Dear Amy: I volunteer at several public places (including a zoo) where visitors often bring what they claim is a service animal.
Often this is clearly a lie. For example, today a visitor to the zoo claimed her puppy was a service animal. When I told her that pets weren’t allowed, she responded and dared me to ask her about service animal laws.
Management has warned volunteers like me not to mess with these people unless the so-called service animal poses a nuisance or poses a threat. If someone insists that their animal companion be a service animal or an “emotional support animal.” ‘ is, we should take him at his word. This is mainly done to avoid the risk of a lawsuit.
Would you please remind your readers that a service animal is a specific legal entity? Pretending your dog — or any other pet — is a service animal is doing the rest of us a disservice. It is legitimate, selfish behavior that may endanger other people and other animals.
And it’s not fair to people who respect the rules and (reluctantly) leave their pet at home. This is part of the responsibility of having a pet.
If everyone took their pet everywhere, we would see a lot more animals fighting and pooping and a lot more allergy sufferers sneezing.
There are many places where pets are welcome. But there are also many places where they would be better off at home.
animal lover
Dear animal lover: I firmly believe that all beloved pets are emotional support animals, but our love for our pets doesn’t entitle us to take them everywhere.
I am pleased to publish this public announcement.
The zoo where you volunteer adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which states, “A person with a disability who is accompanied by a service animal may not be asked to provide proof of a disability to answer questions about to answer their disability or “to have the service animal demonstrate its work.”
The only questions an employee can ask are: is the dog a service animal needed because of a disability, and what job or task was the dog trained for?
The ADA regulations further state, “Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support are not considered service animals.”
Dear Amy: A new friend helped me after I got sick while moving house. I really appreciated their help.
She has decided that I can return her favor by babysitting her elderly cat for several days.
I said sure, I can go to her house and feed her cat, water her and check on her. However, she informed me that I would keep her cat at my house so that she could have company.
This puts my own health at risk. I explained that in addition to a cat’s fur, its droppings also trigger my allergies.
She said I could leave the cat and her litter box upstairs and stay downstairs, but to clean the room I would have to wear a mask and repeatedly clean every soft object. It would be months before I could use that space again.
She is very stubborn and doesn’t seem to want to understand.
My allergies are so severe that a recent visit to another friend who has a cat caused a violent allergic reaction while sitting outside on the patio. The cat just walked behind me and elicited a reaction.
I live alone 15 difficult miles from a hospital and I don’t know how severe my allergies could be with daily interaction. I would give my friend any other help, but I can’t do that.
How do I express my point of view?
Allergic and sick
Dear allergy sufferer: It could be extremely stressful for an older cat to be transported into your home and caged in a new location – with limited human interaction. I assume the cat would be much more comfortable in its own territory when its owner is away.
You need to have the power of a solid and polite word and convey, “No, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this due to my severe allergies.”
If you respectfully and repeatedly decline this request, express your point of view.
Dear Amy: I just wanted to give you an “Attagirl” for your patient, kind and wise advice to the anxious teenager who signed his question “Doubting everything in life”. For that reason, I look forward to your replies to children who write to you.
Grateful fan
Dear Grateful: Questions from young people seem to inspire me the most. Thank you for your kind confirmation.
You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, PO Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.