Recently hosted a husband and wife for one night. When they were on-route they mentioned that they had a small service dog (I know you don’t need to inform host of service animal). They never communicated at all other than that. They arrived with a bug eyed 15 year old shih tzu. I have a large golden doodle and the shih tzu took after my dog which surprised me. Not that a small dog put the run on my dog as I know little dogs do this all the time. What surprised me, was that a service dog behaved like that. I didn’t know they use shih tzu’s a service animals. I read that support dogs are not supported by Airbnb. I never asked what support this dog provided, but…not sure if this was a play to ensure I accepted a dog in a pet free Airbnb. We have not had a service dog in the past but I am familiar with them as two friends have had them in the past for MS and MD.
There is a level of service dog called a Psychiatric Service Dog (I have one) that is train to perform a specific task for the owner. He would not be as well trains as a full service dog (although mine is). My dog is a mixed breed and so I suppose a Shih Tzu could be one too.
You are legally allowed to ask two questions.
(1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? Note - disability doesn’t necessarily mean handicap. My dog alerts me when my blood sugars are too low while I’m sleeping.
(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
I dont’ know if Airbnb is now allowing ESA (Emotional Support Animals) to be classified as a service dog too.
I basically tell guests that since it’s a service dog, it needs to be with you at all times and can not be left home alone.
I would never show up without letting the host knowing I am brining my dog.
There is so much for me to clarify:
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Without trying to discriminate against anyone with a disability these rules regarding service animals are very confusing for me - especially since you mentioned that a disability doesn’t necessarily mean handicap. English, not being my native tongue doesn’t make things any easier and I seriously wish that such special trained animals should require documentation. Since I’m “allowed” to ask these two questions it basically confirms what a certificate could show as well - without the need of asking the handler any potential uncomfortable questions.
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Without such documentation, guests only need to know what I would be allowed to ask in order to sneak in a ‘regular’ pet and there is nothing I could do to stop them. Please note that I’m particularly addressing liars and NOT guests who require a service animal!!! We’ve seen recently that guests keep stepping up their game to go for free stays or otherwise making up stories to get refunds. I’m sure some pet owners play that game as well.
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As you stated, you would always inform the host that you bring your dog and I find this appropriate and respectful, regardless whether you need your dog for your health or not. It shows that you are mindful of others and I do believe that such behaviour is reciprocated compared to guests basically trying to sneak in their animal just because they don’t (have to) tell the host that it’s a service animal.
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Having guests claiming to bring a service animal and leaving it alone would be a dead giveaway and I wonder if this is something we, hosts, can put this in our house rules or if Airbnb already clarified this, whether a host can cancel a stay if the owner of a service animal leaves the animal alone - which wouldn’t make any sense.
Maybe this will help. An owner on another forum posted this as their response to when a guest claims they are bringing a service dog (may nee changing for other countries than the US). Bold print is mine:
"It is our pleasure to accept your group and your service animal.
Please answer the following questions legally allowed by the ADA regarding your service animal.
1. Is the service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the service animal been trained to perform?
We do not charge extra for a service animal, nor do we increase the security deposit. Guest remains liable for any and all damage caused by people or the service animal.
Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls. The animal must be under control by the handler at all times and not left alone at the house at any time.
If we discover a guest has misrepresented a pet as a service animal, we reserve the right to seek financial restitution, report fraudulent claims to government authorities and to evict the guest(s) without further notice.
In the latter case, there will be no right to a refund for unused rent.
An ESA is not considered a service animal under the ADA."
We had a similar experience. In CA we’re required to accept service animals and emotional support animals. The guest informed us ahead of time (after reservation was made) that they were bringing an emotional support animal, but that the wife would be out with it all day while the husband worked in our unit. The dog was a large Rottweiler.
The first day the wife did take the dog out. Days two and three the dog was left alone in the unit. It did not bark, but it was on the sofa. (My husband saw it when he walked by the unit.) Long story short, when they left there were two huge blood stains on our cream colored comforter, blood spots on the sofa, and blood spots all over the floor. We believe the dog was probably in heat.
We took this as a learning experience. Now if we have someone who’s bringing a service animal, we state upfront that animals are not allowed on the furniture, nor are they to be left unattended in the unit for any reason whatsoever and that their animal has to be leashed at all times in the yard. This is stated in our listing and we also inform guests when they book.
When I contacted Airbandb about this issue and the mess the dog made, they were zero help. Sadly, depending where you are, you just have to grin and bear it. (BTW, we have a booking for a service animal and the owner has assured us that since it is a bona fide service animal she CAN’T leave it alone since it monitors her health. The other animal we believe was a pet who the owners knew we’d have to accept without question.)
It is pointless to state that dogs aren’t allowed on the furniture. Dogs that are accustomed to lying on sofas and beds at home will do so everywhere.
It is better to provide some old blankets or towels for the guests to use on the sofa and bed if they are the kind of dog owners who see nothing wrong with dogs on people furniture.
I was inder the impression that guests with emotional support animals were required to show written evidence from their doctor showing that the pet was essential to the guest.
Maybe that’s just for long term tenants.
This is ridiculous in my opinion. ESA’s need a doctor’s note while service animals are undocumented, trained medical assistants so to speak. I see no logic in this, making our work even more complicated.
I had a Service Animal for epilepsy. Unfortunately he recently died. He was fully trained by a reputable trainer. Despite rules that II am only obliged to answer two questions, if asked, it was always obvious to me that airbnb hosts, store owners etc. especially in foreign countries would question how such a small animal had life saving abilities. I always carried full documentation and was pro-active in presenting it. Anyone wishing to abuse the existing system is well aware of that.
As an addendum…Muddy, my house, my rules. If I clearly state in my listing that pets are not allowed in the furniture and a monetary penalty and if there is excessive pet hair or in the case of the porter, blood, in the furniture, you can be sure I will seek compensation. I would pursue this with airbnb until they live up to their word.
Any dog that lunges at another animal is not a service animal and if by chance…and that is a far stretch…it is, it should be reported and the designation be taken away.
It is a shame that true Service Animals do not get more publicity in the media. Too many people are still ignorant of the fact that these days these animals can be trained to perform many tasks and supports.
More than once I have had people wave their hands inches from my face and tell me I am not blind. How disrespectful and ignorant!
A large part of the problem lies in the fact that the U.S… and other countries do not have strict regulations governing Service Animals.
Of course hosts can set their own house rules. But no pets on furniture is one of those unenforceable house rules, that’s why I think it’s a better idea to just provide some pet blankets or towels. Better for the guests to use those than to try to get Airbnb to compensate you after the fact.
I have had dogs most of my life, and they were never allowed on the furniture. But the majority of dog owners I know think dogs in bed or on the sofa is just fine. So the dog will do that wherever they stay. It isn’t the dog’s fault that their owners have trained them to that.
I never questioned the guest about what service the dog provided, only in private conversation with my husband and friends did I discuss that we absolutely doubted it was a service dog. When it put the snarling run on my golden doodle, I was pretty sure it was a 15 year old pet that they didn’t want to leave it at home.
That’s what it comes down to, exactly.
Mindfulness goes a long way, the same as with respect towards others.
A little bit of both in every human would turn this place around in no time…