So, upon my nightly cruising of the internet I found an ad on Facebook that caught my eye. "Register your Emotional Support Animal". My first response was pretty typical of me..."What the heck is an Emotional Support Animal???" Then I realized what I was looking at.
It is a website that allows you to register your dog as a "service" dog and then buy certificates for it. I am floored by this! I have a friend who is a very nice all around guy who has a dog who he has had to fight to keep because of her breed and she helps him with his PTSD. He's a former Afghanistan Vet and she soothes him. The hell he has went through to keep her because of her breed has been insane but it has worked out. To see a "company" basically selling certificates just makes me queasy.
Dogs who are untested, unproofed, and basically not setup for success at being a service dog can now be a service dog. Wait! That makes no sense! This is a liability waiting to happen. This is a chance for the humans once again to screw it up for the legitimate service animals who are working their rears off for their humans.
Ever wonder why so many places don't allow dogs? It's things like this that cause that. The website is in no way affiliated with the ADA and I suggest that if you want a service animal you have your dog tested, trained and skilled in the ability they need. Otherwise, don't screw it up for everyone else!
Here is a link to the site should you wish to pelt them with rotten tomatoes...or just tell them they are going to ruin a good thing for so many deserving people! http://www.servicedogregistration.org/ Oh, and should anyone ever tell you "Fill out this webform and your dog can go anywhere it wants for free" is full of crap!
</Rant off>
