HUD asks FTC to investigate websites selling assistance animal documentation
Cases, Civil Rights, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Fair Housing Act, Fair Housing Act, Government, Medical Assistance Animals, Pets, Service Dogs (SD), Stop Disability Fraud
January 1, 2020

Recently, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson wrote to Chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Joseph J. Simons and Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection Andrew Smith requesting that the FTC investigate certain websites that may be selling assistance animal documentation.

“These certificates are not an acceptable substitute for authentic documentation provided by medical professionals when appropriate,” said Secretary Carson. “These websites that sell assistance animal certificates are often also misleading by implying that they are affiliated with the federal government. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their goal is to convince individuals with disabilities that they need to spend hundreds of dollars on worthless documentation to keep their assistance animal in their homes.”

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DOT Pit Bull Delta Ban

DOT disallows Delta ban on pit bulls as service animals
Air Carrier Access Act, Civil Rights, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Government, Medical Assistance Animals, News, Service Dogs (SD), Stop Disability Fraud, Travel
August 21, 2019

The DOT said in a guidance document on how it plans to enforce regulations of service animals in aircraft cabins that it “views a limitation based exclusively on breed of the service animal to not be allowed under its service animal regulation.”

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Department of Transportation Will Let Airlines Ban Emotional Support Snakes And Rodents
Air Carrier Access Act, Air Carrier Access Act, Cases, Civil Rights, Education, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), End Disability Discrimination, Government, Medical Assistance Animals, Miniature Horse, News, Pets, Service Dogs (SD), Service Dogs in Training (SDiT), Stop Disability Fraud, Travel
August 12, 2019

DOT listened to all of the stakeholders, reviewed the law, and laid out guidelines that will allow airlines to balance their operational needs, the comfort needs of all passengers, while ensuring that restrictions put in place don’t preclude having mental health needs met.

While that may not mean the end of passengers getting bitten by poorly controlled and vicious animals, it allows some controls to be put in place that may reduce the frequency and severity of incidents.

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K9s for Warriors

‘He’s A Godsend’: Service Dog Helps Army Veteran With Civilian Life
Civil Rights, Government, Medical Assistance Animals, News, Service Dogs (SD)
August 11, 2019

“I’ve lost a total of 33 friends… a great deal of them in combat, but also quite a few of them to suicide,” Dosedel said. “If they would have had a service dog, they might still be here… saved my life.”

The relationship between man and dog really highlights the fact that well-being goes beyond the physical. It’s mental, it’s emotional, it’s all that put together. That’s what K9s for Warriors is all about.

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VA PTSD Service dogs

Do Service Dogs Help Treat PTSD? V.A. Still Doesn’t Know
Civil Rights, Government, Medical Assistance Animals, News, Service Dogs (SD), Service Dogs in Training (SDiT)
July 17, 2019

While the V.A. covers the veterinary care and the equipment costs of service dogs for veterans with certain physical disabilities, like blindness or vision impairment, department leaders have long contended that there isn’t enough clinical evidence to prove their benefits for treating mental-health issues.

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George H.W. Bush’s service dog ‘Sully’ isn’t a Democrat or Republican — It’s doggone crazy to attack him
Americans with Disability Act, Civil Rights, Government, Media, News
December 4, 2018

Dogs aren’t called “man’s best friend” for nothing. If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know the bond between this animal and we humans is very real. We mourn our dogs when they die. And yes, after sharing our homes and our lives, they mourn us when we die. We feel genuine love for each other.

Slate staff writer Ruth Graham is clueless in recognizing this.

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HUD and DOJ challenge Facebook’s advertising platforms under the Fair Housing Act
Cases, Civil Rights, Fair Housing Act, Fair Housing Act, Government, Housing
September 21, 2018

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has filed an administrative complaint against Facebook alleging discriminatory advertising in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). HUD alleges that housing advertisers can use Facebook’s advertising tools and algorithms to exclude applicants based on protected categories such as race, sex, or national origin.

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Collared: New laws crack down on fake service dogs
Civil Rights, Government, Pets
May 6, 2018

Last month, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, signed into law a bill making it illegal for people to misrepresent their pets as service animals, under which pet-loving perps are subject to a $100 fine and a misdemeanor charge. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed a nearly identical bill, under which those “fraudulently misrepresent” service animal can be fined $250.

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