Fake Service Animals California
Still that doesnt seem to stop some people from trying to game the system.
Fake service animals california. No one begrudges a blind person the right to a guide dog. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the persons disability. The concerns about fake or problematic service animals voiced by Palacio and others have drawn attention from officials as well.
The penalties for violating these laws vary. In California for instance it is a misdemeanor to falsely and knowingly claim that you are the owner or trainer of a service animal. The service dog reputation is at stake and its because some pet owners think no pet policies shouldnt apply.
In February a powerful Chicago alderman introduced an ordinance that would ban illegitimate service animals from the citys two main airports and since the start of the year Delta and United. Three months later on April 27 2012 Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan age 1 was killed by his grandmothers therapy dog in Henderson. Businesses have been dealing for years with the hassles of accommodating customers and employees with service animals.
Many service dog handlers have stories of being turned away from businesses where a fake service dog has made a nuisance of itself previously causing the business owners to adopt a resolute no-animals policy even though this is against the law. The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. With no national registry to identify a real from a fake some people are taking advantage.
The problem isnt people who legitimately need the assistance. In California the punishment for falsely claiming to have a service dog or be a trainer includes a fine of up to 1000 and up to six months in jail. Service animals are working animals not pets.
Many states have passed laws that make it illegal to fake having a service dog. Monday February 24 2014. The penalty for this violation is a fine of up to 1000.