I stated that it is easy to get those items off the internet but in my experience, people who don’t have a service dog don’t bother. It’s ashamed that we have to rely on business manager to police the entitled since people see a sign that states “no dogs allowed” and think it doesn’t apply to them.Olioxenfree wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:51 pmAnyone can buy a service dog vest off the internet, so that really doesn’t mean anything. It could also be argued that Virginia law is not in compliance with ADA law, but I’ll leave that up to the government. Their behavior is the indicator of if they are task trained. If someone isn’t being asked to leave when their dog shows behavior not allowed by a service dog, they likely wouldn’t approach someone either to “prove” that their dog is a service dog. Just like how there should be a manager on hand for if a customer gets out of hand, the same applies to dogs. Certification card or not, there still has to be enforcement, so setting up barriers that make it harder for those who need dogs to get them isn’t going to stop the problem.WellPreserved wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:32 amService dogs in Virginia are required to wear a vest and harness appropriately labeled. That is their identification. Sure, it's possible to get those items online but in my experience, those who don't have actual service dogs don't bother.Olioxenfree wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 2:40 pm
There are reasons why service dogs don’t currently require certification and documents. Those who qualify for a service dog are permitted to self task train their dogs. Requiring certification would mean they would have to go through a formal training and testing system, which costs time and money, and would create barriers for those who need the dogs. Their behavior shows that they are properly trained as a service dog.
I would not call the amount of imposters “insane”, sure they exist but it’s not like we’re seeing dozens of aggressive dogs at the store every time we go. It’s like a once every few months occurrence when I see a dog who I wouldn’t identify as a service dog. And if they are exhibiting those behaviors, the staff can tell them to leave. Those who actually need the dogs shouldn’t pay the price of the few who abuse the system.
I do have a problem with people bringing their non-service dogs into grocery stores and the like. It's a gross sense of entitlement and it could cause the business of incur a really hefty fine. I live in a small town and I see non-service dogs in the grocery store all the time, at least every time I go. I know their owners' names and sometimes the dogs' name, lol. Some are well behaved, some are not, and one ("Buddy" the Jack Russell) is aggressive. All could cause our grocery store to incur a $10000 fine. These owners are not dog lovers, they are entitled assholes.
As I wrote earlier, my daughter has the same issue at the brewery where she works. It's the same dogs and the same dog owners. She's tough and they listen to her when she tells them they have to go outside but some of the other staff aren't so tough. It pisses me off that she or anyone has to tell them, not once, but in some cases, every single week and that they choose to ignore some of the younger staff members. It's disrespectful. She has some regular patrons that have service dogs (there is a large veteran community here) and of course they are allowed. Fortunately, they back her up when Deborah brings in Buddy but they shouldn't have to.
What I find interesting is that the regulars who feel that they are entitled to bring their dogs into spaces where they are prohibited are the same people that refused to wear masks, at least in our town.
Let’s face it, all the manager can do is ask the person to leave. They are not going to physically remove them. Again, in my experience, if someone feels so entitled as to assume that the rules don’t apply to them, they will probably not leave when asked.
That’s why I say hit them at the cash register.