You're Not Elle Woods, Leave Your Lap Dog At Home | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

You're Not Elle Woods, Leave Your Lap Dog At Home

Stop Faking Service Animals and Taking Away Legitimacy From People Who Actually Need Them: A PSA.

146
You're Not Elle Woods, Leave Your Lap Dog At Home
Wikimedia

Hello, yes, I am ranting again. I swear I'm not an angry person; I just have a lot of pet peeves. This one taking the term "pet peeve" quite literally. Today I'm going to be ranting about something that's annoyed me for quite some time and is becoming increasingly prevalent, at least in my hometown of Jupiter, FL: dogs being everywhere.

A very important disclaimer: I do not hate dogs. I love dogs more than I can say. What I hate is dogs in grocery stores, restaurants, malls, etc.

I'm sure you've seen them. You'll be walking around the grocery store, trying to just get your bananas, when you see a stroller. "Oh, a baby!" you foolishly think to yourself. But just as you're about to peek in you see...a rat? Oh, no, that's a lap dog. It's hard to tell the difference these days.

Now, very important disclaimer no. 2: I do not have an issue with actual, legitimate service dogs, by any means. If you need a dog for medical or emotional reasons, that's a completely different animal--no pun intended. I'm talking about the people who fake a service dog, because that's just completely trashy.

These people have one key identifier: they are all too keen to tell you how it's so easy to fake the papers online or how simply you can get a therapist to sign off on it, even if you don't need it. I don't know why these people like to fess up to their crimes with such abandon and carelessness, but they nearly all do.

This is a problem for so many reasons.

1) You are essentially faking a disability, which is one of the tackiest things you can do, in my opinion. By straight up lying about your "service animal" you are taking away legitimacy from people who actually need them. You also are discounting all the hard work that goes into actually training one of these animals. Your dog that is peeing all over the floor of Publix is NOT properly trained and should not be associated with these highly trained animals.

2) People have allergies and can't healthily be around dogs in public this often. I have family members who cannot breathe around animals. If you unnecessarily bring your dog places it should not be, when it is not a service animal, you are putting people like my family members in danger, for no reason.

3) It's unsanitary as hell. I do not want your animal in a restaurant or grocery store when it is not highly trained. I have seen dogs poop in on the floors of a grocery store before, okay? Keep your animals away from my food. They are pets, yes, but they are also still animals. They're not the cleanest beings ever.

I understand you want to take your dogs out and I know dogs like to go on excursions. But trust me, your dog does not want to go to the grocery store with you. Your dog wants to go to the beach, the park, literally anywhere else that a non-service animal belongs.

This has been a PSA. Thank you so much.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189191
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14278
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457384
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26365
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments