This past year, a teen with epilepsy suffered a seizure when her service dog, Flynn, was distracted by a stranger. Hailey's story quickly went viral. "The only time somebody should ever approach Flynn and I is if I am unconscious and/or having a seizure," Hailey said. "Besides that, nobody should try to pet or get near him."
Dr. Ian Kupkee is a Florida-based veterinarian who is passionate about teaching pet owners how to better care for and understand their pets. Recently, Dr. Kupkee published a series of articles about service dogs, causing several of his readers to email him with questions about service dog etiquette. For example, "What should I do when I see a service dog?" or, "Is it okay if my kids approach a service dog?"
His answers may surprise you… Read on for this wonderful article on service dog etiquette!
Credit: Dr. Ian Kupkee / NBC Miami
Dr. Kupkee was at a restaurant when he noticed two diners accompanied by a service dog. He couldn’t help but smile, but looked away quickly, not wanting to distract the dog. The handler however, spoke up.
"'She’s off-duty at the moment,' she informed me in her lively Dublin lilt. 'You can pet her if you like. She would love it!' I soon learned that her name was Cassie, and she was an absolute sweetheart. It was a fantastic moment, not just because it was serendipitous and sweet, but because moments like that one are rare. When it comes to interacting with service dogs in public, experiences like the one I had with Cassie are very much the exception, not the rule."
If you see a service dog in public, the most courteous thing you can do is nothing.
"I have a friend in San Francisco whom I’ll call Sue. During a recent conversation, Sue lamented that she rarely gets a moment’s peace when she is out with her service dog, Molly. Curious, well-meaning strangers are forever approaching her, asking questions about Molly. While they mean no disrespect, many of the questions they ask are personal, and some are downright rude.
"'Why do you need a service dog?' and 'What’s wrong with you?' are questions she hears on an almost daily basis. Such questions are not only inappropriate, they are technically illegal. As per the Americans With Disabilities Act, a service dog handler may only be asked if their dog is a service animal, and what tasks said animal is trained to do which mitigate the effects of a disability. That’s it."
A small dog that is being carried may very well be a medical alert dog.
"Since it is also not required for service dogs to wear identifying vests or harnesses, dogs in hot climates like South Florida often do not. Remember, it is not permitted to ask questions of handlers other than the ones that are allowed by the ADA."
Comments not meant to be disrespectful can still be imposing and/or unwelcome for service dog handlers.
"As our friend Sue so eloquently put it: 'Being disabled means everything takes me twice as long as it should. I know it sounds mean, but interacting with curious strangers is a really inefficient use of my time. Last week, I was out with Molly for two and a half hours, and nineteen people stopped us to ask me questions. One of them even took a selfie.'"
A service dog handler wrote this on Dr. Kupkee's fan page: “It’s so tiring when I’m out in public with Emery, my service dog, and people are constantly trying to pet her..."
"'…I have to tell them no and explain why they can’t, so a 10-minute shopping trip turns into an an hour, and I go home in pain because of it. It really is exhausting.'"
When it comes to interacting with service dogs, a hands-off approach is the #1 rule.
"Generally speaking, service dogs are trained to ignore other people, and focus exclusively on the needs of the handler. Attention from strangers is not only unwelcome, it is stressful for a well-trained service dog. More importantly, the distraction can cause a service dog to miss the cues that signal a handler’s need for assistance. While handlers understand this is never a kindly stranger’s intention, the fact of the matter is that this behavior puts handlers in harm’s way."
Many times, it's parents who are the worst offenders of service dog etiquette.
"Kids love animals, and parents see an encounter with a service dog as a teachable moment. But it’s not a teachable moment. It’s my time. It’s my ability to get around. My life is complicated enough as it is – I don’t have time for show-and-tell."
Parents should teach curious children that these types of pups are hard at work, and should not be interrupted.
"There are plenty of ways to expound upon this lesson without putting a service dog handler at risk. If you see a dog in a public place that does not generally allow pets, assume it is a service dog and do not interfere. If the handler needs help, they will ask for it. If the dog is off-duty and allowed to play, as was the case with my new friend in Dublin, the handler will let you know. But I cannot stress strongly enough just how rarely experiences like the one I shared with Cassie come along."
Service dogs work very hard, but their humans make sure to shower them with attention, affection and lots of love.
"We would be misguided in thinking that they needed affection from strangers in order to feel happy and fulfilled. On the contrary, these animals lead rewarding lives by helping individuals who face obstacles on a daily basis. We can all do our part to make their lives easier by smiling politely, and letting them have their space."
Please SHARE Dr. Kupkee's message you think people need to know this about service dogs!
