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Comment by dogruck | Hacker News Reader

I reject the notion of "fake service dog."

I understand the point about the official, narrow definition of a service dog. Also, I don't dispute that many people claim service dogs that don't meet that definition.

But that feels like the debate about Illegal Immigrants. One side says "what part of illegal don't you understand" and the other responds with "hey, these are good humans."

I think that if a human says their dog provides a service, that the discussion stops there. The more you attempt to push back, the more people will explicitly circumvent it.

And really -- is this a major problem?

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Some people don't like dogs. Some are scared of them. Some are allergic to them (like me). Yes it is a problem if everyone starts bringing their dogs everywhere made for people. I don't see anyone trying to bring their horse, cat, pig, etc with them everywhere. Honestly it is really bizarre to me that this is becoming a thing/problem.

If you have an actual disability and need a dog, that trumps my need to not feel sick. But to bring the dog just because he/she is your buddy? I say stop being so selfish.

Did you read the article? Do you know anyone with a service dog? There are lots of non profits dedicated to raising dogs and working with people with disabilities. I suggest you find one and volunteer.

This is a major problem for a small number of people. It's crippling though - This creep towards ESA is both actively impairing the ability of service dogs to work, and passively hurting perceptions.

I'm just summarizing a well reasoned article to you, so please go back and read it again.

Yes, I did read the article -- and I reject its premise.

Thank you for the summary and for your pompous and ignorant response to it.

In college, I had a sight-impaired friend with a guide dog. That dog worked around street noise, farm animals, and unruly pets.

To be constructive -- what is your specific solution to the problem? Anything other than "non profit and volunteer, bro!"

My solution: 1) Encourage people be advocates for people with disabilities (ideally not by being pompous). 2) Educate others about what service dogs actually do - in articles such as this one (I didn't write this article but thought it was constructive).

At it's core - there will always be people who want to bring their dogs into places that only service dogs can go.

The author is making a case for alternative path, such as canine good citizen certification, whereby people who would otherwise slap a vest on their pet can bring their dogs into restaurants, stores, etc. This will ideally decrease people impersonating service animals at the margins, and lead to a better environment for actual service dogs.

>But that feels like the debate about Illegal Immigrants. One side says "what part of illegal don't you understand" and the other responds with "hey, these are good humans."

Is there any country other than the USA where pretending immigration laws don't exist is a mainstream political viewpoint? Serious question here.

Serious question, have you really interacted with anyone who pretends that immigration law doesn't exist? Or are you using that as an uncharitable re-phrasing of the more likely attitude that immigration law as it currently exists should not be enforced in all cases? Because the first one isn't a mainstream viewpoint in the US, and the second one is mainstream in many countries.

And really -- is this a major problem?

If it doesn't bother you the rich people buy the privilege for their dogs to be in grocery stores and restaurants, then not a major problem. But it bugs me as a dog owner that leaves their dog at home.

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