Invisible

Not all disabilities are visible.

Except for extreme stupidity. Extreme stupidity is usually easy to spot. Attorneys have to sit through seminars in order to keep their licenses. I sat through one about emotional support dogs.  Although emotional support dogs don’t have the access rights that service dogs have, they have more access rights than Fido the Family Pet. Aside from the fact the attorney giving the presentation gave advice that would ensure a landlord would be sued for discrimination, the attorney said that if presented with a letter from a doctor attesting to a person’s disability and you don’t see a disability, the letter is a fake.  Just because you can’t see my disability doesn’t mean I don’t have a disability. I left a scathing review in which I thanked the presenter for teaching people how to discriminate against me.

Is it a real service dog? Or a fake? There is no certification for service dogs although fake certification certificates are sold on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Certificate-Presentation-Customized-Information-Registration/dp/B08DBYX3L1/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ZW5KG0CEOKDV&keywords=service+dog+certification&qid=1690921545&sprefix=service+dog+certification%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-6

Jim was at physical therapy yesterday. A couple with a small dog came in. The man was getting physical therapy while the woman and the small dog waited. The dog was wearing a vest and was labeled “service dog.” The dog was jumping up and down and playing with the physical therapist.  Fake service dog? Or dog that needs a whole lot more training? Service dogs in training have the same access rights in New Mexico as fully-trained service dogs although service dogs in training should have a label stating service dog in training on the dog’s vest. Neither service dogs nor service dogs in training are required by law to have labels on their vests or even wear a vest.

Amazon also sells patches proclaiming access cannot be denied. https://www.amazon.com/Required-Exceptions-Harnesses-Embroidered-Fastener/dp/B07QPYBZF1/ref=sr_1_5?crid=SF67N733YTQM&keywords=service+dog+access&qid=1690922771&sprefix=service+dog+access%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-5  

That’s not accurate. Although Brady can accompany me in the emergency room, be with me in the psych ward, and be with me in a regular hospital room, she cannot accompany me into the operating room. A service dog can almost never be denied access to a public place, but access can be denied for health and safety reasons.

People who don’t have service dogs don’t understand service dogs. Although most people are familiar with guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired and service dogs trained to help veterans who have PTSD, many people have no idea what else a service dog can be trained to do. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. Dogs can smell changes in glucose levels and service dogs are trained to alert a diabetic human if the glucose level is too high or too low. Dogs can smell mood swings and can be trained to alert the bipolar human when a mood swing starts. Dogs can smell an impending seizure and are trained to alert humans with seizure disorders when they are about to have a seizure. Dogs have been trained to assist people who are autistic, have anxiety and panic disorders, and a whole lot of stuff I haven’t thought of.

Brady is my service dog in training.

She knows when I’m having a rough day, and gets distressed when she can’t figure out what to do to help me. We start that training later this week. I’ve been giving her new experiences such as taking her to a fabric shop she had never visited. We went to the post office when I knew it wasn’t crowded. She has gone with me to see my chiropractor although that wasn’t particularly successful. Brady monitored the door and barked when a patient came in. We’re now working on keeping her from monitoring the door This is done by having her face away from the door and preferably face a corner. There’s a homeless man who frequents our favorite Starbucks. For some reason, she barks at him although she doesn’t bark at other homeless people. We went to Starbucks on a day when the outside temp was 108. Way too hot to sit outside. The only free chair was next to the homeless man. Brady ignored him and faced into the corner. I was both thrilled and relieved. As expected, her training isn’t going in a straight line. She’s ahead of where we think she is in some respects and behind in some other respects.

Do you know the proper etiquette for behavior towards service dogs? I’m discovering many people don’t. Never distract a service dog. Do not talk to a service dog. Do not make eye contact with a service dog. Do not pet a service dog. Distracting a service dog can be deadly for the service dog’s human.

Although there are days when I don’t feel like interacting with people, I have to force myself to remember that any person accompanied by a dog in a public place is going to be asked two questions that ought to be answered: What kind of dog is that? Where did you get your dog? Then I have to force myself to give a polite answer.

My online store, Deb Thuman Art, featuring really cool, deluxe dog bandanas is here: http://www.DebThumanArt.com