Service dogs are becoming more and more of a common way for disabled people to live their lives more efficiently. Yet, there are things that others say or do that are just irritating and insulting. Here are a few examples, coming from someone who has a service dog.
1. Don’t pet or distract service dogs
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When service dogs are working they’re considered medical equipment. Don’t pet a service dog without asking and don’t ask if the dog has a “Do Not Pet
” patch on their vest. Don’t whistle or kiss at the dogs and don’t make eye contact with them. It’s rude to stare, and dogs pick up on body language quickly.2. Don’t ask us why we need a service dog or what our disability is
Whether it’s clear or not why a person needs a service dog, don’t ask. It’s common sense. I had a person ask me before I even brought my dog home why I needed a service dog. It was an extremely rude and awkward situation for both of us.
3. “You don’t look disabled.”
Lucky me.
4. Don’t ask us how we made our dogs service dogs because you want to bring your pet everywhere
The number of cases I’ve seen of people buying fake Emotional Support Animal IDs off the internet is unfathomable. It’s illegal to fake a service or support dog and the “IDs” are forty bucks they’ll never get back. People with service dogs don’t spend thousands on vet bills, training and equipment, as well as be ridiculed in public, just so they can bring their dogs everywhere.
5. “Let your dog be a dog!”
She is. They all are. Just like people don’t spend 24 hours a day in an office, service dogs don’t spend 24 hours a day in their vest. Some of them spend more than other. My dog loves the park, she loves to play with other dogs and she absolutely loves to swim. I let her, when she’s not at work. She also absolutely loves working and still does her job when she’s “off duty”.
6. Don’t take pictures of service dogs
Unless it’s a consented picture, this is a huge pet peeve of ours. It’s embarrassing and insulting. Also, don’t gossip about the handlers or the dogs. No matter how far away a person thinks they are, their comments are heard. Always.
7. Don’t say “You’re too ____ to have a service dog!” or assume you know our disability
Someone once told me “you’re too pretty to have a service dog!” I’m not sure where the compliment is in that, but they sure were insulted when I didn’t thank them. Another person told me I was too young to have war flashbacks. I don’t have PTSD, nor do you have to experience war to have PTSD, nor is PTSD the only disability to exist.
8. Seriously, don’t pet them
Yes, I know she’s cute, and yes, I know she looks soft, but no, you can’t pet her.
Thank you to those in service dog Facebook groups for giving me support and examples to write about!
Thank you to the people in my sorority for being so supportive and understanding of it all.
And a final thank you to my service dog in training, Tillie.
