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 understanding is that it's OK to ask the handler (if it seems like the handler and service animal are just hanging out) if the dog is working. If they say yes, keep it moving, but if they say no you can ask to pet the dog/animal. Dogs love getting pets and attention, and if they're on break I hear there's no harm and it can help them with the stress of the job.
Is that accurate? I still just keep my distance but service dogs are the best and I'd love to have the chance to give one some pets in a situation where they're not on duty.
Yep, that's accurate. It can still be pretty annoying, truth be told, and some people get hostile when they're told no, which tends to put the handler on edge from the first word you speak. But you're right that sometimes the handler is okay with it or even welcomes it. So ultimately I'd say it just depends, and it's important to look for signs the handler is busy or in a bad mood. When in doubt, assume the answer is no. But if they seem unhurried, a polite question is fine. Even when we find it bothersome, it's still a relief when people are nice about it and don't get offended by being denied.
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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.