Quote: Candi Campbell

I was actually thinking that the term ESA / Emotional Support Animal (which I saw online) might apply to a dog owned by someone suffering from mild AGORAPHOBIA whose Companion Pet performed the function of a living "security blanket", enabling that person to venture out in public when escorted by their dog, without succumbing to Panic Attacks ... If that line of reasoning Posted Innocently was an inappropriate message here, then I most sincerely apologize for my clumsy Faux Pas !!!

If the dog performs tasks to assist in a disability(even a mental condition) then it's a Service Dog and has public access rights. If it doesn't perform specific tasks then it's an ESA and has no right to public access. The definitions are still somewhat debated but whether the dog performs a specific task or not is generally agreed to be the dividing line between a service dog and an emotional support dog.

The "tasks" a dog performs can be very simple and may not require training. They don't have to be an obvious command. One of Tanner's tasks was to stand(non-threatening) between his owner and people that she didn't feel comfortable with. He does that quite naturally since he likes to stand there to get petted.

But that's the issue I have with the loophole.

Are you suggesting that an owner can decide for himself that he has a disability? If my dog assists in helping me deal with stress, can I label her a service dog and have her granted public access? Or do I have to be diagnosed with a specific disorder? Does a Physician or Psychiatrist determine that I need an ESA? Who makes the diagnosis that an animal can assist with a disability?

 Quote: Cathy Goessman

 Quote: Candi Campbell

I was actually thinking that the term ESA / Emotional Support Animal (which I saw online) might apply to a dog owned by someone suffering from mild AGORAPHOBIA whose Companion Pet performed the function of a living "security blanket", enabling that person to venture out in public when escorted by their dog, without succumbing to Panic Attacks ... If that line of reasoning Posted Innocently was an inappropriate message here, then I most sincerely apologize for my clumsy Faux Pas !!!

If the dog performs tasks to assist in a disability(even a mental condition) then it's a Service Dog and has public access rights. If it doesn't perform specific tasks then it's an ESA and has no right to public access. The definitions are still somewhat debated but whether the dog performs a specific task or not is generally agreed to be the dividing line between a service dog and an emotional support dog.

The "tasks" a dog performs can be very simple and may not require training. They don't have to be an obvious command. One of Tanner's tasks was to stand(non-threatening) between his owner and people that she didn't feel comfortable with. He does that quite naturally since he likes to stand there to get petted.

Hi Cathy,

Thanks for your input here -- "I don't have a horse in this race" (since I do not suffer from any Disability requiring the Services of my dog) but it's an interesting Topic of Discussion, IMHO...

Technically Speaking, the actual "TASK" that an Emotional Support Animal performs for its owner could be this:

The mere PRESENCE of the DOG accompanying its owner as An Escort provides that person with a Sense of PSYCHOLOGICAL Security which allows them to go out In Public without getting ANXIETY ATTACKS

There would be No Special training for the dog -- It only needs to BE THERE with its owner to provide "Moral Support" ... Anyway, I am just Thinking Aloud on the subject.

 Quote: Duane Hull

But that's the issue I have with the loophole.

Are you suggesting that an owner can decide for himself that he has a disability? If my dog assists in helping me deal with stress, can I label her a service dog and have her granted public access? Or do I have to be diagnosed with a specific disorder? Does a Physician or Psychiatrist determine that I need an ESA? Who makes the diagnosis that an animal can assist with a disability?

Duane, think about it:

Not every MD /PhD out there is always Scrupulously Ethical, LOL -- Any number of them are simply in the Business of making Money ... And within reason, that particular sort will give any patient a Doctor's Note for virtually everything under the sun

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Sure, there is no doubt you could find a doctor somewhere to prescribe or diagnose. Not ethical, but certainly a possibility. But honestly, if you're that unethical then you'll probably won't bother with the time of finding the doctor. We could play the what if game, too. But deep down people know if they are being honest with themselves and society.

There is no perfect solution to the service dog debate. Disability laws are intentionally vague in some areas because disabilities can be pretty varied. The threshold for functioning is also different with different people. Laws are set up to accommodate a plethora of disabilities so regulation can be like trying to nail jello to a wall (IMO)

ButI can for certain say that no ethical person likes the way that unethical people take advantage of the law to take their pets everywhere. We have different ideas on how it should be handled, but we all agree that it's low and deplorable for people to (illegally) fein serious stuff for their own whims and convenience. So when it is hinted at (or we feel it is even when it's a mistake) we tend to react pretty strongly.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

We have different ideas on how it should be handled,
but we all agree that it's low and deplorable for people to (illegally) fein serious stuff for their own whims and convenience.
So when it is hinted at (or we feel it is even when it's a mistake) we tend to react pretty strongly.

IMHO, what such folks Should SUFFER From, but apparently do not, is "Karma-Phobia" -- I would be scared of Faking a Disability for fear of bringing it on for REAL.