When you're a responsible dog owner, there are tons of benefits that can come with adding a 4 legged friend to your family. I'm going to use the word responsible again because responsible dog owners often find themselves getting more exercise, dogs can help reduce your stress levels, they can do wonders for your mental health, and they can become your best friend.

There are some people who, quite literally, need a dog to help them go about their day. Service dogs have changed and saved so many lives for those who have them. Service dogs can assist those with disabilities and create a feeling of independence.

Former military, members who suffer from PTSD, use service dogs to help alert them when symptoms are starting to show. Service dogs can help those who suffer from Epilepsy and alert them of an oncoming seizure. The list is pretty endless on the benefits of having and using a service dog.

Service Dog Law In Iowa

Iowa is one of 33 states who have a law in place for those who fake using a service dog, according to Animal Law. Iowa Code 216C.11 says

A person who intentionally misrepresents an animal as a service animal or a service-animal-in-training is, upon conviction, guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

There are people who fake using a service dog to try to gain the rights or privileges of those that actually need these animals. If you are caught misrepresenting the use of a service animal, you could receive a misdemeanor, 30 days in jail, and some kind of fine.

According to Healthline, using a fake service dog might not always be as bad as someone might think. The most common reason people might fake having a service dog is just using this as an excuse to bring their pet with them everywhere they go. Someone might buy a service dog vest online, put it on their dog, and now you have an untrained "service dog" sitting next to people in a restaurant, begging for their food.

Criticizing those who use a fake service dog can be valid. There's something kind of scummy about doing this. There can be scenarios where this is a little more in the grey area, as opposed to right and wrong. Sometimes someone who may require a service dog simply can't afford one, as "real" service dogs are often bred for those skills. They can be extremely expensive and some people might not have the resources to get one.

According to the Dogington Post, fake service dogs have become a growing trend and are a real problem. The biggest issue many people have with those who legitimately fake using a service dog is that it's a pretty big slap in the face to those who truly require one to help them improve their lives.

What do you think? If someone fakes using a service dog does it bother you? Do you not care? Let us know what you think in the comments.