10/30/2025
Service animals are becoming more and more common as time goes on, which is amazing. They are a working dog out there to do a service for their handlers! Unfortunately, there are way too many people who try to take advantage of the term "service dog" So let’s talk about service animals at restaurants and in public!
First off, the fake service animals...or in reality people faking being disabled to bring their untrained pets in places where they don't belong... We’ve all seen it. They’re everywhere. Barking at other tables, begging for food, sitting up on chairs, or wandering around, barking at people in stores. That’s not a service dog. That’s someone’s pet dressed up in a vest they bought online. Doing this is wrong and extremely selfish. When people do that, it makes life harder and even dangerous for those who actually depend on a task-trained service dog to get through their day safely.
“Oh, but I got a doctor’s note and bought the ID card from a reputable site.” I hate to break it to you, but there’s no official ID, license, or certification for service animals. The ADA doesn’t require any of that. You can’t buy legitimacy off the internet. The only thing that really matters, is behavior.
A trained service dog is calm, quiet, and under control at all times. They are calm at a grocery store, at a park... and at a restaurant, that means lying on the floor beside its handler or tucked neatly under the table. They aren’t begging for food, barking, wandering, or seeking attention from other people. If a “service animal” is doing any of that, it’s not trained and it’s not a real service dog. Period.
Now for restaurant owners. You have rights too. The ADA clearly states that service animals must be under control at all times. If a “service animal” is barking, jumping, lunging, or not following its handler’s commands, you have every right to ask them to leave. It doesn’t matter "real service dog" or not. A vest/or badge doesn’t excuse bad behavior.
The bottom line is real service animals don’t need a vest or a ID card to prove themselves. Their behavior will tell you everything you need to know. Fake handlers are the reason real teams get questioned, doubted, and sometimes unlawfully denied entry. So if you’re one of those people trying to pass your pet off as a service dog just so you can take it out to eat, don’t. It's actually quite dangerous! Without the proper training, your dog could become reactive or fearful and really hurt someone! It's not a clever idea!
You’re part of the problem!
Service dogs do make mistakes though; they are not robots. If you see someone struggling, give them space and if they are a legitimate handler, they will rectify it immediately. If not, the behavior will continue without correction and its up to the BUSINESS to address it. Heckling, harassing, or trying to take it upon yourself to resolve it is not the way to go. Let management deal with it. When I run into these issues I educate management of their rights and the risk to the public's safety if its not addressed. From there, I try to maintain distance and protect my peace and my animal.
