As a person that is legally disabled, I feel confident speaking about the good and bad aspects of this topic. First, service animals are animals that are legally certified to perform tasks for the owner, such as guide dogs, open doors, and detect blood sugar levels. Emotional support animals are there for comfort and to provide confidence. Both are valuable tools to those that truly need them. They are life changing for many Vets with PTSD.
That being said, there are many legal rights avaliable to service animals that are not avaliable to comfort animals. While many people will claim that their animal is a service animal, it is a comfort animal and not afforded the same legal access to stores, flights, restaurants, and other places. Service animals are extremely expensive because of the many hours of training involved. Comfort animals are basically a pet that allows those with anxiety or other conditions, a tool to leave the confines of their home and feel safe. If you see a service animal with a vest or collar on, please don’t pet it without permission. It is working.
Those that have true service animals do not like comfort animals to be called service animals because they have so much invested in them. A service dog can cost around $10,000 or more just to buy and have properly train. I helped a friend raise money for their service dog for their infant son, who has down syndrome and is type 1 diabetic. They now have a way to know when their son’s sugars are off because the dog can literally smell the difference in blood drops or spikes.
As for asking for info, it falls under the HIPA laws. My disability is not always visible and I look normal most days, even when I am extremely sick. Many had no idea how sick I was until I had to have a NJ feeding tube for nearly 5 years. It is nobody else’s business to know my health history unless it affects them or I choose to share it. If someone has a service dog and they are following the laws, they should be left alone. Even if they look healthy, one could be extremely sick and need the dog for multiple reasons. Those with comfort animals know that their animals are not service animals and know the laws. They should not be trying to abuse the rights of service dogs, as it causes situations like this.
This dog is a service animal and was wearing identiciation. That should have been sufficient for the Walmart worker It was the 3rd time that this disabled individual has had issues with employees at that store and she had had enough. She was bringing public attention to help others and not just herself.
It is embarassing to have someone stop you and make a public scene because you don’t “look” disabled. I qualify for a permanent disabled parking pass. Ihave had it happen at BYU games, a few times. I rarely use it because there are others that usually need those spots too. When my disease is flaring (I have Crohn’s) or my arthritis is out of control, I use my pass. I have gotten several dirty looks and had people say horrible things because I look like I am healthy. They have no idea that I have had over 20 surgeries, had most of my joints worked on, my ankles fused, and other issues. Because my scars are not visible and I am not currently on a feeding tube, I understand their visual ignorance but should not be harrassed once I explain that I have an autoimmune disease.
Unless it is a police officer, they have no right to know my health issues or why I qualify for my parking pass. I don’t need to know why they get testosterone, need valtrex, or buy adult diapers if I am behind them at the pharmacy or store. Some things are just left private for a reason and not up to others to decide whether that need is warranted, outside of a doctor.