Sister's boyfriend

Support animals do not have public access. Service dogs do. It's this exact scenario that ruins actual experiences for people who need a service dog. He also can be asked to leave if the dog so much as bares one tooth out of aggression. I would definitely not allow this Malinois into the wedding venue.

If I can speak about this from the perspective of working at a venue...

We can only ask what the service dog is performed to do.

The only papers we take are the license + a list of up-to-date shots/vaccinations (this being needed if, knock on wood, a biting incident, etc. takes place).

ETA (clumsy fingers!): The service dogs HAVE to be trained. We must accommodate service dogs, but they absolutely have to trained/legitimate.

We've never had an issue.

In this case, excessive complaints/problems about an aggressive dog would lead to an issue.

ETA #2: From my understanding, service animals cannot be removed unless the owner cannot control the animal and/or if the animal is not house broken.

ETA #3: Yeah, if it isn't obvious, I don't think this dog would fly at a venue, especially if he's nonchalant about his dog's aggressive behaviors.

I have an ESA for an anxiety/ panic disorder who goes with me everywhere. Her training is so extensive that I don't even have to speak to control her, she's trained to respond to hand signals and our bond is so strong that in most cases all I have to do is look at her and she knows what I want by the look on my face, like it's time to get off the bed. There has never been a situation were I've lost control over her. What you're describing is in no way a service animal and what he's claiming his need for a service dog for is invalid. A protection dog and a service dog are not the same thing and don't have the same kind of rights. Stand your ground on this, I'd hate to see that the dog injured someone at your wedding.

ETA: Elphaba is 100% correct that a business doesn't have to give me access though I have been fortunate that I've never run into a problem, I'm guessing in large part to her good behavior. In the event that I was asked to leave I would do so and not return as there is no where I need to go badly enough to risk a full blown panic attack and a ride in an ambulance, It's traumatic for me and anyone watching and I'd hate to do that to someones kid, it's just not worth it. To fly with my dog I have to provide a letter from my doctor before I check in to be allowed to board. It's a weird balance, and seeing people in the store with their misbehaving dog claiming their a service or esa pisses me off because it makes it harder on those who actually need their dog with them to function. But I digress and have gotten off topic lol.

Sorry my comment posted a billion times so I hide all the extras lol

I'm no expert on Service animals but from what I've seen when interacting with people with service animals, the words "attack" and "service animal" do not go in the same sentence...at all. I would be asking that the pup stays home. I actually am afraid of dogs. I've never liked them but I don't even flinch when I see service dogs because I know that they have to be insanely well trained to have a service vest on.

Thank you everyone! I was feeling like I made the wrong move but I’m glad it sounds like I made the right move. It’s a huge relief for me and I’ll continue to stand my ground. Thank you again!

No dog. What a legal nightmare if he were attack. You would be liable as well as Nate especially since you already have temperament concerns. No service dog is that unruly.

That's a Belgian Malinois, not a German Shepherd. You said he is former military, is the dog as well? That is one of the most popular breeds trained for the military and if Nate has a strong connection with this dog then he definitely will not go without the dog. Does he take the dog with him to stores and such? I imagine an attack/guard dog acts differently in the home compared to out in public. It's a beautiful dog and if it's also a military dog it's probably trained to protect him. If you don't want the dog there then you may need to just come to terms with the fact that Nate won't be there and your sister needs to deal with that as well. You cannot run the risk of someone getting hurt because the dog believes he's protecting Nate.

Also be aware that people can buy Service Animal vests/harnesses from shady online companies and slap it on their miniature purse dog to go shopping.

I work in multi family housing and the laws for service dogs are very strict to comply with fair housing. It would illegal for me to refuse to rent to someone because of their service animal. HOWEVER, if the dog is aggressive or has previous history of attacks then we can deny the service animal. I feel that due to the aggression the dog has had toward you, you are in your right to refuse the animal. If Nate doesn't like it then he can stay home. At a wedding I highly doubt he is going to run into a situation where his attack dog is needed. People that claim every animal as a support/service animal make it so hard for people that actually do need them.

It doesn't matter if we have enough information to determine if the dog is legally a 'service' dog.

If the dog cannot be controlled. It's not trained well enough to be "a service dog" period. End of story.

Besides if the dogs 'service' is to protect him from attack (which makes me roll my eyes so God damn hard just because he can't lift his one arm) why does he need the dog at a wedding. Whose attacking him at the wedding?

After reading your original post, I see two scenarios:

A) This dog is not under his master's control and is poorly trained in basic manners;

B) This dog is under perfect control, and his master is a giant douchebag who gets a kick out of unleashing him on you.

Either way, nope. That dog shouldn't come near you or your wedding, OP. And you're actually much nicer than I - I'd have called animal control by now. If that dog ever tries to corner or attack you again, call the local police and/or animal control. Calling the dog a service dog does not allow for this kind of behavior, in any capacity. Maybe it's about time the boyfriend figured that out.

So I read the requirements for a service dog in MA. They're only for people with disabilities and they have to perform a task like fetching things or leading you around. I couldn't find anything that stated service dogs can be used to ward off attacks (This doesn't pertain to military or police dogs) Even if this is a valid use of a service dog, your sister's boyfriend will not need protection at your wedding. Invite him without the dog. Personally, I think he sounds a little unbalanced if he's so scared of being attacked that he needs a trained attack dog around 24/7

Sounds like Nate has a significant problem if he is so afraid of being attacked. I mean, seriously????

@Goingtothechapel, that sounds like shaming to me. He may deny having ptsd, but many vets have difficulty accepting that diagnosis due to stigma and your comment adds to that stigma. If he does have ptsd, his hypervigilance and fear of being attacked would be completely understandable.

Service dogs are never trained to attack. Is this dog certified? Does he have his papers for the dog?

Melissa, what papers? There is no such paperwork for service dogs. This is a huge misconception. Anyone can go online, do a quick google search where websites pop up to "register" their dog as a service dog, thus getting "paperwork". There is no federal paperwork, no registry.

If the dog corners you in your own home he does not have control over it. I wouldn't want a dog like that around guests, especially young children. He needs the dog to protect him if he is attacked? Does he think your wedding guests are going to attack him? I think he can live without the dog for one night.

Thanks guys! The venue is my church. We just built a reception hall that can be used to various events and my fiancé and I will be the first ones to use it for a big event. My priest is pretty nonchalant about stuff so he probably wouldn’t have a problem with the dog until it became aggressive...and that doesn’t take much. All you have to do to get the dog on high apart is to move kinda fast in Nate’s direction or look like you might hurt him. My sister jokingly punched Nate in the shoulder one day and the dog almost punced on her. I have met SD and ESD before and I’ve never met one this aggressive and out of control before