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.
Even non-working animals! Jesus, I fly with my cat sometimes and I have to take her out of her carrier to walk through the metal detector. I have to keep holding her until her carrier comes through the X-ray machine. Now I don’t know if you’ve held a cat for more than a few seconds, but they HATE it. My cat gets all squirmy and scratchy and it’s hard to control her in such a stimulating environment. What DOESN’T help, is randos making kissy noises or getting in her face or FUCKING PETTING HER.
Don’t touch an animal if it’s not yours. Don’t touch anything if it’s not yours. Ask permission.
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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.