Sister's boyfriend

I doesn't sound like a service dog. I definitely would say no. And I mean, he will be at your wedding, who will attack him there that he needs protection?

@Hisbeauty right, but that's still considered paperwork. in order to get the licensing you often have to go to a doctor and have them fill out paperwork for you, and submit it online. You have to show paperwork or some certification to get on an airplane with a service Animal, at least that is how it's been with a few of my friends in the past year or so.

Yeah that's a big no, your sister should understand and if she doesn't well that's on her, if you have to leave when the dog comes over and he knows you already, imagine how he'd react to a lot of strange people, this is a liability.

Ashley, there is NO special licensing requirements for SDs. No prescription is needed. There is NO paperwork to get to "prove" it's service dog. You do not have to show proof, it's actually illegal for stores to ask you for proof. You can't show certification because no such federal certification exists. There's websites that you can pay to register your dog or get a certificate, but there is NO federal requirement of one.

All dogs have to be licensed in my area, if not you can be fined. This has nothing to do with service dogs.

OP this is not a service dog. You're well within your rights of declining the dog attending. If said dog were to attend and hire someone, you could be held responsible as you were the host.

THERE IS NO SERVICE DOG LICENSING. Argggggh!

Self-trained SDs are very much a thing as many people can't afford a SD trained through an organization. These people do not have to get papers, licensing, or anything else to prove that their dog is a SD. They DO have to train it to perform a service.

@Hisbeauty well my friend was turned away from her air line once because she didn't have the proper paperwork they said she needed, so she went to the doctor and he wrote her a note and added her to this online system and she took a flight the following day. She was flying from San Diego to Arizona. All she had was some print out certificate and it cost her like 200 dollars.

Orchids, exactly. To have a dog specially trained for what I need is over $5k. We're looking to train one ourselves. A neighbor has actually trained a few and is willing to help me.

Ashley, I'm sorry to hear that happened to you friend. However there is no such paperwork that exists.

Most airlines require something signifying it is a service dog. As stated below:

"Airlines do require some form of assurance that your dog is indeed a Service Animal and not a pet. Identification, such as cards or documentation, the presence of a harness or markings on the harness, a doctor’s letter or other credible assurance of the passenger using the animal for their disability is required. Please call or review each airline’s policy."

That being said, again, there is no federal or universal certification or paperwork. Cards or such can be bought online. Which means anyone can buy one and pass off their pet as a service animal.

@Hisbeauty but on another note, and i don't want to sound naive, but since there isn't a type of licensing or certification process, couldn't anyone have a SD technically? If the dog is doing a service (protecting his owner who can't lift his arm) isn't that technically a service? Reading through the link you posted it almost sounds like ANY dog can be a service dog?

ETA: yeah two of my friends went through the "certification" process, there's several online websites for it as well, you can ask a DR to go to the website and do it for you, according to those sites

Any dog technically can be, however most trainers have strict criteria when choosing one. Temperament is a huge factor. A dog that protects his owner is not a service dog, it is a protection dog. Two very different things.

Service dogs are trained extensively, and behave exceptionally well. Kids approach, the dog does not engage. They do not bark, lunge, or growl. Legitimate trainers will not take a former attack dog and train it for a service dog, it's essentially a horrible move as the dog's temperament is not good for a service dog.

My friend has one for Seizures. Another friend for PTSD and mobility. Both dogs are trained exceptionally well and do not engage with anyone other than their handler. They are trained in such a way because of they're distracted they could fail to alert a seizure, or brace my friend if he were to fall. Both could end up injured due to such a minor distraction. Thus why they're trained so extensively.

@Ashley technically, yes, any dog can be a service dog IF it is trained to perform a service for its owner and behave in a restrained manner in public. The ADA laws governing SDs are intentionally somewhat vague to keep barriers down for people who might have trouble acquiring a SD otherwise. BUT a SD that is disruptive can be removed from a situation, no matter how legitimate its service might be.

The average person is simply unable or unwilling to put in the hundreds of hours it takes to properly train a SD. There are people who take advantage of the vagueness of the laws to bring their pets places, and those people are shitty and I hope they step in dog poop every day.

I know someone who has schizoaffective disorder and her dog is trained to 'go touch' people because she often hallucinates people around her. She will ask a person if her dog can touch them to prove to her that they are no a hallucination. BUT she had to leave a reptile show with him because he hadn't been exposed to exotic animals like that before and he caused a disruption. It was frustrating but she then spent many hours desensitizing him to the sight of exotic animals and he is able to handle it better now.

A number of my family members have allergies and allergy induced asthma. Unless the room where you're having your reception is very large, and the (large/shedding) dog is far away from them, they would probably have an attack and have to leave the venue. Not good ...

I really hate when people try to give legal advice without sufficient context or qualifications to do so. The definition of a "service animal" varies under federal, state, and even local laws so I don't think we have sufficient facts here to conclude whether he is a service dog or not. You also can't accurately say "the venue won't allow dogs" and leave it that because of the ADA. Without giving legal advice on whether this dog is a service dog or not, if you do invite him, carefully consider his seating assignment so he is less likely to have strangers moving around.

That is not a service dog. A legal service dog is not a "protection dog" .

Legally no one can demand to see papers before accepting or denying a true service dog. But since this a-hole is lying about his damn dog, maybe he doesn't know this, so I would suggest to him that your venue will require papers for any animal being brought in.

This seriously enraged me. There is ZERO reason that this guy needs a DEFENSE dog at your effing wedding bc no one is going to be attacking him. There is NO fucking way a poorly trained ( or actually worse, a WELL trained "defense" aggressive malinois ) should be in attendance at this event. You are hosting this event so you are liable for this dog. Unless he signs a goddamn waiver.

He needs to protection at a wedding?

And yeah, that's no service dog.

Same Elphaba! It's infuriating!. It's absolutely unacceptable.

How people can think it's ok, is beyond me.

Does this dog attack without command or without proof of a possible attack? That is dangerous and definitely a liability. That could also get that dog killed, mostly being the breed it is. I would bring that up to him. I would just tell them no dog, if they don't attend because they couldn't bring their liability dog, that is on them.

If the dog is aggressive, I don't see how the venue would allow it, "support animal" or not. I certainly think legitimate service animals should be allowed but this could open him and your venue up for liability issues. I guess you could discuss with the venue and see what they think and would happen if the dog acted up at this event. I am assuming the dog hasn't actually bitten someone.

The ADA does not prevent a person from doing protection training with their service dog, it also does not protect their choice to do so, and businesses may legally exclude a protection trained dog from their premises even if it is also trained as a service dog, as a direct threat. http://servicedogcentral.org/content/protection-training

Absolutely not! You should firmly say no to the dog coming to the wedding. You have to look out for the safety of your guests and this dog is too high risk. He does not need this dog at your wedding; who would attack him?! If this means your sister and her boyfriend miss your wedding, so be it. It's unfortunate but they are being ridiculous.

If he was her fiance or husband id be more open but since it's just a boyfriend, say no. Your wedding will already be stressful enough let alone having to worry about a dog the whole day.