No Dogs Allowed

[MoonCat]

What everybody else said...plus this thought: Napkins aren't exactly thick. So she picked up the mess, and then....probably put her hand on the door handle on the way out. Ick.

[EricKei]

I can understand not leaving pets in a car (especially on hot days)

It's more of a "check your state/local laws" thing ^_^;

but I agree people should check a store's policy first

Agreed 100%.

Most of the people ruining it for everyone else are gonna be SC's anyway >_>

I can see how being forbidden to ask for proof that a dog is a service animal would be frustrating.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

hmm. technically a cat can be a service animal.
although i agree it's not really likely.

Doesn't really matter. The person stated clearly that the animal was a service animal for the elderly.

Not for themselves.

Unless the animal is in training (and I fail to see how a mall trip prepares the cat for a session of getting pettings and scritchings from an elderly person) or is actively working...it's not on the job and does not need to be there.

[Durptastico]

We had a customer come in that brought their dog in a stroller to the store, and it pissed me off due to initial misanthropy, but after a co-worker said that they don't bother saying anything because "that dog is more well-behaved than 99% of the children parents bring here" I had to concede and whenever I saw them I no longer got irritated. LO.

[Megg]

We don't allow pets at our hotel, although we do allow service animals. So we are always getting people with those little yappy dogs claiming they are service dogs. Yeah right, I'd like to know what service they provide. By law we can't even ask them about it, we just have to take their word for it, which is a stupid law. As a pet free hotel, after a service dog has been in the room we have to clean every thing top to bottom and flea bomb it, so it cost us to have a pet in the room. If someone brings in a nonservice pet we charge them a $150 cleaning fee.

Don't all service animals have some sort of certificate or something? As far as I know, it is not illegal to ask for proof that the animal is, indeed, a service animal. I would definitely check your local statutes on this, seems fishy to me. Perhaps your managers/owners have misinterpreted the law.

[lobo65]

When I was working at a record store in a mall years ago, a guy brought in a mountain lion cub. It was cute that I didn't say anything about it.

[LillFilly]

hmm. technically a cat can be a service animal.
although i agree it's not really likely.

They can be, but our lady admitted that the cat was just an animal that visits the elderly in nursing homes; it's not monitoring her diabetes, not indicating if she's going to have a seizure, etc. I could train my dog for the same thing, but that's still not a service animal. She just wanted an excuse to carry muffin (who was NOT collared or leashed) around the mall. Wanna bet who would have had to catch the thing if it had gotten loose? I just hate people abusing the service animal laws, although yes, half those dogs are better behaved then children!

[Brojekk]

When I was working at a record store in a mall years ago, a guy brought in a mountain lion cub. It was cute that I didn't say anything about it.

Oh damm...I would love to see one of those.

[auntiem]

Don't all service animals have some sort of certificate or something? As far as I know, it is not illegal to ask for proof that the animal is, indeed, a service animal. I would definitely check your local statutes on this, seems fishy to me. Perhaps your managers/owners have misinterpreted the law.

In the US it is illegal to ask to look at the paperwork - it is a violation of HIPPA (health information privacy protection act). Technically, if you have a service animal you are required to carry the paperwork, the person checking you in can ask if you have the paperwork but can't ask to see it (although Amtrak's rule is that they can ask to see the top portion - the part that isn't filled out). This is because the paperwork states the medical reason for the animal.
That said, people who state their small yippy dog is a "service dog" when they aren't ruin it and make it so much more difficult for the people who use small dogs as legit service animals.

[Pagan]

In the US it is illegal to ask to look at the paperwork - it is a violation of HIPPA (health information privacy protection act).

Health information protection is part of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

HIPAA only prevents people from disseminating people's information. Simply asking is not a violation. Under certain circumstances, your information can be given out. Like if your unconscious in the ER and they need to know about any conditions you have or medications you're on.

Service animals are covered under ADA. According to an ADA FAQ page (http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm), question 3, you can ask.

They also fall under 2 different Cabinet Departments:
HIPAA - Health and Human Services
ADA - Justice

[downforit2008]

My store used to have a "No dogs allowed" policy, but thanks to all the idiot customers who bitch and piss and moan, "You people are so MEEEEEAAAAANNNNN to not allow me to bring in my PRECCCIIOOOUSSS who will die without me!", that we can't even enforce the rule anymore or we'll upset customers. Sad how the idiots think that dogs are just like people and telling them to keep their damn mutt inside their car or back at home makes them react the same way as if you told them to keep their 2-YEAR OLD CHILD at home by themselves.

[Sapphire Silk]

By law we can't even ask them about it, we just have to take their word for it, which is a stupid law.

Actually, it's not. People with genuine disabilities have rights, and should not have to constantly justify or explain the law to people.

hmm. technically a cat can be a service animal.
although i agree it's not really likely.

If I needed a service animal, it would be a cat. I like dogs, but would never own one.

Doesn't really matter. The person stated clearly that the animal was a service animal for the elderly.

Not for themselves.

Unless the animal is in training (and I fail to see how a mall trip prepares the cat for a session of getting pettings and scritchings from an elderly person) or is actively working...it's not on the job and does not need to be there.

I respectfully, disagree. Part of service animal training, is training it to behave in public places, and accept strangers wanting to pet it. For a therapy animal (as in the OP case) this is the entire point.

Don't all service animals have some sort of certificate or something? As far as I know, it is not illegal to ask for proof that the animal is, indeed, a service animal. I would definitely check your local statutes on this, seems fishy to me. Perhaps your managers/owners have misinterpreted the law.

There are no certificates for service animals, nor is formal training required. My sister trained her own service dog, and did an excellent job. Goldie was a great service dog until she got hit by a car and couldn't do the job anymore (she spent months on crate rest for her broken leg).

[emax4]

Here's something to consider though, and some one please correct me if I'm wrong on this:

Since that it's illegal to ask to see the service dog papers according to HIPPA, couldn't a store staff member tell the customer, "some of our staff are deathly allergic to cats and dogs, so we need you to leave with your service dog", and then refuse the customer if the customer requests to see said papers of this allergy (which of course is protected by HIPPA)? The customer doesnt have to show papers saying that their pet they brought with them is a service pet, and nobody from the store has to show papers that they're allergic to (said) pet.

Even though it's a catch-22, the customer might threaten a lawsuit based on discrimination, but when it comes down to it, it's the customer's word against the store's word. If the above were true, any staff member would be at their employment generally between 4 to 8 hours, whereas the customer is generally there for an hour or less, so this is in the store's favor.

[Peppergirl]

How the heck did this turn into a discussion about service animals?

Drop it, please. This is clearly not what the OP was talking about and is a fratching topic.

[Ree]

Some of these comments are veering right into fratching territory.

It is not for us to debate the laws around service animals, nor to find clever ways of discriminating against people who require them.

This thread is about one woman who brought an obviously pampered pet dog into a yogurt shop.
Lets stick to that or this thread will be closed.

*Whoops! Looks like Peppergirl and I were posting at the same time.