MR. Hamster's wild ride

In reply to z31maniac :

They didn't force her to do anything. Legally , they were not obliged to allow the animal on the plane . While the gate agent suggesting she flush it was a really bad idea, her flushing it told more of the story. She had the option to not take the flight. She had the further option to contact someone above the desk monkey to figure out what was going on. Worst case scenario, she had the option to give the animal up for adoption or call a rescue group or any other option besides flushing the poor thing down the toilet . Service animal or not, Thats abuse. That she was willing to do that over missing a flight tells me a lot about whether or not that critter was real. I've seen people that have animals that aren't service go homeless rather than give up their companion. Animal care is a lifetime job, not a convenience

This whole topic really annoys me. I'm a veterinarian, but I have to keep my mouth shut when I see people taking their pets where they shouldn't be allowed. 

Occasionally I get someone trying to get me involved in their fake certification. So far, I've been able to defer without making it apparent what I think. I tell them that their emotional state is something to discuss with their doctor. 

Why can't you tell them about how abusing the service animal system harms people who actually need service animals?

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Same reason I can't, id suspect. The miscreant involved would start swinging the d word all over the place and he just doesn't want the hassle. 

GameboyRMH said:

Why can't you tell them about how abusing the service animal system harms people who actually need service animals?

That would be wonderful.  Everyone is too sensitive or too afraid of litigation anymore.  Home depot has a sign that says no pets except service animals, i’ve seen people take in purse rats and other assorted dogs, including one guy taking his dog in on a leash with no service identification.  The cashiers all stand there and give each other the “i’m not risking my job to say anything” look.

my 2 year old nephew has some sort of seizure disorder and he has a legit service dog who is trained to alert to signs of seizure.  She’s pointed one out already, and she had to train for 8 months prior to going home with him.  She has her service dog vest thing and goes along with him.  It pisses me off that people try to abuse this, but it’s also one of those things where it’s hard to question, and not my right to tell someone their mental makeup isn’t as important as everyone else’s.  I can totally see how a pet would help comfort someone with anxiety and let them experience things they otherwise couldn’t.  

With that said, the willingness to flush the poor little guy tells me someone was not exactly truthful about his services.  “Sorry you can’t bring your dog, he doesn’t have a service animal vest”....”ok hold the flight i’ll go outside and put one in his head, can i borrow the Air Marshals gun?” 

Patrick said:

GameboyRMH said:

Why can't you tell them about how abusing the service animal system harms people who actually need service animals?

That would be wonderful.  Everyone is too sensitive or too afraid of litigation anymore.  Home depot has a sign that says no pets except service animals, i’ve seen people take in purse rats and other assorted dogs, including one guy taking his dog in on a leash with no service identification.  The cashiers all stand there and give each other the “i’m not risking my job to say anything” look.

my 2 year old nephew has some sort of seizure disorder and he has a legit service dog who is trained to alert to signs of seizure.  She’s pointed one out already, and she had to train for 8 months prior to going home with him.  She has her service dog vest thing and goes along with him.  It pisses me off that people try to abuse this, but it’s also one of those things where it’s hard to question, and not my right to tell someone their mental makeup isn’t as important as everyone else’s.  I can totally see how a pet would help comfort someone with anxiety and let them experience things they otherwise couldn’t.  

With that said, the willingness to flush the poor little guy tells me someone was not exactly truthful about his services.  “Sorry you can’t bring your dog, he doesn’t have a service animal vest”....”ok hold the flight i’ll go outside and put one in his head, can i borrow the Air Marshals gun?” 

QFT

I don't get the obsession with people bringing their animals everywhere. My dog has had obedience training from an outfit that also trains service, police, and military K9s (they used to borrow him from time to time when we lived in California) and offered to buy him from us for use as a service dog but I still don't want to take him anywhere like the store or vacation.

I mean I like him and listens to commands but I really don't want to deal with the hassle of having to him around all the time when I'm trying to run errands or take the kids somewhere. Maybe it's because he's 70lbs and doesn't like other people near my kids or the fact that he still hasn't got over the whole rescue/velcro dog thing but I seriously question what the attraction is. Especially with those little nervous shaky product of poor breeding dogs.

I do understand where you're coming from Mndsm in so far as challenging people about it. I'm sure we could wax poetic about it being a reflection of the current state of the United States but I don't want to be put under a patio.

In reply to The0retical :

And that's why I avoided my personal views. Margie lives close enough to me that if she was determined, the last thing id see was being pitched into the grm van. 

GameboyRMH said:

Why can't you tell them about how abusing the service animal system harms people who actually need service animals?

Our policy at work is that service animal can board the bus, and pets can be brain a pet carrier. Until a few years ago this wasn't an issue. Now that this support animal thing has become popular customers come on with damn near anything and if our operators question them they run the risk of discipline. At the same time if a customer comes on with an animal and it bites, E36 M3s on, etc another customer the operator can be disciplined for allowing the animal on. Now they are forced into a situation where they have to ignore anything that doesn't look too dangerous and take the bus out of service for the occasional service pit bull chewing on a tire or support python slithering about.  It gets ridiculous that time has to be wasted explaining to adults why their pets shouldn't be on a crowded rush hour bus. 

I love my my dog as much as anyone and I do take him places. I do it on foot or in my car and we go places that welcome dogs like Petco and the park we don't just run in anywhere and expect that he's going to be accepted. I understand that even though he's the greatest dog in the world not everyone else cares to meet him.

In reply to Wally :

What's funny is a pit bull is a great service dog in a lot of occasions. 

After an incident involving a customer bringing his rat into the store we had a memo sent out about acceptable service animals. Short answer, dogs and miniature horses are ok, if in doubt, let security handle it.  

In college, at Wright State University (one of the most accessible colleges in the country), I saw an assistance dog in action up close.  A chair-bound guy dropped something.  I bent down to pick it up.  The dog beat me to it and had the object in his owner's lap in about a second.  Then he was back on the floor, where he knew he belonged.  

Some friends in school were paid to exercise and help take care of service dogs.  WSU has a service dog park on campus. 

Brian said:

After an incident involving a customer bringing his rat into the store we had a memo sent out about acceptable service animals. Short answer, dogs and miniature horses are ok, if in doubt, let security handle it.  

Mini horses? 

They are actually very smart and can be trained like a dog can. 

In reply to Mndsm :

When two kids carry him into a crowded bus hanging by his mouth from a 2x4 the only service he seems to be performing is to chase out the paying customers.

In reply to Wally :

Sounds like his "leave me the berkeley alone " service is being performed well 

Mndsm said:

Brian said:

After an incident involving a customer bringing his rat into the store we had a memo sent out about acceptable service animals. Short answer, dogs and miniature horses are ok, if in doubt, let security handle it.  

Mini horses? 

Yea though not technically defined as a service animal. They're edge cases most if the time.

In reply to The0retical :

Huh.  I always thought they were cantankerous shiny happy people.  

Unpopular opinion:

If you are a vet, you are the sole person in a position to say anything to most people. Nut up and do the right thing. It is getting out of control, and the rest of us are powerless. 

Some lost customers, and huge gained respect from the responsible ones. Seems worth it to me. Be the person you respect.

The Lowes by me has a "pet friendly" sign on the door.  Last week I saw someone with a large bird perched on their shoulder as they shopped....

Nugi said:

Unpopular opinion:

If you are a vet, you are the sole person in a position to say anything to most people. Nut up and do the right thing. It is getting out of control, and the rest of us are powerless. 

Some lost customers, and huge gained respect from the responsible ones. Seems worth it to me. Be the person you respect.

Sounds great! I don't really need my job. My family and I can always live under a bridge.

Gearheadotaku said:

The Lowes by me has a "pet friendly" sign on the door.  Last week I saw someone with a large bird perched on their shoulder as they shopped....

In reply to Gearheadotaku :

I used to bring a random ferret with me when I had those. You'd be surprised at how many people have neber seen albino ferret. 

I found the flight crew for my new airline. 

https://www.facebook.com/WhatNowUS/videos/535604260142797/