Fake Service Animals California

With no national registry to identify a real from a fake some people are taking advantage.

Fake service animals california. No one begrudges a blind person the right to a guide dog. Businesses have been dealing for years with the hassles of accommodating customers and employees with service animals. In California for instance it is a misdemeanor to falsely and knowingly claim that you are the owner or trainer of a service animal.

What are Californias laws on fake service animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents that state an animal is a service animal as well as the use of fake service dog vests collars or harnesses. The penalties for violating these laws vary.

A service dog is not required to be registered certified or identified as a service dog. However in California pretending to be an owner of a service dog is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to 1000 andor up to six months imprisonment. The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status.

California may crack down on fake service dogs. Three months later on April 27 2012 Jeremiah Eskew-Shahan age 1 was killed by his grandmothers therapy dog in Henderson. Penal Code 3657 1994 Cal.

In California a person caught fraudulently claiming their pet is a service animal faces six months in jail and a 1000 fine. Badly behaved fake service dogs are hugely damaging to public perceptions of service animals. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Polsky on February 26 2014. About a dozen states are considering legislation to crack down on fake service animals. Having a fake service animal is a misdemeanor according to legislation that became effective Jan.