Police Officers doing good things

[lenaitch]

In Ontario a service animal must either be clearly identifiable as such, like a service animal vest, or the handler must provide documentation from one of a category of medical practitioners. It’s been a few years since I’ve had to look at it closely so I forget which medical professionals specifically qualify.

And anyone can buy a vest online, regardless of the animal's training or the person's need.

From the Ontario government website:

If your guide dog/service animal does not wear a vest or harness, you can show documentation from one of these regulated health professionals:

• audiologist or speech-language pathologist
• chiropractor
• nurse
• occupational therapist
• optometrist
• physician or surgeon
• physiotherapist
• psychologist
• psychotherapist or mental health therapist

In some cases, the law does not allow service animals.

 

[mariomike]

If a customer is so emotionally unstable they need an Emotional Support Animal to use TTC , they may be eligible to use TTC Wheel-Trans. Anytime . Door to door .

An Emotional Support Animal is an animal that provides comfort therapy to a Wheel-Trans customer. The customer must provide Wheel-Trans with medical documents from a physician or nurse confirming that they require the animal for emotional support.

On the conventional TTC (subways, buses, and streetcars), Emotional Support Animals are treated as pets.

They can ride conventional TTC only during certain hours .

Under the circumstances, I think the police handeld the situation as best they could.

 

[mariomike]

“Emotional support animals” have no recognized legal status in Ontario and the owner is not entitled to any accommodations for same. The bar for “service animal” in Ontario is very low; if they don’t even meet that, well, too bad. Legally that’s nothing more than a pet.

In this recent London , ON case , the question arises if Emotional Support Animals , wearing a vest ,are entitled to occupy a seat of their own ?

According to the complainant, Operators, "Stop the bus and refuse to continue driving until we get off."

Not sure how police would resolve a situation like that.

 

[brihard]

In this recent London , ON case , the question arises if Emotional Support Animals , wearing a vest ,are entitled to occupy a seat of their own ?

According to the complainant, Operators, "Stop the bus and refuse to continue driving until we get off."

Not sure how police would resolve a situation like that.

View attachment 100967

If the vest says ‘emotional support animal’, that means nothing.

 

[Jarnhamar]

If the vest says ‘emotional support animal’, that means nothing.

Is there a law against putting a 'service animal' vest on a dog and trying to pass them off as a service animal?

 

[Nvlgzr]

In this recent London , ON case , the question arises if Emotional Support Animals , wearing a vest ,are entitled to occupy a seat of their own ?

According to the complainant, Operators, "Stop the bus and refuse to continue driving until we get off."

Not sure how police would resolve a situation like that.

View attachment 100967

Anyone can buy one these vest from Amazon. Personally I think I give my dog more emotional support than he gives me.

 

[mariomike]

If the vest says ‘emotional support animal’, that means nothing.

According to London Transit , Service animals are permitted on buses if wearing a vest .

Service Animal Policy – London Transit Commission

www.londontransit.ca

The complainant feels her ESA is entitled to occupy a seat of its own.

Which has resulted in Operators, stopping the bus and refusing to continue driving until they get off.

It's not a question of allowing a vested ESA on board . The Operators are refusing to drive if the ESA is occupying a seat of its own.

 

[Nvlgzr]

Thank-you for your reply.

According to London Transit , Service animals are permitted on buses if wearing a vest .

Service Animal Policy – London Transit Commission

www.londontransit.ca

The complainant feels her ESA is entitled to occupy a seat of its own.

Which has resulted in Operators, stopping the bus and refusing to continue driving until they get off.

It's not a question of allowing a vested ESA on board . The Operators are refusing to drive if the ESA is occupying a seat of its own.

Society has been invaded by Karens/Kens. if you need to go someplace with your dog/ cat/ beaver than get a cab/ Lyft/ Uber assuming the operator allows it. Some operators won’t because of allergies or fear of the animal.

 

[brihard]

Is there a law against putting a 'service animal' vest on a dog and trying to pass them off as a service animal?

In Ontario, no. We have no legal testing or certification at all. Literally just putting on the vest that 'readily identifies' it meet the criteria of the regulations under that Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. There is no further barrier than that in this province. It's unfortunate, because people who have real use and benefit form a service animal get lumped in with lots of bullshit.

Society has been invaded by Karens/Kens. if you need to go someplace with your dog/ cat/ beaver than get a cab/ Lyft/ Uber assuming the operator allows it. Some operators won’t because of allergies or fear of the animal.

There's a distinction between people who want to bring their pet somewhere out of convenience / comfort, and those with actual service animals who help them to manage a disability. The latter have legal protection in at least most (probably all) provinces.

VAC actually was trying to drive some national standardization of service animal criteria some years back. B.C. in particular probably has the best set of standards that could be adopted nation wide. My recollection's a bit fuzzy now but some vested (heh) interests threw a wrench in the works out of territoriality or some such nonsense. I think it might have actually been obstruction form the guide dogs side of things.

Unfortunately there's still plenty of grifting from individuals who purport to 'certify' service animals and sell meaningless documentation... As I said above, makes it harder for those with real medical need.

 

[mariomike]

Society has been invaded by Karens/Kens. if you need to go someplace with your dog/ cat/ beaver than get a cab/ Lyft/ Uber assuming the operator allows it. Some operators won’t because of allergies or fear of the animal.

London Transit allows her vested ESA on their vehicles.

She feels her ESA is entitled to occupy a seat of its own

The Operators disagree. They , "Stop the bus and refuse to continue driving until we get off."

Sounds like if she doesn't remove her ESA from its seat, the bus isn't going anywhere.

Presumably, London Transit Security and a Supervisor, and / or London Police would be notified in that event.

Let them figure it out.

As far as pets go, London Transit had this to say ,

only if they are in a fully enclosed pet-purpose cage/carrier that can either be held on the lap of the rider or fit under the seat/at their feet where they sit/stand.

Sounds like that includes dogs.

Pets on Transit
Small domestic pets can be transported on London’s public transit services only if they are in a fully enclosed pet-purpose cage/carrier that can either be held on the lap of the rider or fit under the seat/at their feet where they sit/stand.

Definition: Small domestic pet – generally defined as a mammal or bird (i.e. cats, dogs, rabbits) that can be transported in a pet-purpose carrier. Excludes all exotic pets (i.e. snakes, lizards)

If your ESA is too big to fit i"n a fully enclosed pet-purpose cage/carrier that can either be held on the lap of the rider or fit under the seat/at their feet where they sit/stand." Might be a good investment to buy a vest.