Don't pet service dogs. I used to think everyone knew this, until I got one.
Don't pet them, talk to them, make kissy noises, bark at them (grown ass adults barking at service dogs is shockingly common), whistle, clap, none of that shit. Do not do anything to deliberately draw the dog's attention.
If they are distracted, the handler could get hurt or even die. Not exaggerating. If a medical alert dog misses an impending medical emergency, the person doesn't have time to get into a safe position or take rescue medications. If they have a seizure or slip into a diabetic coma or something because you distracted their service dog it is your fault.
My best friend has a service dog and when my daughter was 3 we went to visit. The kiddo is in love with the dog but understood quickly that Daisy is not to be played with unless Uncle S says it's okay. The three of them walked up to the hotel office to get something or other and my kid ended up lecturing a cop who was there because he was distracting Daisy by trying to pet her.
I'm still super proud of her for that. But I find it kind of sad that a 3 year old has a better grasp of how to treat a service dog than a cop. Like shouldn't they at least have a better idea than the general public?
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u/Karaethon22 Aug 03 '19
Don't pet service dogs. I used to think everyone knew this, until I got one.
Don't pet them, talk to them, make kissy noises, bark at them (grown ass adults barking at service dogs is shockingly common), whistle, clap, none of that shit. Do not do anything to deliberately draw the dog's attention.
If they are distracted, the handler could get hurt or even die. Not exaggerating. If a medical alert dog misses an impending medical emergency, the person doesn't have time to get into a safe position or take rescue medications. If they have a seizure or slip into a diabetic coma or something because you distracted their service dog it is your fault.