@April539
First of all, yes, I, 100%, agree with you that people without disabilities don't know how lucky they are and yes, mental illness is a disability. No one can dispute these facts.
However, some correction is needed on your other assertions. Emotional support dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs do have a national registry and they have to be certified.
Also, there are service dogs who are in service for mental illness. Most people seem to think that mental disabilities need emotional support dogs, but that is not true. If a dog is properly trained for mental illness, they can be registered as proper service dogs. I know this for a fact because I volunteer one weekend a month as well as 3 weeks in the summer training dogs for veterans. I'm a certified dog trainer.
Yes, there are national emotional support dog registries, in fact many of them. You just need to get a letter from a qualified clinical psychologist and pay enough money to one of them to have them registered. Anyone can register an emotional support dog. The controversy is that ESD do not get properly trained, therefore do not get the same benefits of a registered service dogs.
And your third point, no one is required to disclose their service dog's papers, however, the guests are supposed to disclose they are bringing service dogs. While it is illegal to ask for the dog's certification paper, any employee of an establishment or the owner of a property you seek entrance with a service dog can ask you 2 questions.
1. Is the animal a service animal that is requires to because of a disability?
They are not allowed to ask you what the disability is, just the question above.
2. What task is the dog trained to perform?
For example, I train dogs to sense nightmares and heart palpitations. I don't have to disclose what the disability is, just say the dog senses heart palpitations and shortness of breath.
The host can also reasonably ask you to instruct your dog to demonstrate it. A person who has a service dog may refuse this, but they are required by law to answer the above 2 questions. If they do not, the host has the right to reject the service dog.
I am a dog person and love dogs more than I love humans, I'm afraid. I believe in their magical healing powers. And I sincerely believe they provide many benefits to their people.
I think Title II and Title III of the American Disabilities Act that covers service dogs is one of the best pieces of legislation this country has ever passed.
This is why it really saddens me that people abuse this law by conflating ESD with Service Dogs. In 2011, the ADA was amended to add a variety of mental illnesses a service dog can be trained in. So a person who sincerely had a mental illness and needed a service dog could go through the proper process of getting their dog trained or getting a trained service dog. Passing off your pet as an emotional support dog makes a mockery of people who actually need them.
Also, there are many non-profit organizations who provide this training. Again, I know, because I volunteer for one them.
Hope this clarifies the difference between service dogs and ESDs.
n.
