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Man with Guide Dog Kicked Out of Restaurant After Employee Questions His Blindness

In Seattle, a blind man named Paul Castle was told to leave a restaurant because a worker didn’t believe he was blind, despite having his guide dog, Mr. Maple, with him. Guide dogs help many blind people live more independently by helping them with daily tasks. Paul, who has less than 10% of his vision, relies heavily on Mr. Maple. He also runs a social media channel with his husband to raise awareness about blindness. Speaking about his experience, Paul … Read more

PSA Hopes to Inform Public What to Do if Approached by a Service Dog without Their Person

Most people know by now what to do when they see a service dog–leave it be. Service dogs have important jobs to do, and petting, talking, or otherwise trying to get their attention will distract them from whatever service they’re trained to perform. But what happens when a service dog approaches you without their handler? Some people assume the dog is neglecting their duties by wandering away from their handler, and other people that don’t like dogs get annoyed by … Read more

Delta Airlines’ Stricter Rules For Support Animals Hopes to Weed Out Fakes

Service animals have become a hot topic of conversation as they become more and more common. The discussion has sparked controversies pertaining to service versus emotional support animals, the issues of “fake” service animals, and what types of animals can be of “service,” to begin with. The ambiguity leads to lots of confusion and loopholes, making law enforcement difficult when people are abusing the system. After dealing with their fair share of “assistance animal” imposters, Delta airlines has decided to … Read more

Woman Posts Powerful Message About The Damage “Fake” Service Dogs Can Cause

Lately, the issue of “fake” service dogs has been a hot-button topic of conversation. One of the most controversial points of the argument is that the laws in place by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), created to help those with disabilities, enable dishonest people to bring untrained dogs into public under the guise of being a “service dog.” The ADA aims to protect people with disabilities from discrimination by guarding their privacy. In the case of service animals, store … Read more

Proposed Bill Hopes To Put Fake Service Dogs Out Of Service

Yet another state is taking aim at the shameful trend of passing off household pets as service dogs. Massachusetts has filed a bill modeled after similar laws in Florida and Colorado. If passed, it would become a civil offense to misrepresent a pet as a service animal in the Bay State. The bill further seeks to protect the disabled from receiving untrained or poorly trained dogs from unscrupulous organizations. Congratulations Shadow! We hear you are doing wonderful work as a … Read more

Ad Campaign Sheds Light On The Growing Problem Of Fake Service Dogs

Larry Bigelow has severe spinal osteoporosis and spinal fractures. He depends on his highly trained Yellow Labrador, Buzz for the stability and physical support he needs to stay active. Buzz is one of many legitimate service dogs trained by Hawaii Fi-Do. The organization has decided to take a stand against imposter service animals with their new web PSA ads. It may seem harmless to purchase a knockoff service vest and slap it on your pup, but untrained service animals give the … Read more

Woman With Unmarked Service Dog Turned Away From McDonald’s & Wants An Apology

The Scenario: In Bradenton, Florida, a woman named Elisha Griggs  walked into a McDonald’s with her unmarked service dog, and a suspicious employee told her the pup wasn’t allowed in the restaurant. “They told me, ‘No pets.’ I said, ‘She’s not a pet. She’s a service dog.’ They asked me if I had paperwork for her. I said, ‘Yes,’” Griggs explained to WFLA News.   You see, the pup is a small black Pomeranian named Onyx, which Griggs will frequently hold … Read more