Lawmakers want to keep owners of service animals honest

Service animals in vests are cute. Service animals in vests when they aren’t actually service animals are less cute.

Stop handing out participation trophies

Legislators in Olympia want to prevent people from bringing animals into spaces they wouldn’t otherwise be allowed by claiming they’re service animals. House Bill 2822 would allow law enforcement to issue a $500 ticket to anyone caught claiming a dog is a service animal if it can’t perform a task for a person living with a disability.

The primary sponsor of the bill is Republican Rep. Mike Steele. It has received bipartisan support.

Democrat Rep. Joan McBride is a co-sponsor.

“You’re starting to see dogs more and more where typically you wouldn’t see them,” McBride told 770 KTTH’s Jason Rantz. “You wouldn’t see them in a restaurant, you wouldn’t see them in a library, et cetera, unless they were bona fide service dogs. I think this is becoming more and more of a problem”

There are plenty of studies indicating pets reduce stress, and there are stories from all over the country of animals being used therapeutically. McBride acknowledges animals can be helpful in these contexts, but she says it’s still important to make distinctions.

“Service dogs are very different than even very well-trained dogs,” McBride said. “They have to be able to perform a task for a person living with a disability. Other than that they are not a service dog.”

If passed, people could call the police when they see regular pets incorrectly labeled as service animals. At that point, the police would assess whether levying the $500 fine is necessary, but McBride says this isn’t intended to be a money-making bill.

“The point isn’t to get $500,” McBride said. “The point is to begin to educate people in as gentle a way as we can.”

McBride promises she has nothing against dogs.

“I’m a dog owner, and I actually do feel better when I have my dog around,” McBride said. “So, this is not anti-dog.”

A public hearing for the bill is scheduled for Jan. 31.

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