A growing number of states are enacting laws designed to keep people from passing off their pets as service animals.  Service dogs, which are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, were first used by people with vision and hearing impairments. They are now also used by those who use wheelchairs or have other impairment in mobility, people who are prone to seizures or need to be alerted to medical conditions, like low blood sugar, and people with autism or mental illness. 

Many states are pushing for legislation to  crack down on people who try to pass their pets off as service animals.  The laws would make it a misdemeanor to represent an untrained dog as a service animal and would come with fines.

Read more