Fake Service Dog issue

Today while I was out I saw this great sign on the window at El Forstero in Carmichael! It is great because it shows people who fraudulently put service dog vests on pet dogs are really breaking the law! It does not matter if a person goes to a website about pays for a certification and vest or if they make one themselves, they are still breaking the law. Along with breaking the law, those individuals who use fake vests are hurting people that really need service or guide dogs. Dogs that are not trained are a danger to the public and service dogs if they come in contact with one.


Canine Companions for Independence puppies in training are given access to stores and business' by the goodwill of those establishments. If a puppy raiser is asked to leave they may educate the store or location, but must leave if asked to. Fortunately for us CCI puppies are generally welcomed at most places, since 2001 I have only been asked two times to leave a place with a puppy and they were in very small towns where people really didn't understand much about puppies in training or service dogs. It is very helpful for puppies in training to get exposed to different environments and situations and we thank the business's that allow us access. When puppies are exposed to many different environments they will make a better service dog when they graduate! 

Trained service dogs like those provided by CCI are protected under the ADA and may not be asked to leave any place that is open to the public and where their handler may need to go.

California Penal Code 365.7 (a) states:

Guide Dog—Fraudulent Representation as Misdemeanor

CA PENAL CODE SECTION 365.7

[a] Any person who, knowingly and fraudulently represents himself or herself, through verbal or written notice, to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed as, to be qualified as, or identified as, a guide, signal, or service dog, as defined in subdivisions (d), (e), and (f) of Section 365.5 and paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 54.1 of the Civil Code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both that fine and imprisonment.

[b] As used in this section, "owner" means any person who owns a guide, signal, or service dog, or who is authorized by the owner to use the guide, signal, or service dog. Leg.H 1994 ch.1257.

I would personally love to see those fake service dog handlers getting fined $1000, maybe it would finally stop the abuse! 

HELP Canine Companions for Independence get 20,000 signatures to take to the Department of Justice. Click this link for website.