Fake Service Dogs Are A Crime

These days, many people are learning that they can game the system and bring their dogs where they're not supposed to. So many places don't allow dogs, and yet too many people feel that their pet should be the exception to the rule. In order to get around the problem of pets not being allowed in places, they simply dress them up as a service animal.

This is a thing that's incredibly easy to do. There are many places online that will "register" your dog as a service dog. They'll give you a badge and a vest, and that's all you need to make sure people think your dog is something it is not.

Rest assured, this is a crime. It may seem like a cute thing to do, in order to bring your pet with you every where you go. But unfortunately, by doing that, you're doing a disservice to the needs of the truly disabled. These dogs should have a certain kind of training in order to help disabled people.

The problem with pretending your dog is a service dog when they are not is that it tends to cast aspersions on actual service animals. When people discover that your dog is not properly trained to be a service dog, they may begin to think that many dogs are not trained when they become service dogs. They may attempt to disallow them all together, or lobby to get the law about service animals changed so that they can disallow dogs.

This would do a severe disservice to people who truly need a service dog in order to get by. People who are blind, or who need their dog to help them in case of seizures, could have a problem in locations and businesses with their actual service animals.

Ultimately, if you want to pretend your dog is a service dog, it's easy to do and it's difficult to prove otherwise. But it's important to know that if you do get caught, it is a crime, and you will suffer consequences. Plus, it's not a good thing to do to your community, or the people around you. Don't be one of those people who think their precious pet is more important than the law that helps people with real disabilities. Don't pretend your dog is a service dog if they're not trained to be one.