When people think of service dogs for veterans, they think of German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and pugs.
Wait a second. One of those doesn’t sound right.
In early July, Robert Ragels, a veteran of multiple tours in the Persian Gulf, was denied access into Texas state legislature chambers by state troopers when he tried to enter with his service pug, Piggy. He was eventually allowed to enter after a state senator’s aide helped, but the experience still left him frustrated.
“A person like me that looks normal and I bring in a dog, they think, ‘well that can’t be right,’ said Ragels. “When something like this happens it just drives me absolutely crazy because I just want to be the same, that’s all I want.”
It’s ironic where the incident took place: where a Texas bill had been signed to put the state’s laws regarding service animals more in line with the Americans With Disabilities ADA Act (ADA).
Ragels has had Piggy for two years and trained with her through Train a Dog, Save a Warrior, a non-profit that helps train service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I understand she’s not a big German shepherd carrying my stuff around because I can’t walk or whatever but regardless she is a service animal,” he said.
This incident is interesting because it illustrates that service dogs do not fit a cookie cutter definition, especially when it comes to veterans suffering from non-physical injuries. Dogs that are not “traditional” service dogs – a sprightly pug, perhaps? – can provide valuable therapy and companionship to veterans suffering from the effects of disabilities such as PTSD (although providing emotional support alone does not qualify a dog as a “service dog” under the ADA).
Under the ADA, Ragels shouldn’t have been required to jump through hoops to bring Piggy with him to the state legislature chambers. Under the ADA, if it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, a public entity or a private business may ask only two questions: 1) Is the animal required because of a disability? and 2) What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? Thus, the state troopers should have asked Ragels these questions, and, when reasonably satisfied, permitted Ragels and his dog to walk through the doors.
Also, the state troopers could not have asked Ragels certain questions. Under the ADA, a public entity or private business may not ask about the nature or extent of an individual’s disability. It also may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal, or require the animal to wear an identifying vest.
While these requirements are etched into federal law, not all businesses and public places “in the moment” know what to do. As a veterans advocate, I hope business owners and officials take steps to learn the ADA’s requirements regarding service dogs. This way, they can spare veterans with service dogs embarrassment and frustration – and, in addition, prevent exposure to a potential lawsuit.
Everyone benefits by businesses taking the initiative to learn more about service dog requirements. These can be accessed here.
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I am glad that you decided to post this because it seems like Texas has a disproportional number of service dog access disputes!! Maybe a statewide instruction would be beneficial! 🙂
The article states that dogs can provide therapy and companionship, which is true. But those things do not make a dog a service dog, according to the ADA. The law specifically says that providing emotional support does not make a dog a service dog. To be a service dog, a dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a handler’s disability. Piggy might be trained to perform such tasks; I don’t know. None of the articles I’ve seen about this incident say whether she is or not. But providing companionship is not a trained task and if that is all a dog does, it is not a service dog according to federal law.
Hi Kelly,
You’re absolutely right – under the ADA, a service dog is defined as follows: “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not considered to be service animals. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.”
I haven’t seen any other articles that discuss what Piggy does for her veteran. If she is just a companion animal who helped alleviated his PTSD symptoms by presence alone, she wouldn’t meet the “service dog” definition. Also, if she provided help she wasn’t trained to do, she likewise wouldn’t meet the definition (such as if she she leaned against her owner when she sensed he was becoming stressed).
I’ll add to the article that providing emotional support does not automatically qualify a dog as a service dog.
Sarah
This is one of the better written articles about service dogs that I have come across. There is a lot of misinformation out there as to what a service dog is or isn’t.
It is very disheartening to see the number of veterans – especially in the State of Texas for some reason – who are being denied access. It seems to be routine for Texas, for some reason. And as a person with a disability who has a service dog, it definitely makes me think twice about ever wanting to visit Texas.
I find it disgusting that the gentleman was denied access at the State Capitol Building – by a State Trooper, no less. I hope after this fiasco that the entire staff is retrained on the pertinent service dog laws.
Congress is expected to vote on the vrap extension bill to decide the fate of VRAP funding later this year. Please support the extension!
People get service dog And Emotional Support dogs and Thearpy dogs miss up they need to Go online and read all three types before they take any type of these working dogs out in public learn the laws first and read American With Disabilities Act also.
I am a Veteran who also has a Service Pug named Kaiju. I also constantly get comments like “she isn’t a real service dog..is she?” and “Pugs can’t be service dogs…”. We have been thrown out of restaurants, shops, and clinics as well as people still just reach down and pet her without permission. Truth is Kaiju is highly trained and tuned into me. She lets me know if I am going to have flash backs by a woof and protects me at night when I thrash about. I have a history of hurting myself due to my dreams and she uses her body to help keep me safe and wake me up calmly. She barks to let me know if I have anxiety and to take my medication even before I notice the anxiety which typically results in flash backs. She also helps to get things for me since I also suffer from TBI and lets me know if I am about to have seizures because of it. Pugs are great service dogs since they are so in tune with their people. She has helped me gain almost 100% of normal function.
I am a disabled American and am continually harassed over my pug who is a service Dog. He has been trained to forewarn me before a seizure as well as remind me to take my medication. I have simplified my life by getting him a patch that shows he is a epilepsy alert dog. I know this is not necessary but I’m fed up with ppl not knowing the law and not considering they are not allowed to harass me over his usefulness or abilities. He and I are not show monkeys we desire to be treated like everyone else