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ebuddy · May 1, 2009, 05:09 PM

Okay, so I'm in my backyard and I see this relatively large long-haired St. Bernard running over to my neighbor's fence. I'm an absolutely pathetic dog lover and was concerned about it running around loose. This is a relatively busy intersection. I walk around the house to the other side of my neighbor's house where the dog was and a female friend of my neighbor's was leaning on the fence. By the time I had gotten around to see the dog, it became apparent that she was the owner and had let him into my neighbor's yard where her dog and my neighbor's dog were playing and sniffing one another. My neighbor was also in the backyard and neither one of them offered any warnings that the dog might be skittish.

I reached over the fence and placed my hand approximately 6 feet away from the animal, but in the animal's field of view. It came up about 1 foot away from my hand then ran off with its tail between its legs and was up against the side of my neighbor's house. The owner scolded me; "It's a service animal! It is not a pet! It is a service animal, it's very anti-social. Now you've stressed her out and she won't go near either one of us." She then approaches her dog saying things like; "he shocked you, I'm sorry." I'm thinking omg

I asked what she meant by "service animal" and she said it is used to diagnose human illness before the person is aware of it and again reiterated that the animal was extremely antisocial because she's not a pet, but a service animal. I asked her how a dog could diagnose human illness while being extremely antisocial around humans and she simply said it is trained to diagnose diseases, it is NOT a pet, and she's very antisocial. I apologized for reaching out to the antisocial animal, advised that I was concerned about the dog running around loose, and went on my way.

Can anyone here tell me what the hell she's talking about? Is there any particular reason why a generally very friendly breed would be this antisocial by virtue of the fact that it's a service animal? How does the fact that it's a service animal have any bearing on whether or not it's a pet? Seeing eye-dogs are service animals and they are also very much pets. Police dogs are service animals and yet, very much excellent pets. A dog is antisocial by virtue of the fact that it was not properly socialized as a pup, not by virtue of additional training. Right?

I mean, I'll be honest with you. It seemed to me a poor excuse for the fact that her dog straight up reacted as if it had been severely abused by someone, likely a man. Where am I wrong here?

turtle777 · May 1, 2009, 05:24 PM

Yes, it's a service animal.

The dog is actually in charge of that lady, since she is retarded. The dog acts as a guardian.

-t

design219 · May 1, 2009, 05:28 PM

Well I hoped we've all learned something today.

Railroader · May 1, 2009, 05:46 PM

I learned that me three year old doesn't like roast pork.

turtle777 · May 1, 2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I learned that me three year old doesn't like roast pork.

What's wrong with your boy ? He jewish ?

-t

turtle777 · May 1, 2009, 05:59 PM

On a related note:

I can see Doofy claiming that his bunnies are not pets, but service animals

-t

ghporter · May 1, 2009, 06:00 PM

By the formal definition, that's NOT a "service animal." So far, none of the formal bodies that accredit service animals has done the least bit toward acknowledging this sort of animal.

Real service animals include Seeing-Eye dogs and a variety of other dogs (and other animals) that assist people with real disabilities get along. They fetch the phone for people with limited mobility, get the attention of deaf people when there's someone at the door or a fire alarm goes off, and so on.

There is another, also recognized class of animal helpers known as "therapy animals." Everything from ferrets to miniature horses has been used for therapeutic applications. These animals are also VERY thoroughly trained and vetted (pun intended).

The ~~whacko lady~~ interesting woman has a dog that she fobs off as being special. She's the one that's special, but not in the same sense.

shifuimam · May 1, 2009, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I learned that me three year old doesn't like roast pork.

That would be because pork is gross.

lexapro · May 1, 2009, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

What's wrong with your boy ? He jewish ?

-t

The Islamics also don't like pork

subego · May 1, 2009, 06:24 PM

Ran away with tail between the legs?

Dude, you totally have a human illness. (;

turtle777 · May 1, 2009, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by lexapro

The Islamics also don't like pork

You don't say

-t

Gavin · May 1, 2009, 07:43 PM

"The Islamics"? Is that like a muslim fan club?

ThinkInsane · May 1, 2009, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Yes, it's a service animal.

The dog is actually in charge of that lady, since she is retarded. The dog acts as a guardian.

-t

Nicely put!

Originally Posted by Gavin

"The Islamics"? Is that like a muslim fan club?

Sounds more like a doo-wop group from the early 60's

olePigeon · May 1, 2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

What's wrong with your boy ? He jewish ?

What's wrong with being Jewish?

turtle777 · May 1, 2009, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

What's wrong with being Jewish?

Disrespect for the pork.

Ya know, I like to "dine on the swine".

-t

Shaddim · May 1, 2009, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Gavin

"The Islamics"? Is that like a muslim fan club?

It'd the Muslim alternative to the Klezmatics. Duh.

Railroader · May 1, 2009, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

That would be because pork is gross.

BBQ Roast pork is AWESOME! This one had hair on the skin too!

Originally Posted by turtle777

What's wrong with your boy ? He jewish ?

-t

Originally Posted by lexapro

The Islamics also don't like pork

Originally Posted by olePigeon

What's wrong with being Jewish?

Ne's not Jewish or an Islamician, though he is circumcised [see you one page 23].

He just announced the other day during a lull at dinner "Daddy, I want to be a Baptist Pastor". I said "Do you know what a Baptist Pastor does?" He said, "No, what does he do?"

turtle777 · May 2, 2009, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I said "Do you know what a Baptist Pastor does?" He said, "No, what does he do?"

So ?

(see you on page 777)

-t

Railroader · May 2, 2009, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

So ?

(see you on page 777)

-t

We had a little chuckle and finished dinner. He also attempted to learn to burp on command later which is great training for a future pastor.

turtle777 · May 2, 2009, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

We had a little chuckle and finished dinner. He also attempted to learn to burp on command later which is great training for a future pastor.

Burptists ?

-t

design219 · May 2, 2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

That would be because pork is gross.

Oh the points you just lost.

Chongo · May 2, 2009, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

The Islamics also don't like pork

They don't like dogs either. Just try and and get a cab at the Minneapolis airport with a dog, or ham, or alcohol or...

gradient · May 2, 2009, 02:12 PM

Wow, this thread has been derailed in impressive fashion.

shifuimam · May 2, 2009, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by design219

Oh the points you just lost.

Hey, it's not my fault.

Bacon is delicious and ham is pretty good, too. But slabs or loins of pork is just....ew.

I'll take a giant half-raw steak over pork any day.

turtle777 · May 2, 2009, 10:53 PM

Hey, shifu, you live in Indiana, and you don't like a nice serving of tenderloin on a bun ?

-t

design219 · May 2, 2009, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

Bacon is delicious and ham is pretty good, too.

OK, points back.