Florida Lawmakers Taking on Fake Service Dogs

The point of a service dog is to make life easier for disabled people to be more able to do things. With PTSD service dogs, their jobs are numerous but the most important thing they accomplish is to get the veteran back out in public. They are there to calm down anxiety but in far too many cases, the veteran ends up with anxiety caused by people because of the dog.

With proper training, there should be no issue of allowing them in just about anywhere. You can tell by how they act as well as react. All too often a fake service dog with a vest and a piece of paper has not been trained. You can also tell by how they act and react but in the case of the fakes, it is usually too late to know the difference. It should be illegal to take advantage of people in need just because you want to do it.

I always bring up my dog. He isn't a service dog and he hasn't been trained. I wouldn't want to take him anywhere other than for a walk or to the vets. I have an obligation to my dog as well as other people. I couldn't imagine what would happen if I took this 80 lbs of walking muscle into a restaurant.

He's a mutt-rescue-Rottweiler-Hound-Rhodesian Ridgeback

"A large and muscular dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback was not only developed as hunter but also as a family protector.

The breed can be light wheaten to red wheaten and are sleek and glossy in appearance.

Originally bred to hunt lions the breed is also known as the African Lion Hound."

"Rules exist for a reason and when it comes to Service Dogs and Service Dog law, too many people have come to view them more as “guidelines.” Whether it’s someone who wishes they could take their dog everywhere or someone who has chosen to break the law by presenting their pet as a fake Service Dog, both actions cause damage and harm to the Service Dog and disabled community."

The Hidden Complications of Fake Service Dogs

Florida taking on fake service dogs
HB 71: Service Animals
GENERAL BILL by Smith
Service Animals; Requires public accommodation to permit use of service animal by individual with disability; provides conditions for public accommodation to exclude or remove service animal; revises penalties for certain persons or entities who interfere with use of service animal; provides penalty for knowing and willful misrepresentation with respect to use or training of service animal.

A person who knowingly and willfully misrepresents herself or himself, through conduct or verbal or written notice, as using a service animal and being qualified to use a service animal or as a trainer of a service animal commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 and must perform 30 hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities, or for another entity or organization at the discretion of the court, to be completed in not more than 6 months. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.