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Service Animals is this gone to far?

hiedi — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:08:41 -0500

I am 42 years old and was paralyzed 2 years ago. I have lived this issue on both sides of the fence and i can say unless you are walking in the shoes with this handicapped individual...don't get involved! When my life changed so did what i thought about certain issues..changed too! A service monkey brought into a rehab shortly after my injury is what gave me a focus that was the ONLY facsinating thing i thought i would ever feel again..If a monkey could change my tears to laughter i thought to myself..then if she could do it ..i could do it too..I at least had my arms she didnt..This service monkey gave her someting to drink..combed her hair..scratched her chin cause she couldnt..When you lose that independence you lose your soul and if an animal can help her overcome those struggles and most of all put a smile on her face and a will to go on..no matter what the breed (within the limits) the it a precious thing.not a slave trade or against animal rights these service animals must feel the love and companionship of thier owners enough that the bond between the human and animal is so meaningful and important that being in the wild cant compare...I beLieve a monkey is very appropriate for who they serve as is the see doogs and horses..yes it can go to far,..A service animal has to perform deeds for that person that is disabled.

I have witnessed and felt this compassion and its the most precious gift i have ever felt..yes family is important..but i had no family support and even if i did it doesnt give you the independence if anything to us..its likely to be embarrassing...its a tremendous thing...Instead of tryin to change the laws and fight to prohibit what breed they have to be...educate people and try to encourage the ones that abuse the system so they can have an animal as a pet to respect the disabled population who rely on this service and find other means to have a pet.

dowens contact me

hiedi — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:40:42 -0500

i have some information on registering a cappuchin to be a service animal...im not rtying to sell you anything..i have one..

Monkeys as service animals

dowens — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:39:14 -0600

I have a severe to profound hearing impairment. My loss get worst with each passsing year. 12 years ago I purchased a capuchin monkey for my husband and I to train to be my service hearing monkey. She was trained at home but I followed many of the guidlines that Helping Hands use.My vet is one used by Helping Hands monkeys that are used in Texas. There were no professional organizatons to train animals to help the deaf other than dogs. I am allergic to dogs. My capuchin now is able to alert me in my home of sounds that hearing people take for granted. She is trained to move fulling in the house without a leash and also can be out on the back patio and was trained by using mask and prop dummies to learn to stay in the boundaries of the patio when let outside. I have had much success with the training.She is learning more as my loss gets worst and I am in need of more assistance. How the helping Hands have done a wonderful job training the monkeys to help the quageplegic but they refuse to look at any other monkey as a service animal other than their own. They show no support for my need of my service animal.This seems so unfair to me. The ADA allowed people to train their own animals to be service animals to assist to the individual needs of the disabled but now all of a sudden my monkey is not professionaly trained so they are not accecped in the "primate captive" bill that was introduced" because my monkey was not trained professionally and I am not in a wheel chair.So my handicap is nothing just like it is to insurance companies who will not help pay the cost of hearing aids. I am so tired of having my rights taken away or my needs ignored while other people's needs seem to be more important and validated.

Money is an Issue

ClizBiz — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:04:43 -0600

Melissa,

I understand your point here - allergies can be deadly. However, I have take issue with your suggestion that human guides can be used in place of these service animals. The cost to pay for a full-time human caregiver is quite beyond mosst people in this situation. An animal, which is also costly, seems like the only viable solution.

I do agree that people should provide proof of need for a service animal. Seems only fair and it keeps everyone honest.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

Challenges

ClizBiz — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:01:07 -0600

Clearly, you have dealt with the reality of the situation. You're right, service dogs - or any service animal, for that matter - are not perfect. Kind of like humans, eh?

Bottom line, people need to be more understanding of these animals in our midsts. I sure hope we some relaxation in this issue.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

I Am Torn On This

MLOKnitting — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:06:37 -0600

As someone with the hidden disability of allergy, my life can, conceivably, actually be threatened by a service animal in my presence. While I believe in the use of guide animals, I truly believe human needs should come first. Human guides and helpers can often be used instead of animals in many situations.

Despite what some would tell you, people can die from anaphylaxis from dander exposure. Yes, it is rare. Also, animal allergies are common and decrease productivity in the workplace. This is not something made up. There has to be balance between the needs of various groups.

Honestly, I have no problem requiring proof of need for a service animal from a physician. With the ADA, with a severe allergy that sends me into anaphylaxis immediately due to airborne exposure to popcorn, I had to present several letters to get any kind of accommodation. It is not unreasonable to ask and receive of proof that a service animal is required for a hidden disability - or even a visible disability. This is especially true when there are other options available.

MLO / Melissa

Service Animals

foreverinbluejeansbabe — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:32:59 -0600

I am disabled and am now living with my second service dog. My first dog died of cancer after 10 years of service and my second dog has been with me 2 years. During that 12 years I have lived in 4 cities - 5 apartments and 1 house. Two of the apartments were Section 8 and 3 were university housing.

One of the problems with demanding proof of the need for or training of service animals is that money is usually involved. I had to have verification of disability for Section 8 apartments and university housing. This involved doctor's visits that were paid for by Medicaid. I didn't have to pay but the state did. I also had to have vet records and verification - I had to pay for. I didn't have to have proof of training but I did have to disclose how the service animal helps me. This is all under the current system. Moving into rental property is not as easy as saying I'm disabled and I have a service animal.

If a service animal is causing problems then the animal can be asked to leave. For example if a dog is making inappropriate noise in a movie theater the dog can be asked to leave.

If a person doesn't like animals then that is their problem. I lived on the eleventh floor of university housing. Some of the people from other countries were afraid of my dog or had cultural beliefs that made them not want to be around dogs. I had the right to ride the elevator with my dog without being people bothering me or my dog. If they didn't like dogs they could get off the elevator or wait until the next elevator.

If my dog growled, barked, jumped on or in other ways threatened someone then the dog would be out of line. This never happened even though people had to carry food and trash on the elevator. Food and trash can be interesting and hard for even service dogs to ignore on a small elevator. Service dogs are not perfect and have their strengths and weaknesses.

Ferrets Too

ClizBiz — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:50:47 -0600

Yeah, I've heard that about ferrets. I was surprised to discover how intuitive and useful they are as a service animal.

However, no matter what the law, there are always going to be those who abuse it. It's the nature of humans, clearly not as pure-hearted as the ferret.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

Yup, I'm a Mindreader

ClizBiz — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:47:49 -0600

Hey D,

Always happy to pile more into that busy brain of yours ... I think this issue is coming up more and more as disabled folks look to other species to help lead their full lives. I can see both sides here but really think people should get over the horses and monkey fears. They are clearly well trained and those that depend on them, can't imagine giving them up. Same for blind folks with their seeing-eye dogs.

I hate to see/read about these ridiculous wars going on over the definition. I think there does need to be some legislation that protects both humans and animals from unneccesary persecution and exclusion. I think this is what lies at the heart of all this; we need a national standard and a clear definition that is informed and up-to-date.

~ClizBiz

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

ferrets as service animals

telemna — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:02:20 -0600

Ferrets have also been used to help autistic children to become more responsive and interactive, and to detect seizures before they occur. They are intelligent and can be kept by people with allergies to some other types of animals.

As someone with glaucoma who is very allergic to dogs I also help that service animals that I can utilize remain an option in case I ever need them.

Yes, I know there are some people who have misused the claim of service animals for their convenience, but that is not the fault of the animals who help make life healthier and fuller for others, nor the fault of people with real needs.

Prosecute the abusers rather than hurting victims. What is being proposed is akin to punishing those who have asthma and can't use steroids because those who don't have asthma have misused the inhalant meds to make illegal drugs. Oh, wait, that happened under the Bush Administration, too, with useful medications being removed.

What a timely topic

Denise — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:31:16 -0600

We have a 'service dog' living in my house but and I've been sort of interested in what his skills are that classify him as such. He's supposed to have been "trained" in some way or another and there are rumors that he can detect seizures before they occur. I've never seen the dog in action so call me slightly skeptical for now.

Then, the other night TW was reading a book from a series and said "remind me why she has a service dog" and I was confused, didn't remember the heroine having one. When I was reading the book a few days later, the dog was described as a "therapy dog" in some areas and a "service dog" in others.

I re-opened the discussion about this book with TW who was reminded that her mom indicated that she is concerned that their dog may be "tracked down and put to sleep" if anyone finds out the service dog is no longer living with the disabled person...

This led me to put down my book and start surfing for info about why service dogs might be put to sleep. I didn't find anything that indicates this would happen but did find more blog discussions than I care to count that had turned into full out WARS over what was a service animal, what wasn't a service animal and who and when those service animals should be used.

Those folks scared me.

Now here's your post with what I'm hoping are sane, less than angry discussion links. I'm going to click... and wonder what I'd think if I was sitting in a restaurant and a disabled person came in with a miniature horse. Fascinating.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Your story

ClizBiz — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:10:53 -0500

No, thank you for writing such a beautiful story in the first place. I love how it put a bigger picture around Belles death. Very poignant.

Heather Clisby

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography Proprietor, ClizBiz

Empathy

ClizBiz — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:08:30 -0500

I second that. She really gave it her all. RIP Belles.

Heather

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography & Animal Concerns

Proprietor, ClizBiz

Conflicted

ClizBiz — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:07:04 -0500

Elisa,

This is a bigger issue that deserves its own post. I struggle with it because I love to ride - does that mean I am forcing the animal to do something against its will? Unfortunately, I don't have the answer today but I think Belles death has certainly turned off a lot of folks on horse racing.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography & Animal Concerns

Proprietor, ClizBiz

This was the saddest story.

widelawns — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:35:32 -0500

This was the saddest story. She was such a beautiful horse. And thank you for mentioning my story. I am honored and hope you will continue to read.