Comments on: “Please Don’t Pet Me I’m Working.” http://angelinoview.com/2009/01/10/%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-pet-me-i%e2%80%99m-working%e2%80%9d/ A writer who hears everything Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:06:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: textualfury http://angelinoview.com/2009/01/10/%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-pet-me-i%e2%80%99m-working%e2%80%9d/#comment-15563 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:14:55 +0000 http://angelinoview.com/?p=1016#comment-15563 You state you are not going to mock the disabled, that this is not your intention, but you promptly suggest to Hollywood’s two biggest actors who would portray the abuses of these laws in the most asinine ways to get on board? Please, realize that IS mocking the disabled.

I use a service cat, she is very well trained and meets the behavioral standards set by the Delta service dogs, but I am often having to fight for access because people abuse the system. I agree it is wrong for pets, but why should I have to explain to everyone my entire medical history just to buy food? She doesn’t leave my wheelchair unless she has to. She is NOT an anxiety assistance animal, she is assisting me with things like transfers, the small bit of walking I have left, medicine reminders, and she can even call 911 if I need her to do so.

There do need to be restrictions on types of service animals. I feel awful for saying this but, can you train every animal used? I am not certain you can. The law should leave room for primates, but, it also should protect the health of everyone involved. Somewhere, the law does have to give way.

As far as your comment Eileen, that you would just walk away. You might, but, for ever person who gives in, there are a dozen others, and the person discriminating, breaking the federal law, has the power. You also might begin to run out of places to eat and shop, as the majority of the world is first and foremost anti disabled. You are not the majority obviously, but, you would be surprised who is capable of discrimination.

I hope more people like you step up, accepting that everyone has an individualized need.

]]> By: Eileen http://angelinoview.com/2009/01/10/%e2%80%9cplease-don%e2%80%99t-pet-me-i%e2%80%99m-working%e2%80%9d/#comment-15527 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:35:10 +0000 http://angelinoview.com/?p=1016#comment-15527 I believe that people should be able to have the service animal of their liking, but the problem is when people take advantage in order to have their “pet” go with them everywhere. As with anything else in life, those who abuse the system ruin it for themselves and everyone else. There are certain things that other animals, such as monkeys can do because of their manual dexterity that dogs simply can’t. Their are trained capuchin monkeys who assist the physically disabled by fetching items they drop, flipping the pages of a book, retrieving a bottle of water from a fridge and inserting a straw, and even microwaving food. A dog could never do any of those thing because they are physically incapable. One must also consider that many people are allergic to dogs, and cats, myself included. Although I am not disabled today, one never knows what the future may hold for me. What If I become disabled and need an assistance animal? I am out of luck because the only animal I can have I am allergic to?

What must be taught/emphasized is responsible ownership, use, & respect for others, not more legislation banning the rights of all. In any facet of life their will be responsible people, and irresponsible people. It is a fact of life. Whenever a ban or law is put into place it removes the rights of everyone. If I own a primate and I take it out with me, but someone asks me politely to leave because they are uncomfortable, or one of their patrons is, I will walk away, & visit the next place where they will welcome my pet or service animal.

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