creature comforts

[ans99]

this is a really interesting piece on service animals. it focuses primarily on psychiatric service animals (also known as "comfort animals") and discusses the legal struggle to define what exactly should be considered in the definition of a "service animal"-- thus allowing them access alongside their owners to various venues where animals are usually unwelcome. it emphasizes what seems to be the main problem-- the line that has to be drawn somewhere between the rights of the disabled and the need to enforce public safety.

it's a fascinating read, and it really hits home how animal companions can be a form of self-medication for many people suffering from disorders. because pets can buffer things like anxiety and depression some owners might not even be fully aware that's what's going on.

Comments

[fubarobfusco.livejournal.com]

the line that has to be drawn somewhere between the rights of the disabled and the need to enforce public safety

Thing is, many of the cases discussed in the article have nothing whatsoever to do with public safety. They have to do merely with the comfort levels of squeamish people who would probably prefer not to see disabled people (especially the mentally ill) around in public at all. And one person's comfort level does not give them the right to exclude someone else's disability accommodation from a public place.

[freyja.livejournal.com]

the whole time they were discussing the health risk macaques post in a restaurant i kept thinking about how unclean their children probably are too. :P