Emotional Support Animal to Ride the Subway?

Those things are all over the place now.

The fraus in Chicago push them in buggies. I love dogs but for Christ's sake, IT SHOULD BE WALKING

I was in a shop on the UES and a woman had a largish retriever with the vest. I’m not sure what the other person said (because people usually ignore it), but the woman with the dog loudly said “he’s my medical support companion. I have kidney issues.”

I mean, whatever, but I don’t know how the dog was helping her kidneys. Epilepsy, diabetes, I can kind of understand. Supposedly dogs can sense when a seizure or hypoglycemic event is coming on, but... what kind of kidney crisis?

EAS animals are the new cool accessory for narcissistic whiners.

...and for old fraus who don't want to wait to take the service elevator with their precious little Poofie or Schatzie.

Yet another indication of the “I am so special, and my special version of the emperor’s clothing will not be questioned!” cultural rot that plagues 21st century America.

My grocery store has a sign banning emotional scenario dogs.

Vote for your emotional support animal at the link.

People just buy those vests so they can take their pets wherever they want. But as it already is at r6's grocery store (and some airlines), I think the jig is soon going to be up everywhere. Too many people are doing the fake support animal thing, it's a nuisance, and business owners, etc., are catching on that a "emotional support" animal is not the same thing as a trained and certified helper animal (e.g., guide dogs for the blind) and can legally be banned from your place of business.

My emotional support rescue mutt can sense when I am ready to go off on people...all fists and elbows. She frequently ignores her duties as she enjoys watching waiters getting hot coffee thrown in their faces. Dogs do become like their owners. 🤨

If a vest-wearing support animal approaches you without its owner, it's looking for your assistance. Please follow the animal to its owner or summon other help, e.g., security guard or police officer.

Since we're sort of on the subject, I thought I'd offer that up.

R10 is absolutely correct. Skilled assistance dogs are trained to get help when their owners have a medical emergency.

I've seen animals on the subway for as long as I've been in NYC. I doubt that it's officially permitted, but people do just take them, without pretending they are service animals. Frequently the animals are in carrying cases, but the little ones sometimes travel in tote bags. I once saw a parrot (in a cage, of course) on the 86th street bus.

I saw an emotional service dog that had its own dog as its emotional support animal.

I saw an emotional service animal in the subway and it was wearing BLUE JEANS, of all things

It’s mostly an American thing. Never seen it in Europe.

It's a stupid, I-need-attention thing.

All dogs are emotional assistant dogs.

Emotional support animals are all the rage among certain sub-populations. I used to tutor stupid rich kids who somehow got into good universities, and a sizable number of them had ESA especially those who got themselves declared by the school as having a learning disability. Most of those didn't have any learning disabilities but were just lazy as fuck and unmotivated to learn anything.

There needs to be a registry just like handicapped parking spots, you must have a letter from your doctor. It could be done at DMV, I know, it's already a pain there for many places but it would weed out the nut cases with the squirrels and turtles.

How does an ESA work, anyway? How does it provide support?

I can't imagine what kind of a weirdo doesn't like dogs. Probably some sociopath.

I like seeing dogs out on the train, the bus, the grocery store. There was some kind of support black lab at a concert a couple of weeks ago who simply would not get up and move when his person wanted him to. He just wanted to stay in the aisle. He kept looking over at me, across the aisle and two rows forward. I think he wanted to sit near me. I would have let him. The two dingalings who were tending to him were not doing well.

I used to carry an emotional support bonsai.

R1 You should visits Japan. Half the prams being pushed around have dogs in them!