for anyone to cover her vet fees, or to help us put the other dog down. What we REALLY need, is some Pajamas for Gia. I have created a wishlist of Jammies for her. Now, you’re probably asking why she needs Jammies. She is a double coated dog, a chow chow. Without her coat, she can’t keep herself warm or regulate her temperature. And we live in Ohio, where it gets very cold. Our power has already gone out once this winter, Gia won’t be okay if she gets too cold. She can’t go outside, she can’t sleep, she can’t heal. These pajamas also help to keep the bandage on her neck stable, and keeps her from rubbing it off. She is bleeding, oozing over herself constantly, so we need a lot of pajamas to keep rotating them. They won’t just get used once, they’ll be used all winter and through the spring even! Until she is healed, they will be used and very appreciated. 

If you can’t help us by buying her some pajamas, can you please reblog this?  We got hit with $3000 of vet bills that we do not have the money for. And she is due for another surgery to remove the rest of the dead skin next week. 

Here are My Commissions if you can’t buy her one, but want to help! And Here is My Ko-Fi If you’d rather that. 

And HERE IS HER WISHLIST. 

Thank you SO much for sharing and helping out!  ❤ ❤

[noping-out-deactivated20241117]

It costs you literally nothing to leave service dogs the fuck alone.

[working-mythos]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJTj1PHV/

How the fuck did it take a literal 3 year old, a CHILD, getting attacked for people to start listening? For people outside of the community to start talking about this issue? We’ve been saying for years that people are going to get hurt, that it’s not only hurting us, but that the GP (General Public) is/will be affected. That this is hurting people, that it is against the law. And now look where we are. A literal three year old has been attacked. This kid will likely suffer scarring, which will most likely put her in a place where she’ll wind up getting bullied, but the trauma this must have caused. I hate to say it, as someone who loves animals in general, dogs especially, but this kid is probably going to have a fear of dogs now, on top of whatever therapy they may need. I came across a video of this kid apparently thinking they’re ugly because of the injuries this fake caused, a THREE YEAR OLD, caught up with their looks. This is disgusting that it took this much for people to notice, to take action. I hope this woman gets what’s coming to her, and to the family of the kid, my heart goes out to them.

♡ Hailie & Charlie ♡ on TikTok

#duet with @heyitsjustmecece ⚠️please go and share and just spread the word as much as possible ⚠#spreadawareness #safety #child'ssafety #Te

[noping-out-deactivated20241117]

Disabled person: “If you wouldn’t do it to a wheelchair don’t do it to a service dog.”

Abled: (gasping) “Animals aren’t objects!”

Me: “Service animals are legally classified as assistive devices.”

Ableists clutching their pearls: “You called a DOG a DEVICE! You’re a terrible person! I’m going to ignore everything else you said!”

[working-mythos]

And that’s on ableism!

[sergle]

mentally comparing the person who said that the snuggly purry cat i met “probably had rabies” because it was drooling and headbutting me and the person who says that the clearly hostile dogs that chase me and snarl at me are “just happy doggos”

[minnowsmuse]

Minnow has a very important message to tell everyone!

[postmanbutterfly]

hey! i was out with anubis yesterday and we got a lot more questions than usual. it occurred to me that most people don’t know how to interact with service teams, but do truly want to be respectful. here’s a quick guide for interacting with a service dog and their handler:

1. the dog is not there to entertain you. even if the dog is laying on the ground like anubis here, they’re still working. medical alert dogs like anubis are constantly watching and waiting to act, and their brains are always on. distracting them while they’re working can prove fatal for their handler.

2. this should go without saying, but don’t touch the service dog. don’t talk to, make faces at, or make eye contact with them either. don’t offer food or try to get the dog to sniff you. these are all incredibly distracting things! imagine if someone tried to touch you, call your name, or held food in front of your face while You were working. super distracting, right?

3. most handlers will not give out their dogs names while they’re working, for the reasons listed above. some handlers will even give a fake name for this reason. please don’t hound us about our service dog’s name.

4. unless you’re accommodating for the service team, just ignore the dog. accommodating may look like moving your chair so the dog can have space to lay at their handler’s feet, or stepping around them while they’re tasking, or helping the handler with rude management workers while they’re facing an access issue. if we need something, we’ll ask! but otherwise, just treat us like a normal person, and please don’t talk directly to the dog instead of their handler. it’s super patronizing and annoying.

5. legally, service dog handlers can only be asked two questions by EMPLOYEES of the ESTABLISHMENT they are entering. this does not extend to other customers. the two questions are, “is that a service dog?” and, “what tasks does your service dog perform?”. in my case, the answers would be “yes” and “medical alert, psychiatric, and mobility”. most handlers will Not go into more detail about their diagnosis. please do not ask why we need a service dog, because it’s incredibly invasive and most handlers aren’t willing to share why. medical history, because service dogs Are medical equipment, is a very private and oftentimes embarrassing thing.

thank you for reading this far! tl;dr: treat service dog handlers with respect and ignore their dogs unless you’re accomodating for the team. don’t distract the dog.

[working-mythos]

THIS!!!! Especially the thing about talking to us and not the dog, when you talk to our SDs, not only does it put us in danger but, to me at least, it feels terrible. My dog is doing a JOB, a VERY important job, she doesn’t need to be distracted, so please do not distract her. Please do not talk to her either, if you want to say something tell me, not my dog.