Officially forming the theory that the reason more service dog handlers don't use protective gear like boots, goggles, and ear protection on their dog is because the public becomes 3000% more unbearable when they try.
We're all used to "aaaaawwww look the the doggo" when we go out with our working animals, but getting
1. Accosted for pictures (whether folks ask or just invade your space and distract your dog)
2. Pointed at like an exhibit
3. Shouted at (OMG DOGGLES, "why is it wearing that" etc)
4. Actively followed around by strangers
Is downright fucking awful.
I know it looks cool. I know some of our gear is specialized. I know pet dogs don't usually wear/tolerate what SDs learn the wear. But for the love of whatever you deem holy, BE KIND ABOUT IT. All of the actions listed above are just fucking rude. Leave people alone. Leave service dogs alone.
Disabled people can exist without being spectacles
Canadian filmmaker renounces her Israeli citizenship in response to Israel's ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestine. "Peace is not Israel's goal. I don't know if it ever was". The vast majority of Israeli citizens* are dual citizenship holders, ie they were from another country, were born in another country and in the "ten pound pom" fashion, went to populate the illegal Israeli expansion settlements in Palestine, in support of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
This is how they created and expanded the created nation state of Israel, since its genesis in 1947. It's a system that is still in practice today, whereby Zionists (all Jewish people are eligible, but it's the Zionists who do) can obtain an Israeli citizenship from anywhere in the world, (they do not have to move to live there to obtain one) and travel there short or long term, which many do at at least some point in their lives. All eligible for Israeli citizenship worldwide, under the "right of return", including Israeli Jews, amounts to 25.5 million - Note , displaced Palestinians do not have the "right of return" to their own land, ie the indigenous population of Palestine is not allowed the right of return to their own land, Israel have never allowed this or agreed to this in the various Peace talks, but Israel grants a 'right of return' to people that have no connection to the land, place, who have never set foot there nor have their families or ancestors. And centrally, to people who are from and already live in other, extremely safe countries. In both present day and the entire time the nation state of Israel has existed. (*dual Israeli citizenship holders globally, who currently reside there or not, both in present day and the entire time Israel has existed and occupied Palestine. How do you think Israel was populated? They are not the original population of Palestine. It's a Colonial Settlement and Occupation. A created nation state is not the same thing as a country with an indigenous population, aka Palestine. Pre Israel creation, Colonisation and occupation, Muslims, Christians and Jewish people all lived in Palestine, as it is sacred to many religions. The small Jewish population that existed originally in Palestine were not the population that created, settled or expanded into Israel. That was mainly European Jewish immigrants with the help of the British, and later the UN. Israel is not a peaceful immigration state, it is a brutally violent colonial settlement and occupation that has pushed innocent Palestinians out of their land, and continues to do so. They have never wanted to share. They have stolen Palestine from its indigenous population, and illegally continue to expand. And displaced its indigenous, originary Palestinian population. With constant genocidal intent and action. Peace has never been their goal.
I support sport crosses with a dedicated purpose and breeding projects with goals at creating a standard, with ethics. Not your local designer dogs with thought beyond aesthetics, but an actual ethical, well thought out program. I feel like this isn't all too bold to say, but there's a breeder and some unrelated dinglehopper on tiktok trying pretty hard to tell me these things are unnecessary breeding. And like... I feel as a Silken Owner, I especially can't shit on these projects, because I would not have Argos without people willing to make mutts with a long term goal in mind.
Could someone with more dog knowledge weigh in for me or give me a bit of literature? I feel like my stance and knowledge is surface level still.
Being a veteran does not exempt you from service dog laws
Being disabled does not exempt you from service dog laws
If your dog is not trained to perform tasks that mitigate and help manage a disability, and it does not know how to behave calmly in public, it is NOT a service dog.
If your dog is not a service dog, it does not have the right to be in places pets are not allowed.
Following trained service dogs with your untrained pet is not okay.
Being a jackass about it does not change the laws either.