DEAR FRANKIE I get no respect

DEAR FRANKIE

I get no respect

GENEVA WOODRUFF

Frankie is a rescue dog and emotional support animal for Geneva Woodruff. Woodruff is a retired educator.

Dear Frankie,

I am a Chihuahua and a genuine service dog. I'm not one of those make-believe emotional support dogs. My mom has a hearing disability. She is not deaf like she can't hear anything, but she does have a hard time hearing voices and sounds. Some of the services I provide are alerting her to someone at the door, indicating a text has pinged on her phone, or motioning that someone is talking to her. I provide many more services, but you get the idea.

Here's my problem: I don't look like a service dog, and often people don't treat me like one. Let me give you an example.

Yesterday, we were in the grocery store. My mom was driving a shopping cart, and I was sitting on her lap. My mom is not crippled like she can’t walk but walking around a big grocery store isn't easy for her. We were looking over the apples when a lady came over and started petting me and, before we knew it, picked me up.

My mom is very polite, so she quietly told the woman I was a service dog and asked her to put me down. I wanted to bite her, but rule number one in service work is remaining calm and acting like a professional. The woman was mortified. They always are embarrassed when this happens.

Before you ask, yes, I do wear a service vest, and no, it doesn't always help. More than once, someone has asked my mom if it was an old Halloween costume. When I told my friends, they thought it was hilarious. I wasn't amused. If you have any suggestions on how I can get the respect I am due, I would be very appreciative.

Aggravated,

Beth

Dear Beth,

I'm so sorry that you encountered such insensitive and uninformed people. This is just another example of stereotyping. If you don't look like a German shepherd or a golden retriever, you couldn't possibly be a service dog. Those dogs, of course, wouldn't be sitting on your mom's lap, so their vest would be more visible and probably taken more seriously. Perhaps your mom could get you a brighter-colored vest printed in large letters, "Service Dog."

Another idea is to hang a sign on the shopping cart stating "Working Service Dog, Please Don't Pet." She could do both. You could also bark to alert your mom that another one of those hyper dog lovers is heading our way.

You might also go back to the organization that trained you and ask for advice on how other small dogs have handled similar situations.

Beth, keep up the excellent work; you are a heroine to your fellow canines.

Best,

Frankie

P.S. You know, I am an ESA (emotional support animal) for Geneva and far from being a make-believe one. Just saying.