MG posted:

Saphiregirl posted:

Since a pitbull attacked a child in an airport recently in my state, and the airline said the person presented a letter that was not verified as their proof of the animal being a "service animal", I am terrified of these dogs.  I encountered a pitbull in a grocery store several months ago, and the owner knew he was not supposed to have the dog in the store.  However, since there was no checker or security around,  he took advantage of the opportunity to let his pitbull accompany him on his shopping expedition.  To say that these stores, hotels and other avenues have their hands tied is ridiculous.  This dog was clearly not a service dog, and the owner knew it.  In the case of the pitbull and the child, the parent is suing for a million dollars to fix her daughter's now severely deformed face.  I think that these service animals should have a standardized system of authorization in every state and there should be a card and license issued for each dog, so that they can be tracked and monitored.  No one should be allowed to have a pet in these public spaces unless their dog has been licensed as a service dog and their owners must present evidence of this.  Otherwise, these pets do not belong in these public places where allergens and germs can affect the safety of the public, not to mention vicious dogs and dangerous breeds such as pitbulls.  Otherwise, all of these breeds should be banned permanently from any public space like an airport where there are children.  Anyone can print up a letter and say it is from their vet.  Anyone can say their dog is a service dog.  There is no standard license and no asking for proof that is a license showing these pets have actually been trained as service pets.  I am sick of my health and safety as well as the safety of other children and adults being bypassed to pacify whoever made these laws allowing this.  I have allergies and asthma, and a fear of dogs that attack people.  Why should I and others have to be exposed to this?

I share your frustration. I have been asking the federal government to strengthening the ADA so that there is some oversight. When it was enacted years ago, there were fewer conditions which used service dogs. The number of conditions covered has grown dramatically and the abuse of the law has spiraled out of control. There is no scientific evidence that some of these conditions are helped by service dogs, and there is no regulation of organizations which claim to train service dogs to work with those medical conditions.  And the double standard is that animal allergies are disabilities under the law but government officials don't want to accommodate people with animal allergies because they don't want to place any restrictions whatsoever on people with service animals. Until there are changes to the ADA to help those with animal allergies, the state governments and businesses will say their hands are tied. I am looking for support from anyone who wants to make Congress hear our voices.

The problem is that AAFA is not aggressively fighting this problem of pet dogs and emotional support pets in public buildings without let up. They need to make this a prominent focal point of allergy and asthma prevention. This is perhaps the primary health risk to people with dander-sensitive asthma and allergies, yet it is virtually ignored publicly by AAFA and other so-called health support programs!

I'm glad they passed a law that helps even a little, and maybe they can strengthen the law to make it easier to enforce. 

LAC posted:

SheridanCN1 posted:

LAC posted:

I am working in my state to get a bill introduced on behalf of those of us with life-threatening asthma, allergies and anaphylaxis in regards to this ubiquitous problem of fake service pets, "emotional support" dogs and just general entitlement of pet owners bringing pets into nearly every public building and store. Those of us with dander-sensitive disabilities have been suffering in silence, are being pushed out of our communities and have been ignored, treated rudely and unheard while the number of dogs in stores, public buildings, hotels and on public transportation is multiplying to an out of control degree.

Those of us with dander disabilities need to unite and attempt to push for law changes or perhaps class action lawsuits. We should not be forced to leave stores, offices, businesses, buildings and events because dogs are being put ahead of human beings. It should be "People Before Pets"! Store and business owners and managers, building managers/owners, airlines and other public transportation companies are failing to adequately accommodate our rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing "emotional support" dogs and other pets into their buildings and vehicles and by claiming to be "dog friendly". This is illegal, but without a lobby or someone to start a class action suit, we have no recourse. What about places that are "human friendly"? Please reply to this if you are interested in being a part of organizing for some brainstorms...

Definitely interested!  There is an enormous amount of misinformation being disseminated about animal dander allergies, and appropriate treatment for asthma and allergies.  There is a lot of work that can and should be done to help people understand the facts and the fair treatment of persons affected by these conditions.    

The bill in my state passed in the House Committee. If it is voted to pass in the House, it will move to the Senate. It is a long process, but you have to begin by contacting your local House of Representatives rep for your area. Explain to him or her why a bill in your state is needed and ask him or her to look at examples of other states who are tightening up on the misrepresentation of pets as "service animals".

My state passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to misrepresent a pet as a service animal. Unfortunately, the law is nearly impossible to enforce since there are so many limitations on what can be asked to prove the animal is a service animal. Most businesses don't know the laws so they don't bother to ask. Many people continue to lie if they are asked because they know they don't have to provide any proof. I have requested to my State representatives that the ADA be strengthened so that people with service animals must provide proof. Some say this can't be done because it would reveal confidential medical information. Yet, people obtain handicapped license plate without revealing their medical conditions to the world. A government-issued service animal registration would cut down on the number of misrepresented service animals. Of course, it won't do much to make stop the growing number of "pet-friendly" businesses. I've also requested that the government put limits on businesses allowing pets without any positive response. I am fighting this on so many levels and getting so much push-back from the government and businesses. I think we need to band together to make our voices heard.  

Melissa G posted:

I am so sorry you have had so many struggles. We have four in our family with asthma and two children with life threatening food allergies. 

I'm really sorry to hear about your family's allergies and asthma, as well. It is so scary, especially with children. We have multiple family members with various allergies and four that have/had life-threatening asthmatic reactions to dander. I am here to try to find other like-minded sufferers to help us mobilize a legal effort to put a stop to this out of control problem of dogs and other animals in public buildings, stores and on public transportation. It seems like the dander issue is inadequately addressed by many of the organizations that advocate for those with allergies and lung issues, but the problem is growing exponentially.

Melissa G posted:

Welcome to AAFA LAC! How long have you been dealing with alleriges/asthma?

Hi, I've had allergies since age three and asthma since age 14, after a severe case of bronchitis. The animal dander reactions became increasingly severe to the point of being life-threatening by age 15. I also have food sensitivities and a food and drug allergy, but it is the dander allergy that poses the greatest threat, as our society is so hostile towards anyone who points out that people need to come before dogs.

Welcome to AAFA LAC! How long have you been dealing with alleriges/asthma?