Easy to spot service dog

I take my service dog everywhere I go. She is trained to perform tasks directly related to my diagnosed disability. Managers do have the right to ask if a dog is a service dog. With very limited exceptions, the dog must be on a leash or harness and never carried or in a cart or stroller. The handler can be asked what task the dog is trained to perform.

The behavior of the handler and the dog are the telling signs that the dog is a real service dog or not. Aggressiveness, repetitive barking, sniffing shelves, urination, etc., are not things that a trained service dog would do inside a public place. When a service dog does misbehave, the handler is required to immediately correct the behavior or remove the dog from the premises.

Emotional Support Animals are animals that provide comfort. These animals are not trained as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and therefore do not have public access. Washington and federal statutes have penalty provisions for presenting a fake service dog as real, and interfering with a service. Such acts may be referred to the Washington State Human Rights Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice for resolution.

Dustin Fox

Spokane