Service Dog Fraud is a topic we’ve addressed before. We’ve addressed here, on FaceBook, when we educate, when we speak to people and yet it persists. It is a complicated problem. The websites that offer to “certify” your dog, some even will “certify” your disability! C’mon! Seriously?

In some cases (I hope) it’s simply a lack of understanding of what a Service Dog truly is. The definition is: A dog that has been INDIVIDUALLY TRAINED to perform work or tasks for a PERSON WITH A DISABILITY. Got that? First, that dog has to have been trained for YOU the person with a DISABILITY. That means YOU ARE DISABLED. Not injured, not feeling blue, not lonely, not wanting to have your dog with you, DISABLED!

Why am I so “ferocious” about this? Let me explain, yet again. First, for those of us that are disabled it is actually insulting that someone would take this so lightly. We did not choose to wake up one day and say “Hey! Disability looks like a fun path, let’s go that way.” No, disability found us. usually sneaking up, sometimes more abruptly in the form of a trauma but, we did not have a choice. I’ve yet to meet the disabled person who says “Oh yeah, I was cool with it from the beginning.” No, it’s a process of acceptance and adjustment. You have to learn to live your life in different ways. For those of us with progressive disease, you are continually learning to adjust to new challenges. You are always “accepting”. Always adjusting. You do not get the “choice” to simply “take off” your disability as you would a Service Dog vest. Nor, are you simply going to recover as you will from an injury.

Second, Service Dog Fraud undermines the legitimate Service Dogs and all the work done by so many to ensure access for those of us who are DISABLED and do rely on our Service Dogs for our daily living. I DO NOT WALK without Willow! I now even use her to pull a wheelchair if needed. Fake Service Dogs are often poorly behaved and can give businesses the impression that all Service Dogs are ill behaved making access issues even more difficult. Furthermore, these fake Service Dogs put legitimate Service Dogs and their handlers as well as the public at risk. Should a fake Service Dog attack or distract a legitimate Service Dog while it’s working, the handler could become injured. Should the Service Dog become injured, that person’s partner that they rely on has now been sidelined and may even have to be retired. The impact of that is far reaching. The cost alone to replace a Service Dog averages nationally between $20k-$50k for a Guide Dog. The wait lists? 2-5 years. The emotional cost of losing your beloved partner? Far beyond measure.

“But, I only do it occasionally and ‘Buddy’ is very well trained”. The minute you put “Buddy” in a Service Dog vest knowing he is not a Service Dog and YOU ARE NOT DISABLED you are part of the problem! You are also committing fraud. You are obtaining rights under title III of the ADA to which you are not entitled. Period. There is no “wiggle room”, no discussion, nada. You’re not disabled, you don’t do it. Got it? “But, I just need him for a few days”. NO! Disability and injury are not the same thing! Are you disabled?! The minute “Sally” does it, then her friend thinks well, it must be okay so I can do it too if I want to take my dog somewhere. And so it goes…..

Again, and I will be very blunt here, count your incredibly lucky stars that you are not disabled if you are not. Being disabled totally sucks! Do you adapt? Yes! Can you lead a great life? Yes! Do you wish everyday you could go back to the days before you were disabled? You bet your ass!!!!!

Don’t misunderstand, I am incredibly grateful for the life I have especially with Willow. I am able to do things and be independent but, it is because of Willow that’s true. Service Dog fraud is a huge problem that actually has impacted us and needs to be stopped. Again, it’s a complicated problem and it won’t be solved overnight but, ANY abuse or contribution should NOT be tolerated. It simply contributes to the problem and certainly does NOT contribute to the solution.

In the words of Former First Lady, Nancy Regan…”Just Say NO” 🙂

Addendum: In many states Service Dog Fraud is actually a criminal offense. It should be in every state!

~Willow’s Mom