My service dog story

[Guest5643]

Pg 1. need to write this post after reading the thread 'How do i get a service dog?

Sorry its a VERY long post.

This is an extremely hard post to write for fear of judgment. My dog jesse was my assistance dog for approx 5 yrs. I permantly retired him the day he nearly lost his life by a particular breed and he became and still is aggressive with certain breeds of dogs now. This happen before his cruiciate ligament ruptures. I will write our story then the service dog rules.

Our story sounds to surreal to be believable. I have since had an official apology from a different manager.

OUR STORY is not a nice one and one for which i have apologised profusely to him. I know he forgives me and holds no grudges. When he was 6 months old i accidently came across a website called DISABILTY AID DOGS. I had absolutley no idea about assistance dogs or the rules at the time. I have learnt the rules the hard way. The website at the time was different to now. I called the nsw regional manager and she said it will cost me a few hundred dollars and i can take my dog anywhere i want. I said i don't necessarily need jesse to help me when im out. She said that dosnt matter and said you want to take him everywhere if you could wouldnt you, which of course i did. I said im on a very small income and cannot afford any hidden costs. She assured me there wasnt. I paid that then was told we need 3 training sessions on different days at $50 each. The first was to the local library that was fine we basicaly walked in and out. The next was to the local coles which had shopping trolleys piled up outside. She told me to walk the trolley while holding jesses lead and push the trolley over and pick it up and do that over 10 times and then she rammed the trolley a few times into the others. I thought shes the expert there must be a purpose to this. This was jesses first introduction to shopping trolleys. I said i dont want to go in coles cause he'll jump up and eat the food but she said he'll be fine. We then went in coles and i was told to walk around while she did her shopping with her service dog. She would never tell me why she needed one. Thankgod jesse was fantastic and didnt touch anything or pee anywhere. He wasnt scared of the trolleys that day but anytime after that he was too scared and traumatized and to this day still freaks if he sees or hears a trolley. The 3rd trip was 2 minute bus ride and a 2 minute bus ride back again.

[Doolhof]

Hi Helium,

There is nothing to apologise for. It can be very easy for the written word to be mistaken. I have certainly not wanted to upset you in any way either. I have very little knowledge or understand of assistance animals. I am not sure what happens with them when they are retired.

It is wonderful that Jesse is still such a support to you. I have often considered getting a dog as a companion, only my husband does not like dogs much. That may well be as he has never had one as a pet.

Mental Health can certainly be a long term issue for many people.

I hope you and Jesse have some special moments together today.

All the best from Dools

[Guest5643]

Hi dools.

THANKYOU🙇 . Thats great about the nursing home i wish all were the same. When jesse was an older puppy a took him to a nursing home to visit in but they didnt pre warn me that there was a bird cage in the middle of the room and the cockatiel freaked and flapped its wings so jesse started high pitch barking then all the people were holding there ears cause there hearing aids were working overdrive, neadless to say we didnt go back😅

I honestly dont know about anyone elses situation with there dogs but with jesse i made sure hes free time far outwayed hes working time. Ive had horrible comments from people when he was working including a lady yelled from across the bus you dont have mental illness theres nothing wrong with you. Ive had people tell me its cruel having a dog on a bus, that particular day we were going to a pet shop then park bush walk then home again. Ive had people say mentaly ill people shouldnt own a dog, if they cant look after themselves how can they properly look after a dog.

I hope you have a great day 2day. Were gonna go on a nice bush walk. It hasnt rained for so long so there no leeches about.

Cheers lynne

[Doolhof]

Hi lynne,

It is hard to understand why some people say the things they do. It is the same as able bodies people parking in a disability park because they feel they have the right to do that.

Maybe some people are just ignorant and don't understand assistance dogs can be used for so many different situations these days. Maybe there needs to be commercials on T.V. explaining this to the general population.

Hope you enjoyed your walk. Our region is far too dry for leeches! I don't think I would like to find one of those hooked onto my skin.

I was in the garden yesterday and was bitten by a huge ant! The bite hurt for a while. It managed to bite me through my denim jeans.

All the best to you, cheers from Dools

[Guest5643]

Hi dools.

Those bity anys realy hurt. Thats impressive though biting through jeans. I think its appaling an organisation can get away with such illegal immoral activity. There is clearly countless more human and dog victims out there from the organisation. There needs to be a national registry for assistance dogs so this cannot happen. I hope someone in the future who is needing one comes across this thread and learns the truth. Its up to them what they choose to do from there. The problem is a lot of people think oh shes mentaly ill so shes clearly exgarating and not thinking properly. I can assure everyone this %100 correct. The only thing thats wrong is my spelling. The day i got my my smart phone is the day my spelling started to go downhill big time😅

Cheers lynne

[Doolhof]

Hi lynne,

I've not been in your situation so don't know how the process should have been handled. Hopefully, if in the future, you require the services of someone to gain the help of another assistant dog the process will be different.

I'm with you regarding spelling! I struggled at school, only knowing I needed glasses when I was 30 years old. Maybe if I had been able to see clearly when younger, it might have been different! Ha.Ha.

There is no way to turn back the clock and change things of the past. I need to remind myself that today is what matters.

This morning I had a long walk and loved being out in the fresh air and wind.

Hope your day went well.

Cheers from Dools

[Guest5643]

Hi

What have i learnt from an infuriating afternoon yesterday?

I have learned to pay no attention to the assistance dog law anymore. I have always abided by the law with this unless i genuinely didnt know.

I tried to start the process of recertifying jesse. What is very clear is there's the real law and then there's the trainer and organisation swindled law.

For $250 i was offered a 3yr transport nsw card from a delta trainer who said its for buses, trains and taxis only but not for access anywhere else. I said i just want my dog access for dr and she said ill be fine in other areas cause no one will know.

If all these trainers and organisations are choosing to not play by the rules then why should I.

Just like so many others i will buy some sort of apparel online. I will make up my own card. Its my turn to not care.

Lynne