Shit People Say... to Service Dog Handlers

Shit People Say to Service Dog Handlers

These are actual things that have been said to a service dog handler on an everyday basis. For more information about Service Dogs and etiquette please go to: http://sdog.danawheels.net/

Written by and Starring: Morgan Krug
Directed by: Britt Novitch

with Special Thanks to Coldon Martin for help with the editing process!

Closed-Captioning is, unfortunately, beyond my editing capabilities (I am very new at this) but here is a transcription of the dialogue for those who asked:

Are you disabled?

What's wrong with you?

You can't have dogs in here!

You're so lucky, you get to bring your dog everywhere with you...

'woof!' directed at dog

Oh, that's a service dog? My cousin's grandfather's great aunt has a service dog. But, they're, you know,
actually in a wheelchair. So they really need one.

Are you blind?

But what if people are scared of dogs?

...Hidden disability?

That poor dog having to work like that...how could you do that to her?

(whispering aside) Hey, go tell security that girl just brought her dog in here

OMG, I like, didn't even recognize you without your service dog next to you. WEIRD. You look like a
different person.

Are you disabled?

You can't have dogs in here unless you're blind. You're not blind...are you?

Your dog is so well behaved! Its amazing!

Are you like, epileptic?

Ma'am, ma'am, you can't have dogs in here.

That is so great that you get to train a service dog for some disabled person. That's really noble of you.

(clicking sounds at dog) (aside) Hey! There's a dog over there! Dog! Hey dog! (continued clicking sounds)

Do you have a bad back or something?

But...you don't look disabled.

Ahh! What the hell is that dog doing in here?

So, why aren't you in a wheelchair?

(Petting dog) Oh! You're a service dog...very cool. (continues petting)

What about people who are allergic? What about them?

Omg she's like, your other half!

Oh, a service dog? What branch of the service was she in?

My dog at home reminds me so much of your service dog. She's just a little bigger. And she's got
different colored eyes. And her fur is totally different.

I want to see her shot records before she comes anywhere near me.

Can you really bring your dog in here?

(Reading patches, petting dog) Please ask to pet...I think she says yes! (continues petting)

The nerve of some people, thinking they can just bring their dogs anywhere with them...

Oh, is that a seizure alert dog? I really wish my sister had one of those. Maybe she wouldn't be dead
now.

No, you're not disabled

(To dog) Come here doggie! Come here, what a pretty doggie, look at you, you're such a pretty dog! (To
handler) Why won't she come to me?

Are you disabled?

What's wrong with you?

What's wrong with you?

You can't have dogs in here.

No really, what's wrong with you?

Girl, don't worry, you don't look disabled.

Really? But, you don't look disabled.

You don't look disabled.

You're so lucky.

You're so lucky.

Written by and starring Morgan Krug

Directed and edited by Britt Novitch

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Shit People Say
• Sh*t People Say
• ableism
• service dog
• service dogs
• service dog handlers
• RVA
• Richmond
• VCU
• Virginia
• animals
• dogs
• differently-abled
• disabled
• assistance dogs

[RFouts0]

Permission to show this at a public SD presentation for our SD Etiquette section. All attribution will be given. Rebecca (.) Fouts @ gmail (.) com (delete spaces and parenthesis.

[little0sp00n]

@RFouts0 Yes, of course you may!



[Unegawaya1972]

When someone says "You don't look disabled." I reply, "Why thank you! And you don't look like a moron!" Then I continue on my merry.

[MojaveMama531]

I try to be tolerant and respond to ignorance with kindness--it's just my way, and how I was raised. But there are times I do not have the energy to educate, and during those times, I'll hand out a brochure outlining service dog etiquette and also some pictures and information on how my dog assists me. Great video! Kudos!

[TheBahaiGirl]

@itswhip you obviously don't understand what a service dog is... A service dog isn't to please the public, it's considered, under law, to be medical equipment. You have no idea how frustrating it is to go out every time and have your dog cooed at and/or get negative reactions/comments. It's not fun being singled out by people and accused... When our dog is medical aid. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if people started baby talking wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.

[AstanaxKnight]

I had my service dog with me at a Renaissance Faire that happened the last weekend of January. The Ren Faire doesn't allow pets. She is a Psychiatric Service Dog, and is a Cairn Terrier Mix. Because she is only a foot tall, she doesn't look like a typical "physical disability" dog. I was walking her when a woman literally grabbed hold of her and started petting her. She saw the vest and said, "I thought it said, "Adopt me!" Is she up for adoption?" Both side patches read, "I Am A Service Dog"

[GoodGuideDog]

My wife, a blind guide dog user, always gets the remark: "Oh. But you dont look blind", whenever she is questioned about her guide. To which she replies: "Really? Just what does "blind" look like anyway? I've never seen it."

So far, she has not gotten a satisfactory answer.

[dylanlenn]

awesome

[valkerri]

all so true! great video! I love it when people read the do not pet me sign OUTLoud WHILE they are petting my dog. Silly people, if only they knew how silly they looked!

[AlBrentster]

Could not thumbs-up this hard enough! I've heard almost every one of these.

My favorite response:

Q) Is she a seeing eye dog?

A) No, she's a hearing assistance dog.

Q) You can hear just fine though.

A) Well, she can read lips.

[f3b14]

You forgot my favorite: "Is that a drug sniffing dog!?"

[TheFemvet76]

@Unegawaya1972

Wow! I have PTSD and I can get away with that. Wonder why I haven't said that to anyone. I usually just ignore the asses or tell them I am a veteran, which is true, and veterans are popular right now as long as there isn't a sale at Walmart. But, my generation of veterans were not popular. I can come up with something fitting for the stupid. Thanks.

[TheFemvet76]

Great video. Before my dogs, I had a difficult time in crowds, shopping, driving, and I have a medical problem. My SDs dogs have watched my back and let me know when people are getting close. They have saved me from possible accidents from high speed driving. My dogs react to that. w/dogs people bother me, keep me. Please admire my dog from a distance. My ole Girl was beautiful. The new Boy is handsome. We are still trainig. Leave him alone. Read his cape.

[mpsmom96]

@itswhip Just wait until you're disabled yourself (because if you live long enough, you will acquire a disability), then come back and call it whining after you're stopped 20 times when you're on a 5 minute shopping trip to get milk and it turns into a 30 minute trip just to stop and answer questions.