Florida cracks down on people posing pets as service animals.

[PoliticAverse]

TALLAHASSEE (Reuters) - People who try to sneak their pets into restaurants, airplanes and other public places by claiming they are specially trained service animals could face 60 days in jail under a Florida law taking effect on Wednesday.

Judges also under the law could make the pet owners spend a month working with organizations serving people with real disabilities.

"I love my cat," Florida state Representative Jimmy Smith, a Republican who sponsored the legislation, said on Tuesday. "But I'm not taking my cat everywhere I go."

Smith said some pet owners are abusing the Americans with Disabilities Act by putting a guide dog harness or insignia on their animals and taking them into places that normally bar animals.

Read the rest at: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-florida-cracks-down-on-people-posing-pets-as-service-animals-2015-6

[BlueJazz]

1. Rats...there goes my seeing-eye Roach

[Dr Hobbitstein]

2. My uncle is one of these assholes.

Claims he has a "therapy" dog. Brings her into the music shop I work at (plus nursing homes and Hospice houses). Drives me fucking nuts, but my boss doesn't seem to care. He also brings her into grocery and department stores. The dog has never been in any actual program, and is about a year old. I hope someone nabs his ass. Fucking entitled POS, that's my uncle. Always likes to make himself look good while ripping everyone off that he can.

[Ineeda]

3. Several in my area too...

mostly women who take their status-accessory poopsie-whoopsie pups everywhere in their over sized purses - city council meetings, restaurants, groceries, etc. They claim the dog's 'service' is to comfort them or keep them anxiety-free. I know there are, indeed, dogs trained for this type of service, but these people are perfumed, pampered, entitled assholes who have been denied NOTHING, ever. How dare anyone say they can't take their widdle sweetie wherever they want.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

4. I worked for Wild Oats/Whole Foods awhile back.

There was one regular lady who came in. Rather wealthy. She had a small, "designer dog" that she kept in her purse. The dog's nails were always painted to match hers. She'd come in regularly for a smoothie or juice, and a couple times let the dog out on the deli counter. I made a stink about it, and the store manager said it was a "therapy dog". So, a few of us looked into it. Come to find out, not a therapy dog. I took joy in telling the lady she couldn't come in the store with the dog.
"What am I supposed to do? Leave her in the hot car??"
"Well, you could, but we'd have to call the police on you for that".

[FLSurfer]

5. Always nice when cheaters get caught but how are we

supposed to find out?
according to the FL service Animal laws

"The entity may ask whether an animal is a service animal and what tasks the animal has been trained to perform.

However, they may not require documentation that the service animal is trained or ask the person what their disability is."

I guess a cheater would have to be ratted out by a friend or family member.

[csziggy]

6. Who do we call to rat out a cheater?

Because my niece is one. She has all kinds of "illnesses" but fails to take the one medication that helps her bipolar problems. The last time I saw her she carried a large bag just for her many medications - from many different doctors.

She has had several small dogs that she claims are therapy dogs - they are never trained properly and have caused all sorts of problems. None have been house trained, leash trained, obedience trained, anything trained. She's had more than one put to sleep after they bit other people or caused other problems for her.

Not only is it unhealthy for the people who have to deal with her, it is abusive for the dogs. Frankly she should not be allowed to own a pet at all since it has to suffer through whatever phase of her disease she is in.

I would LOVE to report her for falsely claiming her dogs are service animals!