NEADS and Walmart to remove fake service dog vests from stores
Photo | Edd Cote
NEADS trainer Tyler Gribi and the dog he trained, 20-month-old Porter
Princeton nonprofit NEADS World Class Service Dogs in Princeton with American retail giant Walmart to remove fake service dog vests from store shelves in Massachusetts and throughout the East Coast.
NEADS highlighted the harm that comes when pet owners try to pass off untrained and uncertified emotional support animals as actual service dogs. Not only is the act incorrect, but the experience can also be cruel to the pets themselves, because when an improperly trained or untrained pet is placed in a situation it isn’t prepared for; it can become nervous, afraid, and unpredictable, according to NEADS’ Tuesday press release.
Real service dogs fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means that businesses and organizations by law must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities. Emotional support animals are not protected by this law.
The matter is complicated by the fact there is no national service dog licensing or credentialing system in place.
In addition to collaborating with Walmart to stop the sale of fake service dog vests, NEADS is also working with State Representative Kimberly Ferguson (R-Worcester) to pass legislation on state and national levels to make sure the service dog industry follows strict regulations and credentialing.
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