Degree Mills...for pets

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jumbodog, Jul 30, 2014.

Loading...
  1. jumbodog

    jumbodog New Member

  2. Thatch

    Thatch New Member

    Ok, I could understand someone pulling a spur of the moment "He's a service dog" excuse. But a premeditated act of taking your poorly socialized pit bull into public with fake papers because... well, I guess just because you want to... I guess I just don't get people
     
  3. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    First comes the abuse, then comes the stigma. And the people who really need the help gets the shaft.

    ):
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Perhaps. But in this case it's unclear that this really is a pervasive problem and not just a local news program filling time with something that sounds dramatic.
     
  5. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    If you need more clarity, simply enter the phrase "fake service dog" into Google.
    You will get:

    (1) Plenty of news stories nationwide about abuses of the system, and
    (2) Sponsored links for "service dog kits" that could easily be perceived as similar to diploma mill come-ons.

    For example, the first sponsored link that I clicked on (I won't post the link) offers your choice of "service dog", "emotional support dog", and "therapy dog" kits at low cost and no hassle:

    Note that this is a sponsored link. In other words, they are paying Google to have their ad appear whenever someone searches specifically for the phrase "fake service dog". Can you guess why?

    Here on the West Coast, the state legislatures in both California and Hawaii have both been looking at the fake service animal issue. I bet other states have as well.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 30, 2014
  6. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I get a bunch of articles without a sponsored ad. But I take your point; even that is enough to see that a lot of people are talking about it.
     
  7. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    It's just another example of what people of poor character will do, in order to get what they want, do what they want, or ride free. On city buses where I live, people with walkers, wheelchairs, or who have blind ID (CNIB) can ride for free. Formerly, those with (cheap and easily available) 4-prong canes were covered, as well. There would be maybe 5 or 6 on any bus - some in their 20s. The policy was changed. They now have to pay -- and I haven't seen more than one such cane a week, since!

    I've seen everything. It's always bothered me when I see people smoking in bus shelters - it's illegal but low-order people continue to do it. But yesterday -- a first. I saw a woman smoking CRACK in the bus shelter. I kid you not. And she wouldn't share!

    If I had any faith in humanity, I'd say these incidents destroyed it. But I haven't had any such faith for a long, long time. I've always liked animals - they are often made of far better stuff than their owners. I detest this particular fraud, which involves these innocent beings and could put them at risk. Spay/neuter the owners and give the fake-service animals an appropriate verbal warning!

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 30, 2014

Share This Page