Rory Diamond ordinance would crackdown on fake service dogs

Army veteran Joe Aguirre, who suffered from PTSD, drapes a tattooed arm across the back of his service dog, Munger, in Fayetteville, N.C. in this March 2016 photo. (Photo via the Associated Press.)

Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond says fake service dogs have become a nuisance in the Bold City, and he plans to do something about it.

Diamond said Wednesday he will file legislation (Ordinance 2020-614) creating a “Fake Service Dog Law.” Under the ordinance, residents who falsely claim their dog is a service animal could be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by 30 hours of community service.

“All across America people are going online and purchasing a ‘service dog’ vest and trying to pass their pets off as ‘service dogs’. This dishonesty has a real victim, those disabled Americans with life altering disabilities and real service dogs. We need to stand up and protect them and protect the public and our business owners from fake and poorly trained ‘service dogs,’” Diamond said.

“Service animals are critical for individuals with disabilities, including our veterans. These animals heal the wounds of war for many in our area, allowing them to thrive and enjoy life,” said U.S. Representative Michael Waltz. “Ensuring we’re welcoming to these individuals and their service animals is not only good for them but also good for our entire community at large.”

Indeed, for a few bucks, dog owners can have a service animal vest delivered the same day from reputable retailers such as Chewy. Product descriptions say the vests are “solely intended for furry friends performing work or service in compliance with The Americans with Disabilities Act,” but no documentation is needed to make the purchase.

Even if it were, there’s a niche online market for service animal certificates. One can snag a slip of paper from an online doctor for less than the cost of the vest — one etailer even offers a $22 three-for-one deal.

The extent of the phony service animal epidemic is unclear, mainly because it’s difficult to tell whether the person on the other end of the leash is faking a disability. Some are near-method actors in selling their condition — a 2017 First Coast News report outed an owner who wore sunglasses and pretended to be blind.

Diamond, who founded K9s for Warriors, says it’s not a victimless crime because it can delegitimize real service animals, which are crucial to the wellbeing of some disabled people, whether they are blind or suffering from conditions such as PTSD.

To that end, his ordinance aims to help the owners of genuine service animals by guaranteeing them the right to public access and housing with their service animal.

“Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida, and we should be leading the way with clear and concise guidelines regarding Service Dogs. It’s time to ensure no person with a Service Dog is unable to live their life to the fullest. Discrimination and condemnation come from a lack of clarity surrounding these statutes and the guidelines surrounding service animals,” he said.

American Service Dog Providers for Military Veterans executive director Jeremiah Blocker praised the proposal.

“Our military veteran community is thrilled to see the Jacksonville City Council take decisive action by introducing meaningful legislation that will address the needs of disabled service members who are dependent on Service Dogs for treatment,” he said.

“Service Dogs are a critical treatment option for many disabled veterans in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. This is an important first step that shows great leadership by Councilman Diamond and the co-sponsors by working to serve veterans dependent on Service Dogs to live their lives.”