17/09/2024
Friends, I need a second to vent on a topic that has been and is one of my biggest pet peeves for a long time now but I haven’t spoken up about. That is…
Fake service dogs or (ESA) emotional support animal.
I’m aware that I may lose some friends over this and that’s alright. I have seen it more in the veterinary clinics I’ve been at than anywhere else but it bothers me just the same. I have also had the honor and privilege to meet enough true service dogs to see the difference.
I believe it’s very wrong, disrespectful and insulting to see owners put “Service Dog” harnesses on their pet and make it very evident to everyone based on it’s behavior that it’s not a true service dog. I’m disappointed that companies have made light of that hard-earned title by selling these harnesses for any owner to use on their pets just so they can take them out anywhere in public. True service dogs go through long and rigorous training to earn that title and responsibility which also makes them very valuable. And their sole purpose on/off the clock is to keep their owners alive.
For ESAs, I’ve seen very few amount of people who have one and witnessed the dog actually needed for this purpose. Most dogs who are called ESAs appear to be very emotionally unstable and are not in sync with their owner. They’re not trained to help their owners control their emotions but will rather feed off the owner and react negatively. ESAs should not be recognized the same way true service dogs are and should not enjoy those same privileges.
I will continue to stand by this belief so that true service dogs will not lose value in their title and duty to their families, period.