Like many ministers, I have a
difficult time with self-care. I would rather be taking care of someone else
than thinking about myself, and that’s not a good thing.
And so I have Kirby, my service dog.
Kirby tells me if I need medication, if I’m overly tired and need to lie down or go home, or if
I need to get out of the sun. He alerts
on my arm or gives me a special bark. We
worked with a special trainer and my previous dog, Jake, helped him learn his
job. And nearly every time I am out,
someone asks me where they can get a vest like Kirby’s for their dog.
This is a problem. Kirby has been trained for his job. We take extra care to make sure he is
healthy, because he is a working dog. Of
course he receives all his vaccinations, and flea, tick and heart worm
medication. He also receives medication
for Cushing’s
Disease, a malfunction of the adrenal gland, and is on a special diet. And we are constantly reinforcing his
training. He’s not just a pet.
Our city and county have a
medallion regulation for service dogs.
They are supposed to be registered either with the City of Eureka or
Humboldt County, and this requires that they are licensed, that a physician
certifies their medical service, and that the owner specifies what service they
perform. The medallion is free of charge
once the requirements have been met.
I’m glad for the medallion because it gives business
owners the right to ask people to remove animals without medallions from stores
and restaurants. People in Humboldt
County love their animals, and they want to bring them everywhere. It’s not unusual to see a chihuahua in a dress in a
shopping cart (I hate to think of the sanitary aspects). We’ve been threatened by a pit bull with a studded
collar, whose owner stated he was a service dog. When we asked what the dog’s service was, he stated “protection.” Fortunately, the store manager made him
leave.
Too many people think a dog that
makes them happy is a service animal, and that I should tell them where to get
a vest so they can bring them shopping.
I’ve
tried explaining to them what makes a service animal, and been called some
pretty awful names. But now I just ask, “Oh, does your dog have a
medallion?” If they answer “No,” or don’t know what I’m talking about, I just tell them I’m sorry I can’t help them.
I talk to many business owners
about the dog problem, and find that most of them don’t know about the
medallions. I only found out when I went
to license my dogs when we moved here.
So now I make it my mission to let business owners know. Most of them feel helpless because they
believe they have to allow every dog in if the owner claims it’s a service dog. When I tell them they can ask to see the dog’s medallion and refuse
admittance if the dog doesn’t have one, they are relieved. They are tired of dogs that urinate,
defecate, menace other customers, and destroy property.
Are bogus service animals a
problem where you live? I fear we’re coming to a place where
national regulations might be enacted.
If so, I hope they will be common-sense, like the ones here in Humboldt
County.
“who teaches us more
than the animals of the earth” Job 35:11
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of animals who love us
and care for us. Help us to treat them
with care and respect, and never ask more of them than they are capable of
doing. Great us wisdom and patience as
we interact with our animals and with each other. Amen.
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| Atlas -- Eric Pridmore's service dog. Atlas is also the Professor of Dogmatics at the UM Association of Ministers with Disabilities. |
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