DEAR ABBY by Abigail Van Buren

DEAR ABBY: Would you please do a much-needed public service for those of us who have a service dog? Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers. Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.

Service dogs are not family pets. Here in New Mexico and in many other states, it is a crime to misrepresent a dog as one. A service dog in training has the same access rights as one that’s fully trained. The dog cannot be denied access. Hotels that charge extra for pets cannot charge extra for a service dog. Airlines must allow service dogs to fly free of charge. They cannot be denied access to any public facility.

The handler must be in control of the animal at all times. Service dogs that bark excessively must be taken out of the facility. A single “woof” is not excessive barking. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, only two questions are allowed: “Is that a service dog?” and “What task is the dog trained to perform?” Questions about the handler’s disability or need for a service dog are not allowed. My dog in training is learning how to alert me to specific medical conditions and respond to assist me.

Many people are unaware of proper behavior around service dogs. Never distract, talk to or pet the service dog. Do not make eye contact with it either. Distracting my dog could cause a serious problem for me. — AWARENESS ADVOCATE

DEAR ADVOCATE: Thank you for your instructive letter about service dog responsibilities and etiquette. I hope it will prove useful to my readers because there appears to be some confusion about this subject, due to so many dog owners cheating the system by representing their pets as service animals.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.