Pit Bull Service Dogs

[RobbiRN]

You are assigned a patient who brings two pit bulls with him to the ER claiming that they are service dogs. While it is illegal to falsely claim that a dog is a service dog, we are not allowed to challenge the claim or ask for proof. The patients complains of abdominal pain, but he has wounds on his hands he states are from separating the dogs when they got in a fight. He has no one else with him to help with the dogs, and they are on long leashes which allow them free access to the majority of his room. When you prepare to draw his blood they jump onto the stretcher, standing on either side of him. What would you do?

[Shelisa56]

Yes you may ask the 2 questions listed however your safety is also allowed. ADA gives hospitals and other public entities to deny safety animals if they are possibly showing aggression and/or safety concerns for employees. Real safety animals are very well trained they will not react to you or come toward you. Also you should not attempt to pet or interact with a safety animal. The patient also should be able to care for the animal 100%, walk, feed etc so while the patient may have been their for stomach pain if she/he was unable to care for the animals they should call someone to come to care for the animals.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

On 2/21/2019 at 9:18 PM, Jory said:

Ask for the dogs to be removed. A trained service animal will not do that and you won't see anyone with TWO service animals. Unless you have thousands and thousands of dollars, even charity organizations will only provide you with one.

We need to have a database of service animals. We do this with handicap stickers through the DMV. While the nature of a patient's disability is not anyone's business, whether or not the service animal is TRAINED, vaccinated, and safe is everyone's business regardless of breed.

Fake service animals in public places is the biggest scam we have going on.

There is a difference between a Service animal and an Emotional Support Animal one is protected by law the other is not. Often times it's those animals loosely identified as emotional support animals that cause the problem.

Hppy

[JKL33]

13 hours ago, RobbiRN said:

A third RN who owns a bit bull announced, "You guys just don't understand pit bulls," and she finished the patient's care. No one was bitten. The dogs' strong odor permeated the air three doors down throughout the two hour stay.

And there you have it; the same thing that causes a problem in other areas of patient care: Someone performs some stellar move that allows them to feel very good about themselves while implying that other nurses should feel obligated to do the same. That's the same toxic mindset that prevents progress toward a better way in issues like safe lifting.

It also enables institutions to shirk responsibility for their expectations both spoken and unspoken. If you are the manager who silently (or verbally) appreciates that an RN handled this unsafe situation this way, you are part of the problem - and your institution can continue right on with the MO of throwing unreasonable expectations out there (or knowingly letting them simmer as an underpinning of everything) and letting individuals worry about how to handle them. Such attitudes also reinforce the general public's expectation of "anything goes."

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't go near and would have had to ask someone else to take care of the pt due to my severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reactions to dogs. My coworkers in the past have seen how fast this happens when there is a dog on the unit. I just excuse myself and let charge know that until the dog is gone, I will be working the area as far away from them as I can. It hasn't been a problem so far and my unit is pretty understanding that I like breathing a lot.

[Sdee, BSN]

26 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

And there you have it; the same thing that causes a problem in other areas of patient care: Someone performs some stellar move that allows them to feel very good about themselves while implying that other nurses should feel obligated to do the same. That's the same toxic mindset that prevents progress toward a better way in issues like safe lifting.

It also enables institutions to shirk responsibility for their expectations both spoken and unspoken. If you are the manager who silently (or verbally) appreciates that an RN handled this unsafe situation this way, you are part of the problem - and your institution can continue right on with the MO of throwing unreasonable expectations out there (or knowingly letting them simmer as an underpinning of everything) and letting individuals worry about how to handle them. Such attitudes also reinforce the general public's expectation of "anything goes."

Exactly this. Well said.

[OldDude]

45 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

And there you have it; the same thing that causes a problem in other areas of patient care: Someone performs some stellar move that allows them to feel very good about themselves while implying that other nurses should feel obligated to do the same. That's the same toxic mindset that prevents progress toward a better way in issues like safe lifting.

It also enables institutions to shirk responsibility for their expectations both spoken and unspoken. If you are the manager who silently (or verbally) appreciates that an RN handled this unsafe situation this way, you are part of the problem - and your institution can continue right on with the MO of throwing unreasonable expectations out there (or knowingly letting them simmer as an underpinning of everything) and letting individuals worry about how to handle them. Such attitudes also reinforce the general public's expectation of "anything goes."

AMEN!!!

[kkgill]

On 2/20/2019 at 12:25 AM, Tenebrae said:

"hey there, I need to come into the room to do X to help you. Are your dogs ok with strangers?"

Our service dogs training system are much more regulated and there is no way a pitt bull would be ever used as a service dogs so this wouldnt happen here

My goal would to be establish a rapport with the patient while ensuring my safety and that of my colleagues

Pitbulls can be services dogs in areas that understand that unscrupulous people had given pitbulls a bad reputation and every dog is different therefore there is a chance that "pitbulls" can be wonderful service dogs. Also according to the ADA there is no breed restrictions what dogs can be service dogs, just like they can be a part of police K9 units. It doesn't matter the breed of the dog, but the fact that the individual has marks on their hands that show that the dogs have bit the owner before and that there are two of them and usually service animals consist of just one animal. Also, I personally do not think I have ever seen service dogs on long leashes. I'm glad in the end it worked out.

[JKL33]

Out of curiosity, what actually is the nature of your disagreement that you felt the need to register on my post, @kkgill?

[LovingLife123]

I would send this up the ladder to administration. I would also remind the patient there is a difference between an emotional support animal and service animal.

I own a pit bull and think the breed is very misunderstood. I still would have a huge problem with this. If administration refuses to handle it, another nurse could take the patient. A true service animal would not have behaved in such a way nor would there be two.

My pit bull is least aggressive animal you will meet. You can take food out of his mouth. But he is very intimidating due to the muscular nature and big head he has.

[tining, BSN, RN]

If you google ESA - emotional support animal - you will find that anyone can get a 'letter' stating they need the ESA. Some of these web sites churn these 'letters' out for a fee.

[Emergent, RN]

As a matter of fact, an ad popped up on this very page.

[mtmkjr, BSN]

On 2/23/2019 at 2:46 PM, kkgill said:

Pitbulls can be services dogs in areas that understand that unscrupulous people had given pitbulls a bad reputation and every dog is different therefore there is a chance that "pitbulls" can be wonderful service dogs.

The problem I see with pitbulls as service animals is that their reputation precedes them. Deserved or not, people are intimidated by them. Service animals are allowed in all kinds of spaces where you would not expect to see an animal. That leads to basically forcing people to be in close proximity with a fear inducing animal.