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Nowadays, many people claim their pets to be “service animals” in order to enjoy privileges such as free parking spaces.
State Rep. Kimberly N. Ferguson, R-Holden, mentions that “The fake service dogs do a disservice to people who have the need for a service dog.” Ferguson filed a bill regarding the matter and if it becomes a law, fake service dog owners could be penalized.
Because of the rising incidence of these “fake service dogs,” real service dogs are often being refused accommodation by establishments. Christine Slavin, a woman paralyzed from injuries due to a snowboarding crash in 2007, recalls an experience in which her service dog was denied entry by restaurants. A new staff member of one of the restaurants mentioned that previous dogs have been allowed yet created disturbances.
These disturbances were considered a telltale sign of a fake service dog.
Slavin is hoping that the legislation would not only penalize fake service dog owners but also increase people’s awareness of service dogs, including their roles and privileges in public areas.
Are you an owner of an assistance animal?
The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.
Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.
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