So I just bumped into this on facebook.



Was thinking it was worth looking into for those husky owners that get turned down a place to live or give up pups because of these situations...

Yeah, this is misleading, because first of all, emotional support animals aren't classified as service dogs. A true service dog is trained to perform tasks and assist disabled people in daily living, and therefore, not protected by the ADA. Someone with PTSD, for example, might have a dog trained to wake them from nightmares, or give them a signal to get out of a high anxiety situation. So an emotional support animal can still be denied because it is not a true service animal.

Secondly, and more importantly, this makes it really hard for people that actually do require service animals. If every other dog out there is a 'support dog' it creates a consensus among the public that these dogs aren't important and that changes the perception of real service dogs. If you get your dog registered as an emotional support animal just so you can be allowed to take it on the bus, or into the drugstore, or rent an apartment, you ARE doing harm to people that actually require an assistance animal.

I figured it was a misleading post. I just wish there was a way for people to not have to get rid of their dogs when they encounter a landlord that doesn't want animals.

lillith87 wrote:

I figured it was a misleading post. I just wish there was a way for people to not have to get rid of their dogs when they encounter a landlord that doesn't want animals.

People don't HAVE to get rid of their dogs, they just have to find a place to rent that allows their dog. I live in one of the toughest rental markets in the country, and have always managed to find a place that allows pets. It takes more work, more time, a bigger deposit, and usually a monthly pet rental fee, but it is possible. It's not easy, but it's possible.

Very true. I just get sad when I see people getting rid of animals because of this situation.

I have met a lot of landlords who like dogs and when they meet Shaqua they just love her. It really helps when they see you are a responsible dog owner. If you also explain what you do with them when you aren't home (e.g. crating them when unsupervised) it helps a lot. I have met some landlords who had a weight limit but bent the rules for me after meeting Shaqua and seeing how well behaved she was.

wpskier222 wrote:

Yeah, this is misleading, because first of all, emotional support animals aren't classified as service dogs. A true service dog is trained to perform tasks and assist disabled people in daily living, and therefore, not protected by the ADA. Someone with PTSD, for example, might have a dog trained to wake them from nightmares, or give them a signal to get out of a high anxiety situation. So an emotional support animal can still be denied because it is not a true service animal.

Secondly, and more importantly, this makes it really hard for people that actually do require service animals. If every other dog out there is a 'support dog' it creates a consensus among the public that these dogs aren't important and that changes the perception of real service dogs. If you get your dog registered as an emotional support animal just so you can be allowed to take it on the bus, or into the drugstore, or rent an apartment, you ARE doing harm to people that actually require an assistance animal.

You are so wise (I hope that came out as real and not sarcastic, I mean it sincerely)

amymeme wrote:

wpskier222 wrote:

Yeah, this is misleading, because first of all, emotional support animals aren't classified as service dogs. A true service dog is trained to perform tasks and assist disabled people in daily living, and therefore, not protected by the ADA. Someone with PTSD, for example, might have a dog trained to wake them from nightmares, or give them a signal to get out of a high anxiety situation. So an emotional support animal can still be denied because it is not a true service animal.

Secondly, and more importantly, this makes it really hard for people that actually do require service animals. If every other dog out there is a 'support dog' it creates a consensus among the public that these dogs aren't important and that changes the perception of real service dogs. If you get your dog registered as an emotional support animal just so you can be allowed to take it on the bus, or into the drugstore, or rent an apartment, you ARE doing harm to people that actually require an assistance animal.

You are so wise (I hope that came out as real and not sarcastic, I mean it sincerely)

Aw! Thank you!

We have been looking into the process for training Achilles to be a service dog for my husband (and a therapy dog as a bonus), and Emotional Support and Therapy dogs are not granted the same sort of public access/housing privileges that true Service dogs are given. Too bad (maybe it's good that it's not being spread?) I haven't seen that on my newsfeed. I'd correct the person before they spread the word.

Here in California there is no registration or certificate needed to have a service dog. The ADA protects people like myself with diagnosed psychiatric illnesses and business owners are only allowed by law to ask you 2 questions. Is it a service dog? And what tasks do they perform? The apartments I stay in are quite upscale and huskies are banned, however all I had to tell my landlord was that she is a service dog in training. No questions asked. However I can understand how this may frustrate people who fully depend on service dogs for quality of life (blind people). They also need to understand that dogs can benefit people like myself who suffer from ptsd as well as other illnesses. Just because I don't have a visible handicap doesn't mean that I can not take advantage of my legal right.

Yes absolutely. My first response was a bit jumbled, but I was trying to explain why someone with PTSD would require true service dog.

southerncali88 wrote:

Here in California there is no registration or certificate needed to have a service dog. The ADA protects people like myself with diagnosed psychiatric illnesses and business owners are only allowed by law to ask you 2 questions. Is it a service dog? And what tasks do they perform? The apartments I stay in are quite upscale and huskies are banned, however all I had to tell my landlord was that she is a service dog in training. No questions asked. However I can understand how this may frustrate people who fully depend on service dogs for quality of life (blind people). They also need to understand that dogs can benefit people like myself who suffer from ptsd as well as other illnesses. Just because I don't have a visible handicap doesn't mean that I can not take advantage of my legal right.

This may be too personal, so I definitely apologize if I'm overstepping, also, I am honestly, open and curious. What do you think of someone using the emotional support animal thing to get around restrictions, without any additional training for the dog? What worries me about it, is that inevitably some idiot will lie, and have a dog that causes some problem (like aggression, for example) because of lack of training and that will cause issues for people with genuine service dogs. Also, to clarify, I don't place you in that group, nor am I judging. I am genuinely wondering about the perspective of someone with a needed service dog.