Is it true if your dog passes Therapy training or service dog training they won't be affected by BSL?

Abbeyroad86

Is this true or just a misconception. Because if it meant my dog would be safe I would do it in a heartbeat.

Perhaps it depends on where you live.  Your profile doesn't say where you're from.

I know here in Denver the pit bull types are banned altogether and there is ZERO tolerance/acceptance at this point.  There's more recent local fights to get some exceptions, but none are based on Therapy nor Assistance Dog certification/registration.

Tennessee. At the moment but its temporary.  We travel a lot though

Abbeyroad86

We travel a lot though

Well, be careful and avoid Denver if you think your dog looks pit-ish.  Transporting or possessing a dog that appears to be pit bull type makes it subject to confiscation and evaluation by a panel to determine if it is a pit.  Although, from your pics, yours doesn't look like a pit type.

You can always research your state and city laws on www.animallaw.info  For TN: http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stustnst44_17_101_505.htm - doesn't include your local (town or county) laws.  You'd be responsible to check the areas where you travel.

The laws vary state to state, but generally *only* service dogs are protected and *only* in "public" areas (not schools, housing complexes, etc).  So my gut reaction would be no, because first of all taking a therapy dog class is no different than taking any other obedience class, it's just a class.  A therapy dog is different than a Service Dog (a Service Dog does tasks for people with disabilities who need that dog to perform that task in order to have a normal life).  Even non-public areas like schools and housing complexes can prohibit service dogs.  Some have their own rules that do not permit pets but allow therapy dogs and/or service dogs.

There is also no legit "registration" or certifying organization for Service Dogs.  Some advertise as such but these are scams.  Basically anyone can send in papers and money and get a "service dog" registration, but this does not make a dog a true Service Dog.  It needs to perform specific tasks that assist a disabled owner, which generally takes years of training.

 Get those concerned to join local anti BSL teams

I believe there are places that have exceptions for dogs who have passed CGC tests but certainly CGCs don't protect from BSL across the board. I'd guess BSL in most places is without exception.

 I agree with Lies. Therapy dogs and SERVICE dogs are very different. My dog could be a 'therapy' dog - easily. BUT - becoming a service dog is not that easy. The dog has to have a purpose - from what I understand. Seizure alert, seeing-eye-dog, etc.

No. Service dogs have to abide by local laws just as any other pet does, the only difference being the public access guarantees protected by the ADA. Service dogs still have to be vaccinated, licensed (with a county/city license if applicable, not some phoney-baloney "certification";), and their handlers have to follow all the laws that "regular" dog owners do.

Just as a note to clarify: having a dog with a "therapy" dog registration does not allow one to live in "no-pets" housing or places with breed restrictions. All a "therapy" dog is is a pet dog that has training to visit schools, nursing homes, hospitals, libraries and the like by special invitation. Handlers of "therapy" dogs do not have rights of public venue access and the dogs are nothing more than pets in the eyes of the law. Your friend is either lying about what has transpired with their dog, or has lied to take advantage of someone elses mis-interpretation or ignorance of actual service dog law. One needs to be very careful in listening to others who are not well informed concerning service dog law. This includes the answerers on Yahoo, where you also asked this question.

In Ontario the BSL had a grandfather clause, which meant people were allowed to keep their dogs, they just couldn't acquire a new dog that fell under the banned breeds. The only restrictions were the dog had to be spayed/nutered, leashed and muzzled in public. Make sure your ownership is registered somewhere.   

I guess the thing  that bothers me is people in the past have mistaken my 19lb JRT mix for a pit bull.  And that scares me if BSL is passed because if some idiot thinks my dog is a Pit Bull I'm afraid she could be taken from me.  doesn't matter that she is only 19lbs

Abbeyroad86

I guess the thing  that bothers me is people in the past have mistaken my 19lb JRT mix for a pit bull.  And that scares me if BSL is passed because if some idiot thinks my dog is a Pit Bull I'm afraid she could be taken from me.  doesn't matter that she is only 19lbs

In some of the pictures you posted, she looks like she may have some Staffordshire Bull Terrier in her, which is a small breed compared to Pits.  You, and other owners of mixed breeds, should be scared, because not too many ACO's can really identify what is or is not a Pit, and local officials will often take their word.  http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html  I tried to get a Boston ACO to take the test at a public hearing once - needless to say, she refused.  

Your best defense is your veterinarian's record of what breed your dog appears to be.  Vets, despite the fact that many of them aren't terrific at breed ID, have more credibility with the public.

While therapy dogs do not have public access rights, and the CGC or therapy dog designations will not help in areas where there are bans on bully breeds, it's a good idea to get a CGC anyway.  It can sometimes help in getting housing, or with getting homeowners or renters insurance.

spiritdogs

In some of the pictures you posted, she looks like she may have some Staffordshire Bull Terrier in her, which is a small breed compared to Pits.  You, and other owners of mixed breeds, should be scared, because not too many ACO's can really identify what is or is not a Pit, and local officials will often take their word

 And Staffy Bulls are often included in "pit bull" BSL, as they are considered a "pit bull breed".

Her mom was a Jack Russell Terrier (suspected to be mixed with beagle or some other hound).  Dad was suspected to be a Chi/Corgi mix.

I'm 99 percent sure that she is JRT/Chi/Corgi (an obviously some hound)

There is no staffy in that dog.   I got nervous for awhile after some kid called her a pit bull  but I really believe there is no staffy in that dog.   Now I ask questions about her breeds a lot though, its a fun guessing game. But there is no way there is staffy in that dog (especially staffy bull terrier, they aren't the leanest sleek looking dogs dogs (kind of short and bulky, not long and lean) no offense I'm sure they are great dogs, in my opinion, There is just no way.  She also has very little terrier behavior either.   She is very low energy, except when she tries to heard things.  She herds people and other dogs, something we are working on.   And when she tries to hunt things.  Squirrels, rabits, vermin.    She is a little dog not much bigger than our toy poodle, she rides in a stroller to the flea market, and she insists on being carried around.   She is a very lazy couch potato who would rather watch tv than go for her daily walk.  Does that sound like any type of terrier to you?     (Especially a pit breed)