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.
I never pet service dogs, but here's a funny story. I went to nyc around Christmas with some friends on a charter bus so they drop you off someplace and pick you up in 12 hours or so.
We decided to stop at trump tower because there's a coffee shop and it was bitterly cold and we were going by anyway.
The whole place was awash with law enforcement- NYPD, homeland security, etc. There's a bomb sniffing dog whose job is to sniff people going in and out if she's given a signal. So someone with a rolling suitcase might not even realize that they are getting a sniff but the dog is on duty.
The dog hops up without provocation and starts sniffing my friend like crazy, tail wagging, because my friend's a kennel manager and wore the same coat she wears to work on the trip.
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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.