# Dear Weirdo: please curb your so-called "service dog" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903 "2017-02-27T00:51:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/41 "2017-02-27T13:25:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Shouldn’t your name be Bob? > > 😛 > [@beowulff](#): > > We’ll change his name to “Mat." Unless he’s dead… then it should be “Dug”. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/42 "2017-02-27T13:33:10Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > My Service Dog is very helpful to me in the Vegas casinos, at the slot machines and the blackjack tables, for you see, I have no arms or legs. In the land of the no-armed, the one-armed bandit is king. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/43 "2017-02-27T13:35:31Z")
Good poster handle/OP combo. [curb=heel] ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/44 "2017-02-27T13:45:41Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Have you heard about [Panda, the guide horse](http://www.theclickercenter.com/ThePandaProject.html)? > > Horses are smart and trainable and domesticated, just like dogs. They also can live about three times as long as a Labrador! > > I met Alex Kurland, Panda’s trainer, last year. A fascinating woman. My concern would be whether a horse can be housebroken. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/45 "2017-02-27T14:07:56Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > NOT seeing eye dogs. > > Im talking about these old people or emotional weirdos that have conned establishments to let them bring their pets inside because they are “service animals”. > > Now, im not sure exactly what “service” a fluffy white poodle provides while sitting in a basket next to a bluehair playing a slot machine, but OK you win. Somehow you and various quacks in the mental health community have declared certain people cant live without being with their mutts 24/7 and to deny them entry because they want to bring their pet inside is denial of service because of a medical condition and no one wants to get sued. > > What a casino should NOT have to do is clean up the dog shit your Fido left right on the carpeted hallway by the elevator. Im not sure what skills a “service animal” possesses if it isn’t even housebroken but is it too much to ask you at least clean up its mess? Or alert hotel staff of the accident? > > I don’t care what so-called condition you have, Ma’am but just walking away after your dog shit all over the casino is gross and disgusting and inconsiderate of others. Fuck you fuck your dog and I hope you lose every dime you own on the slots you bitch. > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk People who lie to take advantage of accommodations meant for the disabled are just assholes. About 20% of us are assholes. I’m being generous. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/46 "2017-02-27T14:16:48Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I know it’s a local law (and I honestly thought it was true at the federal level, too) that a business is not allowed to ask the nature of the disability. They may not be able to ask about the nature of the disability, but in most places they (business owners or managers or whoever is in authority) can ask what services the animal actually performs to evaluate if it is a legitimate service animal or not. This is the policy at the university where I work. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/47 "2017-02-27T14:23:14Z")
N/M ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/48 "2017-02-27T14:25:06Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What happens if you fall on the floor? He rolls around in a circle like [Halvsie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=51807), barking madly. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/49 "2017-02-27T15:34:53Z")
“Oh, that’s my service dog. He doesn’t bite.” Ah, yes. The stupid little dog who, as I handing the bag to the customer, almost bit my only good hand. Fortunately, I pulled it back in time. “Oh, he was just playing.” I was so upset I had to outside to recover. But that’s okay, because it’s a service dog, and it relies your anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/50 "2017-02-27T15:37:19Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I want something cool, like a service grizzly bear. Teach him to carry an Uzi so you can argue you are exercising your Second Amendment right to keep and arm bears. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/51 "2017-02-27T15:41:38Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I’m rather surprised at such an amount of ableist bullshit on this forum, given the general preponderance of leftie SJWs. My entire province must be “ableist” then, since only animals that are certified may act as assistance animals. Oh wait, your comment was simply trolling bullshit, posted by a sad little muppet. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/52 "2017-02-27T15:49:32Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “Oh, that’s my service dog. He doesn’t bite.” Ah, yes. The stupid little dog who, as I handing the bag to the customer, almost bit my only good hand. Fortunately, I pulled it back in time. “Oh, he was just playing.” > > I was so upset I had to outside to recover. But that’s okay, because it’s a service dog, and it relies your anxiety. Again, laws from my jurisdiction: > [@](#): > > Other Service Animals > > Therapy and emotional support animals, including dogs, are not eligible for certification. We don’t have any problems with service animals crapping on the floors, or silly people claiming they need to bring Miss Flopsy into the store with them, because she “relieves their anxiety”. Why don’t other areas have reasonable laws that simply outline what is or IS NOT a suitable service animal? ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/53 "2017-02-27T17:49:10Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So the impression I’m getting is that dogs are the only animal that is eligible for either/any of these roles (seeing eye and service)? Would you trust a seeing eye cat? > [@Shodan](#): > > Teach him to carry an Uzi so you can argue you are exercising your Second Amendment right to keep and arm bears. > > Regards, > Shodan Dammit, why didn’t I think of that. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/54 "2017-02-27T18:19:20Z")
I eventually want a gnu as my service animal, but right now all I have is a newt. Start small and build is my motto. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/55 "2017-02-27T18:23:03Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > My entire province must be “ableist” then, since only animals that are certified may act as assistance animals. Probably, laws in most places are. Doesn’t mean you have to agree with them. > [@](#): > > Oh wait, your comment was simply trolling bullshit, posted by a sad little muppet. > Never mind. No, just a half amused, half sad observation of hypocrisy. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/56 "2017-02-27T18:41:45Z")
Defecating/urinating in inappropriate locations and aggressive behaviors are explicitly exempt from the ADA laws … in the example in the OP, the casino had the right to ask the patron to remove the animal … There’s also the “reasonable accommodation” test … in many jurisdictions it’s otherwise _ **completely illegal** _ to keep in captivity a wild animal without a special license … and these licenses are reserved for scientific research institutions … one just can’t go trap a squirrel and say it’s a service animal … this accommodation is _un_reasonable … It’s a tough question … at what point do we as a society have the right to know why a medical doctor prescribes a service animal … and at what point is this private information? Interesting that one of our local Wal-Marts here just simply allows pets now … apparently it’s not a problem and avoids the expense of having an employee at the doors confronting customers about their animal … ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/57 "2017-02-27T19:32:33Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Dunno what you are talking about. Actual service dogs do not shit/piss whenever they feel like it. They are highly trained…wait for it…service dogs. They know their job and they DO NOT poop as they like. Not necessarily. I am on my third service dog here in CA and trained them all myself. Fortunately, I’ve been training dogs for 50 years so my dogs _are_ highly trained, but there is nothing in place here to ensure that. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “Oh, that’s my service dog. He doesn’t bite.” Ah, yes. The stupid little dog who, as I handing the bag to the customer, almost bit my only good hand. Fortunately, I pulled it back in time. “Oh, he was just playing.” > > I was so upset I had to outside to recover. But that’s okay, because it’s a service dog, and it relies your anxiety. That would be an emotional support dog, and they do not have the same access that service dogs do. And even if it was a service dog, if it attempts to bite, out it goes! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/58 "2017-02-27T19:40:12Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > My concern would be whether a horse can be housebroken. Well, they can apparently be housebroken. I just never thought horses were (a) that smart, or (b) had particularly good vision, i.e., the ones I had would see things that weren’t there. I wouldn’t trust one. Although in actual fact, I wouldn’t trust any of the dogs I’ve had either. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/59 "2017-02-27T19:59:28Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > No, just a half amused, half sad observation of hypocrisy. I suspect you don’t know what that word means. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903/60 "2017-02-27T21:34:57Z")
> [@quiltguy](#): > > I eventually want a gnu as my service animal, but right now all I have is a newt. Start small and build is my motto. 😉 Watch out for fake gnus. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-weirdo-please-curb-your-so-called-service-dog/780903.md?page=4)