Don't get me started on the FRAUD being perpetrated by people claiming certain dogs or other animals are "emotional support animals".
I wage a no holds barred confrontation with the utter crap served up by the con-artists who falsely claim therapy dogs/animals.
In 2018, I went into my favourite local cafe for a couple of big lattes and a fix of morning crosswords.
About 2 metres away, INSIDE THE CAFE, is an older male sipping coffee and eating raisin toast. He has a small smelly, unwashed, (seemingly) ungroomed dog on his lap ... and he's feeding it small torn-off bits of his raisin toast.
I was not impressed. Our state and our local government area both have provisions for QUALIFIED, ENDORSED companion animals and 'seeing-eye' dogs.
The dog in question did not have a vest or harness. The clearest dead giveaway was the lack of grooming and lack of cleanliness.
Eventually the man and dog left and I remarked to Jodie, the barista that I was wondering why she had had a dog inside OFF THE FLOOR on a customer's lap. "Oh, he told me tht it was his companion animal but he had left its endorsement and documentation at home. I offered to let him sit at one of the footpath tables with his dog on the floor but he said he'd rather be inside."
I responded that the grooming/cleanliness issues were "off" ... that companion animals are normally resplendent and owners know to not have them at table level nor feed them tidbits. Jodie agreed but said, "what can I do?"
On my tablet-computer, I referenced the rules and sent them to the cafe's SMS feed.
Next day, Jodie stood her ground and told the same customer he needed his documentation and he needed to be able to say what specialist training or care the dog had. He yelled at her and told her he would take his business to an alternative cafe.
Many people just like to carry their pets around (yes ... CARRY!) and take them to cafes and shops then bloff their way along. Genuine companion animal owners, in the main, do it all by the book.