r/YouShouldKnow • u/LtSoundwave • Jul 19 '20

Other YSK That many people with a disability consider their aides (wheelchair, etc.) an extension of themselves. You should ask before touching or moving them.

Read this article and was surprised to hear how many people struggle with this. Even if you are trying to help, you should ask first.

www.bbc.com/news/disability-49584591

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238

u/radioactive_kitten4 Jul 19 '20

Same goes for service animals! They are considered an aid, and you should always ask before touching them, or assume you can't

146

u/CountryBoysMakeDo Jul 19 '20

Yep my dad is blind and hates when people make sounds to get the dogs attention or tries to pet it because when the harness is on the dog is in "work mode" and you are distracting it. It gets old very fast it happens nearly every time we go out and it seems a very small percentage of people realize its not a pet but a service animal first and foremost.

40

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '20

I try not to even look at service animals. I am just too in the habit of smiling at them and making the universal 'please come and greet me' unconsous thing that dogs seem to understand but I don't.

Imagine how horrible you would feel if you distracted someone's service animal at the wrong time and the person died or something. You just don't fuck about with shit like that. Even if they are cute.

6

u/sammietheservicedog Jul 20 '20

As a handler, thank you. Also, in some places, it’s actually illegal to distract a service dog and if something happens to the handler or animal because of your actions, you can be held legally responsible for the damages.

4

u/BambooFatass Jul 20 '20

I encounter a decent number of service dogs at work and it takes all my might to refrain from making eye contact with them or smiling at them (well nowadays the mask helps with the latter problem). I respect people's service animals to not try to pet or play with them, but it sucks that not everyone understands that. :(

29

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '20

[deleted]

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u/sammietheservicedog Jul 20 '20

I have a service dog and children are usually much better behaved around her than adults. I mostly assume that this is because children are probably more used to people telling them not to do something. I remember once in Starbucks, I was standing with my dog (with all my giant “DO NOT TOUCH” “PLEASE IGNORE ME” patches all over her vest) and I heard a little girl go “Mommy, look. You can’t pet that dog because it’s working.” And I turned around and gave the kid a thumbs up and told the mom she was doing a great job with her. Not even two full minutes later some 20-something guy walked up and starting talking to my dog. I told him he needed to stop, she was working, etc. and he did have the decency to apologize and back off. BUT I heard the little girl call him stupid to her mom and my whole day was made.

3

u/Riahsmariah Jul 20 '20

Omg, this is great 😂 That little girl and her mom are awesome

1

u/dirtyviking1337 Jul 20 '20

Ok but I do agree with your point

1

u/3rddimensionalcrisis Jul 20 '20

Hey! That's exactly what I tell my kiddo. Responsible parents unite!!

56

u/AngryGoose Jul 19 '20

I learned this years ago and am glad that I did because every time I see a dog I want to pet it and talk to it in that funny voice.

35

u/Thunder21 Jul 19 '20

My girlfriend has a service dog, and so help me god, I'm going to snap one of these days and fight someone trying to touch or take a picture of her dog. It gets so old, and it's the same every time. People get offended they cant take a picture?

Motherfucker, try taking a picture of someones Walker or hearing aid and see how they feel.

29

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '20

Better yet dont touch them period. the only time I have touched a service dog, was when the owner gave him a work break. aka play time.

16

u/inquisitor-567 Jul 19 '20

Exactly right I have too friends who have service dogs when I’m over at their house and they aren’t working it’s okay time like they’re a normal dog but when we go out in public I don’t even acknowledge the dog unless it’s signaling something is wrong and I’ll go off on people who try to touch them since I know my friends are too shy to do it

11

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '20

[deleted]

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u/inquisitor-567 Jul 19 '20

Thank you very much I know my friends struggle with standing up for themselves in this regard so I do my best speak up for them and it is something that they have asked my to do I know they struggle so much day to day that most people never get to see and even I only see a small part of that struggle so It really infuriates me to see someone add to that struggle even unknowingly

6

u/h4ppy60lucky Jul 19 '20

Yes totally. And people should ask before touching any animal (well any pet, just don't you wildlife even if it consents).

2

u/GalenSolan Jul 20 '20

I agree on this and it is definitely more important with service animals, but please always ask the owner before touching any animal. I own a small and cute locking dog and the amount of parents telling their children to pet the dog is infuriating. My dog is easily scared and will growl if he feel attacked. And if that happens everyone blames the dog.