teddybear99

Waiting to see the first case go to trial as all someone needs is that doctor's note. I am all for an ESA having to be trained, then licensed, before they can be designated as an ESA. I have this debate at least once weekly at the local dog park. The dogs should have the training to obey the commands of sit, stay, down, off, etc... and know going to the bathroom is an outside function or only on a pee-pad. The animals also have been trained to take food from one or a few specific people so as not to bother others who may have food out and are eating.

Many people say it is discriminatory to force a patient to spend more money to get the animal trained, but those people who use an actual certified service animal have spent the money to have it done.

Blind people have a dog that has been trained to stop at edges, intersections, etc... Handicapped people have dogs that pick up things off the floor for their owner or other assisting needs. People who have seizures have dogs that are trained to recognize, either by scent or observation, the warning signs and signal by whatever means trained to alert the owner. I saw this with a pitbull who was trained to recognize someone who would go into diabetic shock if her sugar levels reached a certain point, and the owner knew to stop what she was doing and take extra medicine.

All these animals have had special training and either have bought the animal already trained for thousands of dollars, or have paid to have it trained. There are some charities that also pay for those individuals who can't afford it, but the animal has been trained as stated above.

A lot of the animals that are presented as ESA's do not have this training and are a nuisance to others. I am an animal lover, who has a dog and grew up with cats. I will take him to restaurants that have outside seating that allows him to be there. But, I should not have to see them inside restaurants, in stores, on planes, or other confined spaces when they have not been trained properly. Those that have, normally will sit under the table and not bother anyone for food or interact with any other people.

Finally, as many businesses are afraid to be sued, they tend not to challenge the person bringing in the animal. The ADA has made it clear, you can ask the person what specific service the service animal does for you, but you can't ask what is your disability. If the person bringing in the animal claims it is an ESA that does not do a specific service aka service dog, you can deny them entry into the business, and there is nothing that the business is doing wrong.

Again, until the government officials pass laws that will allow businesses to be better protected against this, we will continue to see untrained animals in places they should not be.