Robin Boday: Trying to pass off your pet as a service dog is fraud, pure and simple

While I was shopping, I saw a person with what appeared to be a service dog. He asked me where he could get a license for his pet, so he could take the dog with him wherever he goes. This person was not disabled.

I educated him on the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding service dogs. A service dog is not a pet, it takes up to two years to train a service dog; we just don’t slap a vest on a pet dog. Business owners have the right under the ADA to ask if your dog is a service dog and what tasks it does. An “emotional support” dog is not a service dog and has no public access rights, it’s not allowed into stores or restaurants.

Trying to pass off your pet as a service dog is fraud and punishable by six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. My disability is progressive; luckily, at this time, I’m not in a wheelchair. Maybe I don’t look disabled to some people, but don’t assume I’m a faker like you and me how to commit fraud. You are causing problems for real service dog teams. Just stop!

This story was originally published July 6, 2017 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Robin Boday: Trying to pass off your pet as a service dog is fraud, pure and simple."