Gunny until the day it happens that we have standardization we have to work with what we have. As mentioned before, the reason why a lot of requirements aren't a part of the law are because they financially discriminate. At this time it only makes sense for a trainer to be licensed for general obedience but also not requiring one also makes sense. We can have our dogs tested and get a certificate cheaper by doing the AKC Good Citizen certification ourselves but most self trainers do well enough without it. If we could afford a certification process which would require a trainer come to our homes or them having a suitable facility then we could probably afford to just pay for a trainer and most of us can't. I hope I'm explaining this clearly.
Standardization is just one of the many things that have been in the works since the 70s if I remember correctly. Including PSDs in the rulings started in the mid to late 80s.
I started this thread to assist others in learning about the law regarding SDs and them educating themselves does help. Discussing ESAs directly as a topic is out of the scope of this discussion but not because of disfavor, it just wasn't my focus. My focus was on the ADA, collateral SD legislation issues issues and why it's important to use the law in dealing with fakers.
I am glad the VA is considering this as it should be, but for those of us not covered by the VA the cost for a dog can be insurmountable. Most of those charitable organizations require the person requesting a dog to cover half the cost and for those mentally afflicted it can be too much. These organizations just don't get enough donations to cover these costs. Again, the scope of the law cannot discriminate(unless it's the ACAA/FAA apparently) including financially which is why it allows for self training. Most of the people breaking these laws aren't the people making the efforts in training their dogs properly.
My purpose for this thread was to discuss the law. If people want to help it's the same as trying to get any other purpose through bureaucracy: involvement and support in local organizations and contacting their congress people. This can be from many directions and is outside the intent of my thread and another thread can always be started for discussion outside the law. I simply put up the foundation. I encourage anyone seeking to be involved to read the materials and get more information from Service Dog Central
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/
Otherwise, if you feel it's getting "pointless" it may because I'm trying to keep the discussion on SD law including providing an outlet to vent about SD law(and not about fellow members), and not drift off into other topics.
Bingo DrJean, you nailed it in that post(bold in your honor). I hope that for those that feel the need to interject slights that they will come to some form of understanding that we are their fellow members who they might meet someday, and that projecting their beliefs onto us is unfair. We are forced to deal with the world in sometimes an entirely different manner than they have to and it doesn't help to expect us to do it the same way that they do, or to feel the same way about it. It might be best to avoid this thread rather than throwing darts at fellow members if this it generates enough feelings that you want to be negative towards us.
