all you need to tell anyone that ask is that she is a service dog trained to mitigate your disability. If anyone ask what your disability is, just tell them that is personal. If any store or business or anything tries to question you further, let them know the law prohibits them from doing so and that they could face criminal and civil damages if they interfer.
Like I said, I appologise to you for making you feel accused of anything. But I am very defensive when people do fake SD's because I know how hard the struggle has been. All you need is "She is a sd trained to assist me with my disability" or something like that.....But please don't fail to let people know that you do have a need...otherwise, people may get a faulty oppinion...just like some of us did. It is not our business WHAT your disability is....but it is our business that you do have a disability..... Marsha > Actually, it has turned out to be a good thing that I was questioned. I > admit I got very defensive. But I do NOT want to tell strangers > everything I told all of you about why Katie is my service dog. What do > I say to strangers when they ask, Marsha? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:53 PM > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] service animals > > > then you are correct...she has every right to be called a service dog > and to accompany you. Honestly...none of us were trying to say she > wasn't or that you were faking or anything....but it did make us > wonder when you wouldn't answer. You do not have to tell people what > you have told us now....I think it is good that you did and I think > facing the problem will help you go a long way in recovery.....but if > you had just said yes, I have a disability she assist me with...then > we would not have wondered. So, I will appologise to you for my part > in making you uncomfrtable here....but now that you have seen the help > that she can give you...you can understand why we are a bit defensive > about those who do fake it...... Marsha > > > I need to make several points. First, I have been disabled since > 1978. My disability is not physical. Mine is the result of growing > up in a nightmare of a home - a place that thought nothing of > locking me inside a home-built coffin, a mother who set me up time > and time again to be sexually abused, a father who blinded my sister > by punching her, a brutally sadistic brother who (never mind - I'm > not getting into that here). So my disability is mental/emotional. > This disability sometimes makes life VERY difficult. So difficult > that I tried to kill myself on June 2, 2007. > > > > At this point in my life, I have been homebound (agoraphobia) for > almost 11 years. Since I got Katie, I have actually taken her for > > walks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a MAJOR accomplishment for me!! > Admittedly, these have been rather short walks - about a block out. > But the fact that I have left my apartment at all is a very good > sign of just how much Katie is helping me. As you all know, I need > surgery. In an effort to take a step toward getting the surgery and > help with my other problems, I contacted a therapist. When she heard > how much Katie has already helped me, she suggested I make Katie my > service dog. I told her I had no idea how to do it. She sent me a > link with this statement posted on the home page: > > > > "IMPORTANT: It is illegal to label your dog as a Service Dog if you > are not disabled. The ADA defines a Service Animal as any guide dog, > signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide > assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this > definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA > regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a > state or local government." > > > > Katie meets the requirements of the ADA - she assists me in being > able to leave my home. Therefore, she is my Service Dog even though > she has not been licensed or certified by any state or local > government. Katie is the only 'thing' that has gotten me to leave my > apartment in almost 11 years. With her help, I will get to a > therapist and I will get to a doctor and then the hospital for the > surgery. Eventually I will get to the point where I will no longer > need Katie by my side just to leave my apartment. But in the > meantime, she will be with me every time I go out. She gives me > courage and strength. > > > > I did not make her my Service Dog just so I can take her her > everywhere and show her off. Without her, I would not be going > > anywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made her my Service Dog to save my > > life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > Sharon & Katie > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Cim's Curio Corner > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:06 PM > > Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] service animals > > We also have to remember that just because a person looks normal > doesn't mean they are. Service dogs are now used for people with > diabetes to alert when there sugar is getting low, people with > seizures to alert when they might have an episode, there are many > other reasons, people with curtain heart problems, people with > asthma both to alert with things are going bad before the person > realizes because it maybe to late at that time. > > This email contains correspondence from an attorney and may contain > privileged information. If you are not the intended receipient, please > delete. > > Do not tell god how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God > is. > > http://taylorstots.tripod.com/ > > > > This email contains correspondence from an attorney and may contain privileged information. If you are not the intended receipient, please delete. Do not tell god how big your storm is. Tell the storm how big your God is. http://taylorstots.tripod.com/ ------------------------------------ " Lets talk about our wonderful little friends! Join today! " Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chihuahuas/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
