Aunt bans her 17-year-old nieces phony service dog from her house after he gave her dog fleas: 'I've been around him numerous times and he's actually a poorly trained pet'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Nov 9, 2024 4:00 PM EST

Not every dog can become a service dog. It takes a great deal of training for a dog even to be considered for the title of "Service Dog," and many people not in the dog industry don't know that. My childhood dog had to be trained and tested before becoming a therapy dog, and all therapy dogs do is let people pet them! They think that just because their dog does some service for them (giving emotional support, fetching the paper, etc.) qualifies them to wear a service dog vest in public. That might sound pretty stupid, but so are a lot of people. Most people who are smart enough to sneak a normal dog on an airplane use the phony claim that they're an "Emotional Support Dog" and use that vest because that has a much less stringent set of requirements for qualification. Unfortunately, the teenage girl at the center of this story isn't that discreet. 

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  • 01
    SERVICE DOG
    via Andy Luo

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for not allowing my nieces "service dog" over to my house?
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 03
    My niece, 17, has a "service dog". She got a dog, (mixed breed from a friend getting rid of puppies) and slapped on a Service Dog vest from Temu.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 04
    My niece has a history of feeding into her medical diagnoses. She's been diagnosed with POTS, high blood pressure and eating disorder. Which Dr's have told her if she ate a better diet most of her issues would all but resolve. She doesn't work or go to school. She sits in her bed and post Tiktoks all day about being sick (according to my SIL).
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 05
    Her dog isn't professionally trained. She claims she has trained him. He's around a year, year and half old. She says he can alert to multiple things, he can fetch medication, salt, etc. Ive been around him numerous times and he's actually a poorly trained pet. He can't do any of that. She had a Dr write a note she could benefit from one but that's all the paperwork she has on him being a true service dog. From my understanding he still has accidents in the house.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 06
    On her birthday we went to a restaurant to eat. The dog sat and scratched the entire time. He kept trying to get food off the table and wouldn't lay down. Afterwards, we went to a trampoline park and he wouldn't stop barking. We were all so embarrassed.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 07
    Back in July my Mom dog sat my dog. My dog has never had fleas. My niece stayed several nights with my Mom while my dog was there. A week or so later I noticed my dog had fleas. I I was shocked. She's never had them and on medication. I tried several things to get rid of them to no avail. I went to my Vet to get different kinds to try. After a couple months and over $200 my dog is finally rid of fleas. My nieces dog can
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 08
    also be aggressive to other dogs. My SIL said recently they were in public and the dog wouldn't stop scratching to the point they had to keep nudging him to get him to stop. He was infested with fleas. He also has a skin issue.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 09
    My daughter had a birthday party on Saturday and I said the dog couldn't come. I'm absolutely a pet person. I love dogs! I also think Service dogs are very important. However, this dog is not that. She keeps trying to convince me. She will send videos of him alerting, but it's just him jumping on her. Magically, she can never get a video of him fetching medication. She's convinced she's trained/training him and I'm not being supportive. So...AITA?
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 10
    raely52 NTA. People like your niece are the reason why others doubt service animals. She's taking advantage of a title that does not belong to her, and it's honestly infuriating people do this. I would uninvite her if it were me. I'm just that petty, tho. Edit: What she's doing is also illegal, so depending on where you live, she can be fined and/or be jailed for fraud.
    via u/raely52
  • 11
    Kdwynning OP⚫• 19h ago • She didn't come. I was very clear the dog wasn't coming.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 12
    Razzlesndazzles • 14h ago Edited 11h ago People also seem to think that what makes a service dog a service dog is the "service" they provide to humans. If they provide a service they are a service dog and can be allowed anywhere. The service is actually only a small part. What makes a true service dog is that they are trained how to do their job without inconveniencing anybody.
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 13
    service dogs have "work mode" and "dog mode". Work mode (signaled to them by their vest being put on) means they are on the clock; they are not to go up to people, they are not to sniff, potty, and are to be silent and out of the way unless they are needed for their job.
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 14
    Dog mode (signaled by their vest being off) means they are allowed to act like a normal dog. It's part of why you aren't supposed to pet or interact with a service dog, it messes up their training as they'll start to not be able to differentiate between work and dog mode. To make matters worse this kind of behaviors prevents real service dogs from helping their owners in life or death situations because since real service dogs never come up to you or bark on the clock seeing one do that is suppo
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 15
    This is why service dogs are allowed in restaurants, museums, air planes etc... because people don't have to worry about them causing chaos or being a dog. This is also why they are so expensive and why ESA are not recognized under the ADA. People are entitled to REASONABLE accommodation, a dog trained to not cause a disturbance so that they can provide an incredibly necessary service like preventing a person from hurting themselves during a panic attack (which is what true anxiety service dogs
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 16
    debilitating PTSD etc, they see their owner flailing and they are trained to get their meds and/or jump on their owners to prevent them from hitting themselves or something) Detect dips in blood sugar and alert their owners so they won't go into a coma, get help for people who collapse from seizures is a reasonable accommodation.
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 17
    A rando untrained dog that will potty where you serve, bark, and jump on people who could have severe allergies or fear of dogs that simply "makes things easier" or "makes you feel better" is not a reasonable accommodation.
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 18
    Also, there is no I way a year and half year old dog could be a real service dog: dog's aren't fully developed mentally until they are at least 2, service dog training STARTS at 6 months to a year and it takes at minimum 2 years. A dog is not physically capable of being properly trained to level necessary at anything less than 2 years. That's like putting a baby in law school!
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 19
    They also have to have a personality assessment because numerous breeds are simply not built to be service dogs. Case in point the labradoodle came into existence because a service dog trainer had a client that needed a seeing eye dog but was horrifically allergic to dogs. Except the only breed that could potentially do the job didn't have the temperament to be a seeing eye dog.
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 20
    I love dogs, I also have severe anxiety and depression and my dog makes me feel better. But he is NOT necessary and I am so sick of this selfish sh. Bringing a dog somewhere they aren't supposed to be is a huge inconvenience, as well as dangerous. my SIL is deathly allergic! if one isn't hypoallergenic she will have a massive asthma attack. Another friend was nearly killed by a dog as a child and can barely stand to be around them without herself. There are tons of people like this everywhere so
    via u/Razzlesndazzles
  • 21
    NHFNCFRE That poor dog. He's clearly not a service dog, and he's not being properly cared for as either a pet or a service dog. And your niece sounds like she needs some serious counseling. and perhaps a strong, swift kick in the butt. 17 is way too early to not be able to contribute to society in any way.
    via u/NHFNCFRE
  • 22
    Kdwynning OP That's what I've tried to tell her. She's wasting her life away. She's not a normal 17, almost 18yr old. It's sad. I feel She's so hung up on the attention people on Social Media gets for health problems and she thinks she will eventually go viral or something. She does the "Follow my health journey" kind of videos.
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 23
    dontlikebeige NTA. I don't allow dogs in my house because my cats get PTSD. I've had two relatives pull the fake service dog card on me. I tell them that as a private home, I am not required to allow service dogs (it's shocking how many people think they can force their dogs into private property). I suggest we meet at a restaurant, where their dog fully demonstrates that it is not in any way trained. For anything.
    via u/dontlikebeige
  • 24
    OkWatercress5802 NTA that is not a service dog. Service dogs are well trained. Also that dog is not being looked after well. Dogs should not be ingested with fleas that's a sign of neglect. Your niece sounds like she's needs counseling you should talk to your sister about that.
    via u/OkWatercress5802
  • 25
    forgetregret1day Tell her she needs to show you proof that the dog has been treated for fleas and is completely flea free. She's trying to bring an infestation into your home and that's a big no. I despise bugs of all kinds but anything that affects my dog is absolutely not allowed. She's got too many other people feeding her delusions. No is a complete sentence. It's your house, your dog's house and your dog's health that matter here. NTA
    via u/forgetregret1day
  • 26
    Kdwynning OP She said he's not got fleas now, but I can't confirm nor deny for myself. However, knowing he doesn't behave well around dogs. I am not risking it with my tiny Yorkie
    via u/Kdwynning
  • 27
    Sea-Bath-9222 Not sure why you had to include gossip or false information. Changing a diet doesn't eliminate POTS. Yes you have a right to say the dog can't come over.
    via u/Sea-Bath-9222
  • 28
    Kdwynning OP Her diet actually can make her symptoms worse. Her not taking medication actually can affect the seriousness of her symptoms. Lack of exercise can also cause more serious symptoms. I'm not saying it will completely go away, forever, but her Dr's have absolutely said better lifestyle will make a huge difference. Improved hydration, a daily exercise program, adequate sleep and eating a well-balanced, heart- healthy diet can help people with POTS live a normal life. If she's on medicat
    via u/Kdwynning

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