Trainer of service dogs was denied service at a local pizza shop

Posted on March 5, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

Susan Napier, a trainer of service dogs, was not allowed to dine at a local pizzeria, Broadway Pizza, in the Orlando area. Napier said that she brought her service dog with her. As soon as the pizzeria’s manager saw them, he immediately asked them to leave. According to Napier, the manager said that he didn’t care about the American Disabilities Act and that he didn’t have to follow it.

Napier left but made sure to share the incident with her Facebook friends. Her post garnered 225 shares and comments. She also told News 6.

The following morning, Friday, Napier reached out to the corporate owner of the pizzeria. Someone named Rosalie came to apologize for what had happened and even sent out a memo to all stores stating that the incident was unacceptable. Rosalie also emphasized the importance of the ADA laws.

On Friday night, Napier, together with a colleague, went back to Broadway Pizza to check whether they implemented the ADA laws. She said that she was now able to access the restaurant and get a table.

If you are an owner of a service animal, remember that a business owner is allowed to ask you only 2 questions. Is that a service dog? What task/s does it perform?

Article source: Clickorlando.com

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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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Delta and United airlines will now require additional documentation from emotional support animal owners

Posted on March 5, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

A number of incidences have occurred that have prompted airlines, Delta and United airlines, in particular, to update their emotional support animal policies. Many airline customers, over the years, have attempted to fly exotic animals such as snakes, spiders, turkeys, and peacocks.

According to United, incidents related to emotional support animals have increased by 75% between February 2017 and 2018. Delta, on the other hand, stated that incidents like urination, biting, and defecation increased by 84% among service animals and support animals.

Earlier this year, United refused to allow a woman to bring her peacock on board. The reason was that aside from the peacock not being able to fit properly in an aisle seat, United knows that there’s a growing trend of people pretending to have some disability just to carry their animals with them.

So, what are the additional forms that Delta and United will require for people traveling with emotional support and other assistance animals? They include signed letters from a licensed physician, certificate of training for the animal, and immunization records. Airline passengers should be able to submit the forms online or via email 48 hours before their scheduled flight.

Article source: Tonic

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

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What are threatening behaviors by assistance animals that prompt airlines to deny these animals cabin access?

Posted on February 18, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

Airlines may deny cabin access only to animals that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

Threatening behaviors that put others’ health and safety at risk include growling, snarling, lunging at, or attempting to bite other persons on the aircraft or cause a significant disruption in cabin service (i.e., a ‘‘fundamental alteration’’ to passenger service).

Take note that allergies are not sufficient grounds to deny a service animal carriage in the cabin.

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Is there a limit to the number of assistance animals that a disabled person can own?

Posted on February 18, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

There is no specific regulation or law that limits a disabled owner to a certain number of Assistance Animals. Because there is no direct guidance, it is likely that an owner would have to show a reasonable need for the number of animals in question.

It would be reasonable to have more than 1 Assistance Animal if, for example, a disabled owner/handler has diabetes and mobility issues, and keeps two Service Animals because one animal is trained to detect a drop in blood sugar, and the other is trained to provide physical support and stability.

But what if a tenant decides to keep 2 Emotional Support Animals to assist with the same functions which are combating suicidal tendencies and severe depression? If this is the case, then a landlord could argue against keeping both Emotional Support Animals. A tenant needs a note from his physician recommending the need for multiple ESAs.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Stars, Stripes & Paws pairs animals with veterans

Posted on February 18, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

Photo credit: Stars Stripes & Paws (Facebook page)

Meet Stars, Stripes & Paws – a nonprofit organization that matches dogs from local shelters with veterans who need great companion animals. Creators LeAnne Hardy and Lori Eannes-Brooks started the organization after learning that about 22 veterans commit suicide every year.

Their work aims to improve the lives of local veterans (in Danville and Pittsylvania County). Star, Stripes & Paws breeds and trains service animals to accompany disabled individuals. These service animals are also granted public access per the American Disabilities Act. The organization also rescues some animals to help them be part of a loving home.

One of the stories that stuck with LeAnne Hardy was about a woman who had a husband suffering from PTSD. She said that her husband had difficulty leaving home by himself even if he was just to buy some pack of cigarettes from the nearby store. The woman expressed that it would greatly help the situation if her husband had a service animal that could be with him all the time.

Dinah is the first service animal that the organization was able to place in a foster home. Dinah is a 1-year-old black and white terrier mix. They got her from a shelter because a staff member from the shelter said that the dog would make an awesome companion. Dinah is friendly and well-mannered.

Article source: GoDanRiver.com

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

A local nonprofit organization turns shelter dogs into service dogs

Posted on February 18, 2018 by SARC Editorial Staff

One of the most amazing things that can happen is when a shelter dog becomes a service dog through the help of concerned organizations.

Just recently, Service Dogs, an organization that provides custom-trained hearing and service dogs to people with disabilities, received a $340,000 donation from the Petco Foundation. So far in their 30-year history, this is the largest grant that Service Dogs has received.

Among those veterans and Texans whose lives have changed because of Service Dogs was Kenneth Conly. He has a service dog named Ruby which he got from the organization nearly 4 years ago. He said that Ruby changed his life by helping him accomplish some tasks such as doing the laundry and opening doors.

The Petco Foundation was able to source the funds through their yearly fundraising campaign, Helping Heroes. This campaign invites people to show support to assistance animals by donating in Petco stores.

Article source: KXAN

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Restaurant owner asked customer to show proof of her seizure alert dog

Posted on April 16, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Savanah Overtruf, a Loveland woman, is a regular customer of a restaurant. She visits the place weekly with her mother and her service dog, Liea, who alerts Overtruf before she experiences seizure attacks. Overtruf has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, migraines, and Tourette syndrome.

Overtruf was surprised because one Tuesday night, the restaurant owner, Khai Tran, suddenly asked her to show proof that Liea was a real service dog. Tran told Overtruf that he can service her for that night but next time, she must show him proof of her service dog. When interviewed by CBS4’s Jeff Todd, Overtruf said, “When something like this happens it makes me feel lesser in my community.”

It’s common for business owners to misunderstand assistance animal laws. While Khan was only concerned about people bringing fake service animals to his restaurant, experts state that asking for proof of a service animal is against the ADA and Colorado Anti-Discrimination laws. Restaurants are allowed to ask assistance animal owners only 2 questions: 1) “Is the animal required because of your disability?” and 2) “What task does it perform?”

Overtruf said that adherence to the law is important for her and other service animal owners. She would love to go back to the restaurant and simply wants the owner to know that what he did was against the law.

Article source: CBS Denver

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

War veteran filed a lawsuit against his landlord

Posted on April 16, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Army veteran Matthew Kopcsak has been paralyzed by a roadside bomb blast in Iraq in 2004. He claims that his landlord named Roger Dale Register violated his right to have a service dog accompany him in his rented home. Kopcsak filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court after waiting for more than 18 months for the other civil lawsuit he filed in Santa Rosa County Court to be resolved.

However, Register said that he is exempted from the federal Fair Housing Act since he only owns one rental property. He adds that the act only applies to those who own three or more properties. At the time that Kopcsak was to sign the rental agreement, Register made it clear that he wouldn’t allow any dogs.

The federal lawsuit states that Kopcsak has experienced shame and embarrassment, as well as psychological distress, emotional and economic damages as a result of being deprived of his right to have a service animal in his home.

Register also happens to be a war veteran. He said that the dispute has also aggravated his physical disabilities and gave his family heartache and sleepless nights.

Article source: Pnj.com

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ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Laws aim to deal with the use of fake service animals

Posted on April 16, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Service dogs are invaluable to people with real disabilities, but a lot of people who are not entitled to the use of service dogs have already abused the system. Christine Slavin, a service animal owner who had a snowboarding accident in 2007, told CBS News that this growing incidence has hurt the image of real service animals and their owners.

Slavin shares what her service dog, Earle, a labrador, can do for her: “Earle does a lot of retrieving for me. When I lose my phone he’s actually very good about finding it.” Earle got his training from NEADS, an organization that provides service and hearing dogs for over 40 years.

Slavin has seen people misrepresenting service dogs every day. Some of these dogs have bitten people in stores while others were generally disruptive. CBS News correspondent Don Dahler said that one time, within 24 hours of logging on to one website, he was able to purchase a fake certificate and ID for his pet. The gear arrived and he was not asked to show proof of a disability.

Dahler reports that in 12 states, misrepresenting a service animal is already considered a violation of the law. Massachusetts would soon join these 12 states. In California, anyone caught using a fake service animal could be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned for six months.

Article source: Cbs58.com

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Owners must consider their support animals’ welfare

Posted on April 16, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

For a lot of students, college can be a very stressful time in life. The idea of having a support animal can be appealing especially to those who suffer from anxiety or depression. Several studies have demonstrated the capacity of support animals to balance a person’s emotions.

But before you rush into getting yourself one, you need to know that owning a support animal is a lot of responsibility. Audra Peterson, an education major at USAO and owner of a support animal, says, “You have to be ready to take care of it. She needs a lot of attention and has to go outside often, even if it is raining or cold.” Peterson also adds that noise can also be a major concern.

The presence of support animals can be good news for other students in campus who happen to be animal lovers. But what about those students who fear dogs and are allergic to cats? Catelyn Perry, director of counseling, disability & career services at USAO, says that service animals should strictly follow guidelines provided by the ADA and that the animal should be prescribed by a physician or mental health professional.

If you think you need a support animal, you have to do your own research. Look for a breed that can live in your apartment or college dormitory. Ask your roommates if they are okay with a support animal around. Most of all, make sure that you are capable of meeting all your animal’s needs and that includes time and attention.

Article source: Trend.usao.edu

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