Internet Lawyering re Guide Dog in training.

TikTok / YouTube about a service dog in training

UPDATE: WA State law has no provision guaranteeing access for service dogs in training. 

WA also has no standard in general for any kind of service dog certification. HOWEVER, actual seeing eye dog schools DO have standards and training processes involving volunteers who raise puppies and offer initial training and socialization. RantWoman knows a couple who raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind . Sometimes these people bring a dog they are training to public events.

Beyond that, RantWoman encourages readers to check out the Puppy raising information page for more exact information about specific practices and preferences as far as public accommodations and guide dogs in training.

The original post: RantWoman is posting these comments here because somehow YouTube at the comments she was going to post there. 

RantWoman is not a lawyer and has the following recommendations after a fast Google search:

1. If the events described in the video happened in Seattle, one option would be to reach out to the Seattle Office of Civil Rights and ask them to investigate.

2. The business clearly erred in asking the customer whether they have a disability because the only legal questions are about the dog. See The WA state service dog association. 

3. The video does not mention whether the guide dog in training was wearing a harness. EVEN THOUGH there are a zillion fake service dog harnesses available on the internet, if a dog is in a harness and is behaving appropriately, RantWoman's default would be not even to ask about its status. Guide dogs are trained to know they are working in harness and that being out of harness means play time.

4. RantWoman agrees: guide dogs in training should be provided the same level of access as fully trained guide dogs. WA state laws do not appear to have provisions about guide / service dogs in training. RantWoman does not know ADA service dog law well enough to know what if anything the ADA says about service dogs in training. That is why RantWoman recommends either providing a link to document the claim that service dogs in training have the same rights as fully trained guide dogs or reaching out for some legal assistance 

5. If a technical correction in WA state law is needed, RantWoman knows several people and organizations who will be glad to help make it happen.