This is NOT ok

[DoubleDutch]

My first pup, Ellie, was registered as an emotional support dog by my therapist to help deal with my panic attacks. But even so, I realize there is a massive difference between Ellie and professionally trained dogs.

I always make sure to only take her to restaurants that allow dogs regardless of service status on their patios and if we can’t find a restaurant that does that I either leave her at home or on rough days just order the food to go and eat in my car/at home.

I have a backpack to put her in when stores don’t want dogs on the ground, and most stores are completely fine with her as long as she stays in the backpack. But if a store still tells me ‘no’ then I respect their wishes. It’s not that big of a deal. I’ll just come back later when Ellie is home.

I got an official emotional support vest but I hardly ever use it because Ellie isn’t professionally trained. She basically a fluffy lap warmer to distract me or give me comfort, so most of the time I don’t even consider her a service dog, and adhere to the rules around me regarding normal pups.

It’s sad that people can get fake id’s and vests though, especially because actual service dogs serve such an important role in keeping their humans healthy. It’s wrong to try and take advantage of such a system.

Edit: Ellie loves her backpack she’s loved it ever since she realized that it means she can go a lot more places with me View attachment 153283

Glad you have this great dog !

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I need the emotional support of a tarantula

"Do not pet." No problem.

 

[FoxChase]

But I mean, when ya gotta go ya gotta go

Sometimes a dog can't hold it. Could have been nervous/stressed with the jet noise, the long walk through the terminal, maybe they just got off a flight or the pup could have a gut issue.
But the owner refusing to clean it up is outrageous behavior!

 

[FoxChase]

My first pup, Ellie, was registered as an emotional support dog by my therapist to help deal with my panic attacks. But even so, I realize there is a massive difference between Ellie and professionally trained dogs.

I always make sure to only take her to restaurants that allow dogs regardless of service status on their patios and if we can’t find a restaurant that does that I either leave her at home or on rough days just order the food to go and eat in my car/at home.

I have a backpack to put her in when stores don’t want dogs on the ground, and most stores are completely fine with her as long as she stays in the backpack. But if a store still tells me ‘no’ then I respect their wishes. It’s not that big of a deal. I’ll just come back later when Ellie is home.

I got an official emotional support vest but I hardly ever use it because Ellie isn’t professionally trained. She basically a fluffy lap warmer to distract me or give me comfort, so most of the time I don’t even consider her a service dog, and adhere to the rules around me regarding normal pups.

It’s sad that people can get fake id’s and vests though, especially because actual service dogs serve such an important role in keeping their humans healthy. It’s wrong to try and take advantage of such a system.

Edit: Ellie loves her backpack she’s loved it ever since she realized that it means she can go a lot more places with me View attachment 153283

Love her different colored eyes!!

 

[anewbie]

If your emotional dog bites you does that mean he is telling you that you are an emotional mess ?

 

[DoubleDutch]

If your emotional dog bites you does that mean he is stilling you that you are an emotional mess ?

Uhhhhhh are you serious ?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

That would be a funny meme: "I got an emotional support dog. He bit me." Sounds like a Rodney Dangerfield joke.

 

[Dexter Leopard Frog]

Why? Why are people so selfish and why are the sellers of these things so greedy to sell them? To the appropriate people they should be free of charge.

Don't get me wrong i am all for service and or emotional pets but can't tolerate that there are so many people that are so thoughtlessly abusing that privilege that is granted to the unfortunate. A life line to these people which is being diminished by the selfishness of others.

Its sad but emotional or service dogs should be a doctor sanctioned thing and to be honest if there are any questions with regards to proof then a card supplied by your doctor which should have the ability to be scanned and verified to grant access. A card should not be seen as discrimination but seen more like a passport, you want to pass through you show the proper paper work which can be assessed quickly enough that it is not a hindrance to you or to others.

You drive a car, you get pulled over by the police, to prove who you are and to show you have the right to drive you provide a licence that is verifiable by the officer that stands in front of you. Sorry but the world seems no longer a nice place, seems nobody is trustworthy anymore and now we all need to prove things. In days gone by we could could trust each other to be truthful ;-(

 

[anewbie]

Uhhhhhh are you serious ?

Typo !

 

[harrislineage]

For the those who don’t live in America, Walmart is a huge chain store that sells pretty much anything you can think of. Food, outdoor supplies, technology, clothes, household items, the list goes on.

The problem is, they have started selling fake Service Dog vests and ID’s, available to any cruddy person who wants to be able to take their pets everywhere they go. Real service dogs go through extensive training to perform a specific, potentially life saving task for their owners. This can range from anywhere to depression dogs who save people from hurtful thoughts, to seizure alert dogs who can sense when their human is about to have a seizure and alerts them so they can get help in time, to seeing eye dogs who lead blind people. These dogs wear specially ordered vests from a certified service dog organization that say, for example, “cardiac alert dog, do not pet”. Service Dog handlers do not carry around ID’s because the only ID a “service dog” would have would be a fake one, bought from anyone in stores or online.

Walmart has started selling fake service dog vests and ID’s to make money off of the so called “fake service dog trend” that has, unfortunately, exploded in popularity. This “trend” endangers the health and safety of not only service dogs, but those they serve. If, for example, a service dog gets attacked by a pet, the service dog could miss cues from their handler, causing the dog to not perform its task and potentially missing the alert for a deadly incident. The pets who wear fake service dog vests are (most of the time) not trained to be in public, around lots of different people, and in scary situations. Because of this, they are a danger to themselves and others.

This is not my petition, but I have signed and shared it because I believe that this is so incredibly wrong of Walmart to be endangering people and dogs by selling fake ID’s and vests. I will link below the petition that you can sign if you wish, and the pages of the products that Walmart is selling.

Petition link:
https://chng.it/XGZPXPyM2z

Vest links:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Service-...rvice-Dogs-Large-Medium-Small-Sizes/675045910
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tactical...djustable-No-Pulling-Front-Clip-mol/533456523
There are others that have removable patches that allow people to put their own “service dog” patches on them. Walmart sells these patches too.

ID link:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/100-Pack...th-Flag-Design-3-5-x-2/996543766?athbdg=L1700
This is what constitutes as an ID in the service dog community.

There are some major flaws with this post.

First, the walmart.com website does not only sell products by the Walmart company itself, but it is instead a marketplace of items where anyone can register to sell products. If you view any of the listings, it will clearly say the items are sold and shipped by a third-party (not Walmart). Should we also petition Amazon for offering the same apparel? Etsy? Chewy? RayAllen?

Second, there is no such thing as a fake service dog vest. There is no regulatory body on service animal apparel. What you are seeing is that someone has found a market for selling multi-use apparel (changeable patches, etc.) and has taken advantage of it. Refer to the first point, should we also petition Amazon? Etsy? Chewy? RayAllen?

Third, there has been the assumptions that service dogs require specific certified or professional training - which is incorrect. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program. In fact under the ADA you cannot ask but two questions about service animals - and one of them is NOT about certification or training. Service Dog certifications are generally scams - that piece of paper means nothing.

Fourth, 99% of service animals DO NOT WEAR vests. There is also no law regarding the use of a vest, ID tag, or even a specific type of harness. So in general, this has no bearing on the service dog community - the vest does not make the dog service animal.

There are some more flaws, but these four alone cover most of the high points on why this petition (and post) are nonsense. If anyone wants reading material, the best place to start is with the ADA. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.pdf

Steve
15 years in animal control, adoptions, training, and rehabilitation.

 

[reptilenotfish]

There are no Walmarts in Seattle, where I live. Partly due to the high cost of real estate. You can find many in suburbs but I've never set foot in one. But the fact they sell fake service dog vests and IDs I had not heard.

Ugh, there are so many "emotional support animals" on buses, planes, in stores and supermarkets, it has become absurd.

I'm all for service dogs for people who have physical disabilities and depend on these animals, even certain mental disabilities where one's animal calms them. Though the latter IMO has opened the door to the widespread abuse of the whole idea. People can claim anxiety on a form, pay a registration fee and can take their pet buddy wherever they go with impunity.

yes, although most places now require a healthcare provider to recommend the use of an ES animal in order to recognize it. It really is just sleazy to fake service animal identification, it's the equivalent of a stolen handicapped parking pass. but I understand the motive, people love their pets, and likely don't know the risks around faking it.

 

[foxgirl158]

UPDATE:
Walmart has removed ALL service dog vests, patches, and ID cards from their stores and online!!

 

[connorlindeman]

UPDATE:
Walmart has removed ALL service dog vests, patches, and ID cards from their stores and online!!

Nice!

 

[Rocky998]

UPDATE:
Walmart has removed ALL service dog vests, patches, and ID cards from their stores and online!!

AWESOME

 

[harrislineage]

UPDATE:
Walmart has removed ALL service dog vests, patches, and ID cards from their stores and online!!

I am sorry to say that this is not true. A few examples would include this Service Vest Dog Harness, this Service Dog Bandana, this Medical Alert Vest, or even these Service Dog Patches. Not to mention they still have an entire category devoted to these products. While some items previously linked may no longer be available at their previous URL, there are still hundreds of products on the website.