Service animals are amazing companions and we all know they do an important job in keeping their hoomans happy and safe. But, so many people nowadays are faking their information, saying their animal companions are certified service animals to get the benefits.
Some states in America are now cracking down the act of fraud, as faking pets as service animals will be considered a crime in Alabama.
Many people will fake their animals as service animals because they simply want to spend more time with them. This is understandable, but it does not mean it is okay. When you pretend your pet is a service animal, it only hurts those who actually need them to survive.
“When I fly with my service dog I would say on average 50% or greater of the dogs we contact in the airport are fraudulent,” said Abigail Witthauer, director of Roverchase.
Service animals undergo several trainings in order to have them certified and licensed. 23 other states have already placed laws into checking out the fake service animals.
If caught with a fake service dog in Alabama, it will be considered as a Class C misdemeanor, which means you will be charged with a $100 fine and forced to do 100 hours of community service. In other states, such as California, you could get charged as much as $1,000 fine and up to six months of jail time.
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