Author: Service Cats U.S.
I Audra, am the human behind Service Cats U.S. aka DezizWorld. I am disabled and use cats as service animals instead of dogs. They are just as capable and can perform duties other animals cannot. We started our online journey to bring awareness to the ability of cats and to help others understand the relationship between a service animal and their handler/person. We offer training tips and tricks that I have learned through the years along with other information on all things feline. We began this journey in 2014 with Lexi and Dezi. They have since gone on to heaven, but our journey continues.
This blog is about our daily life from the kitty's point of view. I want this blog to be interactive and get to know all of you, so comment and visit often. I will also offer advice, training tips and education when possible.
Copyright © 2014 - 2021 {Audra High via Deztinee High and RaenaBelle High} All Rights Reserved
All personal content (story's, poetry, etc., videos and music) are the property of the human behind Deziz World, and may not be used, copied or otherwise re-published without prior written permission/consent from the author (A. High-the human behind Deziz World). We have an amazon.com wish list and a PayPal account if you would like to help/donate to us.
Service Cats: Housing Laws and Exceptions
Meowllo and welcome to another miserable Monday. It’s time fur another educational Service Cat posty. As always, it will be written in human English. Our blog is not a training manual. Any training tips or stories are not meant to be complete, but rather a starting point; as propurr training takes time and is repetitive. Me wants to thank you all fur your questions and comments on our postys. We were asked ‘bout claw clippin’ a squirmy kitty last week. But it wasn’t da furst time we’s been asked dat, so we’re workin’ on a video tutorial fur dat. You know at da end of da day, we are still cats and have to have our claws clipped just like da rest of ya’; and we’re not so crazy ‘bout it. Mommy’s never hurt us, but still…So we decided a video would be da bestest way to ‘splain how to do it, so stay tuned fur dat. As ya’ know, there’s only one mommy, so these things take time. Ifin you have missed any of da postys in this series, you can get caught up by clickin’ da links below. Some of you have also asked about previous training posts. You can use the search feature on our sidebar to read previous posts. Keywords such as Dezi, wheelchair, phone, etc. will bring some of these up.
Service Cats: What To Look For Pt. 1
Service Cats: Training Foundations Pt. 2
Service Cats: How To Train Kitty Massage W/O Claws Pt. 3
Service Cats: Smelling Disease Pt. 4
Service Cats: Do You Need One Pt. 5
Service Cats: Who Bears The Cost Pt. 6
Well let’s get started. After last weeks post, we were talking with our friends from Bad Cat Chris about some of the laws that pertain to Service Animals and housing and such. His wife works in the housing/apartment business and is often coming in contact with those “fakers” we’ve talked about. You know, those people who call their pets Service Animals to avoid paying pet deposits/fees or so they can take their pet somewhere pets aren’t normally allowed (ie: stores, restaurants, grocery’s, etc.). You might recall, that every week, we plead with the public to NOT call their pets Service Animals unless they fit the literal description the ADA puts forth; an animal that is individually trained to perform tasks for a disabled person. Fetch, shake, roll over, etc. are not considered Service Animal training.
Your question is probably, “how do these people get away with lying about their pets?” The answer is, Easy. Unfortunately, Certification, is not required by law but rather is voluntary. Because of this there are lots of places that certify animals for a price. Certification really means nothing under the current laws. Per the rules, no one is allowed to ask someone to prove their animal is indeed a Service Animal. The only question that can be posed to a disabled person about their Service Animal is: “What task(s) does this animal perform for you that makes it necessary?” You cannot ask what a person’s disability is or require proof of any kind.
In recent years Companion Animals (CA) have become extremely popular. Remember, a Companion Animal is merely a pet. These animals may also go by the title of Emotional Support Animals (ESA). This means that the very presence of the animal has a positive influence on a person suffering from depression, panic attacks, etc.. A Companion Animal has no specific training and IS NOT a Service Animal. There is no certification or training required for an animal to be considered a Companion/Emotional Support Animal. As a result of studies that prove animals have a positive influence on their owners health, Companion Animals/Emotional Support Animals have gained acceptance and some rights under housing laws. Unfortunately a lot of people take advantage of this, and often try to pass off their CA/ESA as a Service Animal.
Landlords may require a note or letter from a medical professional stating that the animal in question is there to provide emotional support for a person. The animal must still meet the requirements a landlord sets forth in their pet policy. A typical apartment pet policy requires animals be 35 pounds or under, current on all vaccines required by law, well behaved and not a nuisance to neighbors. A landlord may ban pets/CA/ESA from certain areas of the property. Companion Animals/ ESA are not allowed in any public place that does not allow pets (ie: grocery stores, restaurants, etc.).
In an attempt to stop abuse of the Service Animal rights, the ADA refined and limited their definitions of said animals. In doing so, they punished those who truly have a need for a Service Animal of another species than dogs. Another way to go about this would be to require certification for Service Animals. However, that’s not as easy as it sounds. Me thinks this is a lot of information, so me’s going to wrap it up fur today. We’ll talk more about Certification and what effect that would have for the disabled in another post. We were also asked to speak a bit on good training techniques as opposed to bad ones (ie: punishment, force, etc.); so we’ll be covering that in a future post as well. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas you would like answered or addressed, leave them in da comments or send us an email.
Do you think Certification should be required for all Service Animals?
If you’re for Certification, do you think there should be a charge, and if so, how much?
Till da next time……………………………..Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Deztinee and RaenaBelle
Blest Sunday Strolls
Meowllo and welcome to a pawsumly Blest Sunday. It’s been a long hot week, but a lot has happened. It ain’t all good, but you know us, we always try to make d bestest of any situation. Guess me should start with Raena. You know Raena be “in training” right now and pawrt of dat trainin’ is to get used to different peeps and situations. To get us used to those kinds of things, mommy takes us out and ‘bout our little town. Da folks here know to ask befur touchin’ us, and always wanna make over us. So it gives us experience with noisy strangers peekin’ at us, pointin’ at us, and furinally pettin’ us.
Well mommy had kinda let down on takin’ Raena out early on cuz of da heat. With no a/c or workin’ windows in da car, it meant dat Raena got overheated really fast, like what happened after her last VET ‘pointment; not to mention what da heat does to mommy. And quite frankly, mommy was really scared we were gonna lose Raena after dat last VET ‘pointment. Anyways, you all know mommy’s been tryin’ to find somepawdy to help ‘round da house, right?. Well when a somepawdy came by fur an innerview and Raena got scared and started to run, mommy knew, heat or know heat, a/c or no a/c, Raena was gonna have to go out into da public. So mostly late in da day, Raena and mommy have been takin’ trips to town. Raena’s furinally big enuff to sit in da stroller, so she’s been getting’ to go fur strolls. And guess what? She’s luvvin’ it. Sure ‘nuff, she can’t get enuff of da stroller. Fanks again awnty Jennifer and grand awnty Peggy. Mommy can’t take her too far in it, cuz we don’t have a harness small enuff fur her yet, so we can’t secure her in; but short strolls and trips are okay. Mommy just watches her like a hawk. And mommy even gets a little treat outta their trips. She’s been havin’ a sweet tooth lately, and most of da places they go have a take one free candy dish. MOL
Anyways, God’s always lookin’ out fur us, and sent angels to help us with dat a/c purroblem. So mommy trekked over drove to da garage to see ‘bout getting’ us some cool air. Da mechanic decided to double check his furst opinion and fank catness he did, cuz it wasn’t what he furst thought. Altho’ it appeared much worse. Da cost of da pawrt was gonna be waaaaaaay to high. Like in da $600.00 – $700.00 range. And dat was just fur da pawrt. They hadn’t even started talkin’ labor. Mommy felt so defeated and sad when she left da garage dat day. But hey, this is da catputer age. It’s harder fur peeps to take advantage of ya’ ifin ya’ just do a little research. So after dryin’ her tears and coolin’ off a bit, mommy got on da catputer and found dat altho’ dat pawrt was ‘spensive, it wasn’t no $600.00 – $700.00. So we have a ‘pointment on Wednesday to get us some cool air, and a much cheaper pawrt waitin’ to be installed in da car. WooHoo!!! Fank you God and purrlease bless those angels.
And ya’ know what else? Dat somepawdy who came by fur an innerview to help ‘round da house? Well, mommy was able to hire her. She passed da OSBI background check and da state approved her application. When mommy called her, she said she’d been waitin’ on our call and she starts this week. We sure do hope it works out. We’ll keep ya’ posted on dat one. She’s young and has kids and a husband. She’s just lookin’ to get outta da house fur a few hours, so this job is purrfect fur her ifin she doesn’t mind workin’. Dat’s somethin’ we’ll find out soon enuff.
And our biggest blessin’ as always is dat we have each other and all of you. ‘Member to take a minute today and everyday to give thanks fur da blessings in your life. Even in da bad times, da blessings are there. This is da last call fur Pawlympic Fly Fishin’ fotos, so send ‘em in now to be a pawrt of our posty. (lexi.dezi@yahoo.com {lexi[dot]dezi[@]yahoo[dot]com} And we’s joinin’ da Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies, go by and check ‘em all out.
Well, me’s gonna go now and see ’bout gettin’ some treats befur we start visitin’ you all. We’ll be ‘tound as soon as we can.
Till da next time…………………………….Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Deztinee and RaenaBelle
Showdown On The Cat Tree
OMC Mommy, da weekend is finally here. Me thought it was never gonna get here. And what do you think ‘bout the pain in me’s hiney lil Raena jumpin’ in da shower yesfurday like she was gonna help you or somethin’? (shakes head) Me’s tellin’ ya’ dat kid sometimes thinks she’s too big fur her own bloomers. Did you see her try to take dat treat outta me’s mouth da other day? And what’s up with her constantly dirtyin’ up me’s pawdee box. Doesn’t she know da other pawdee box is hers? She has no respect mommy. Me’s tellin’ ya’, me thinks you made a mistake or somethin’. Can we return her?
Return me? Too big fur mines bloomers? Y, Sis Dezi I’s just wanna be like you. I’s wanna do everythin’ da same way you do. You’s minez hero. Mines amazingly pawsum big sisfur.
Layin’ it on a bit thick don’cha’ think Raena?
Service Cats U.S. 