There’s a new site that’s causing a furor in the dogosphere: ServiceDogRegistration.org. It’s a site that will register any dog as a service dog. They don’t even need a skill-testing question.
Since Tierce is my aversion therapy dog, I figured that he needed his own certification. Unfortunately, the cheapest option is $49.99 for a single laminated ID card. So we didn’t do that. However, Tierce is now registered as an Emotional Support Dog.
You can find Tierce in the database!
Not satisfied with that, I felt that I should register him with another organization. You know, just to be on the safe side. So he is now Service Dog 1385277899 on the USServiceDogRegistry.org.
But you know, that isn’t enough for me. I need extra help. I need another Service Dog.
Enter Puffy.
Puffy entered our lives a month ago, when I bought him at the Richmond Night Market. He was quite bloated and had no visible hair. I can’t say that our ownership of him has improved him any; one leg fell off a week ago, but he keeps smiling, so I’m pretty sure he’s happy.
Puffy is now also a Service Dog with ServiceDogRegistration.org.
You can find Puffy in the database!
And he is also now a Service Dog with the USServiceDogRegistry.org.
BUT WHY? WHY POKE THE CRAZY? AGAIN?
These websites will offer ‘certification’ to any person registering with them. For $49.99 and up, you can get laminated IDs, certificates… everything you need to convince people that you have a bona fide service dog. Then, the sky’s the limit, as ServiceDogRegistry.org advertises. The implication is that buying ‘certification’ from them will give a dog owner access to free flights for their dog.
These sites claim to be only providing registration services, but the products they offer are clearly purchased with the intent of using them to aid people who are trying to illicitly gain access for their non-service dog to areas normally barred to non-service animals. This places the public in peril of encountering a poorly trained and managed dog where they should reasonably expect not to encounter any dogs at all. As a result, it becomes more difficult for people with disabilities to get recognition, accommodation and access for their canine companions. These sites contribute to the abuse of a system put in place to help people with legitimate disabilities.
But, until Canada and the US governments do something about it, I’m sure that both Puffy and Tierce will be great comforts to me.
I’m looking at training my own service dog ( A Shiba would be ideal for me but the reality = not a happy working Shiba 🙂 ) Anyways Being in Canada – rules & Regulations are not in favor of self/ or non Asstance dog International trained dogs – USA is alot more liberated -as far as I understand — But I do believe there should be some sort of standard for organization trained & owner trained dogs – just like driving tests- it doesnt matter who teaches you ohw to drive – as long as you follow the rules of the road & your capible on doing it safely – you pass. PS Puffy looks as though hes highly trained !!!! Good Job Puffy !!
I agree totally. It would be a lot better if there was an organization that had stringent testing and information that people could rely on. I think having a dog certified through an organization does several things: it provides businesses assurance that the dog is trained to a high level AND managed responsibly, it gives people resources for training/gaining access with a service dog and it also creates a sense of pride in a dog/owner achievement that makes a dog handler reluctant to put their dog in a situation where they could put that certification in jeopardy.