My Pet World: Woman says condo doesn't allow 'service' dogs

Dear Cathy,

I live in a condo that doesn't allow certain service dogs. I have a certificate, a vest and badge, and a doctor's letter, but the president of the condo association doesn't want to look at it. I have panic attacks, anxiety and depression. When I have my lab with me, she calms me down until I am totally calmed down. Isn't there a law that service dogs are allowed in condos? -- STK, Florida

Dear STK,

Under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Florida law, if your dog is a service animal -- an animal that has been trained to provide certain tasks for someone with a mental, physical, sensory, psychiatric or intellectual disability -- then your condo must allow the dog to remain with you. A service animal must have received specialized training to respond to your particular disability.

These laws, however, do not apply to emotional support animals. An emotional support dog is not trained to provide a service, even though there is no discounting the fact that he or she is providing an enormous comfort for a stressed owner. Emotional support animals, however, are covered under the Fair Housing Act, and no training is required. You do have to provide proof, which requires a letter from a doctor or mental health care professional who has determined you need this emotional support animal for a mental health disability.

Unfortunately, emotional support animals do not have the same guarantees to be in public spaces, like restaurants and grocery stores, as service animals, but landlords are required under the FHA to make reasonable accommodations for people who need emotional support animals. The caveat: Not all properties are covered by the FHA.

If you are unsure whether your dog is a service animal or an emotional support animal or is covered under the FHA or not, consult a lawyer. Hopefully, your condo allows pets because it's clear you benefit from having a dog in your life.

Dear Cathy,

I love all the reader tips about getting a cat to cooperate with nail trimming. I have tried all those suggestions at one time or another with my cats, but to no avail with nail trimming. So now, I take one of my guys to the vet (he was banned from the pet groomers for rude behavior). The other cat, however, sits there sweetly, docilely and readily allows the groomer to trim his nails. He even purrs throughout the process. -- Melissa, Newington, CT

Dear Melissa,

If at first you don't succeed, find someone else to do it. Cats are particular about people and sometimes it just means you have to find the right person to cut their nails. I am not surprised you have two different solutions for two different cats. They have such different personalities, and a technique that works on one won't necessarily work on another.

Dear Cathy,

I cannot believe your answer to John who "inherited" his daughters 115-pound Great Dane. Substitute "dumped" for inherited and "cruel" for metal cage daily. Oh yeah, that would require critical thinking on your part -- instead of "pat" answers. Why not educate these people? Don't buy a dog you plan on leaving in a cage all the time. My heart goes out to the Great Dane living a horrible life in a cage. Probably went from a "puppy mill" breeder straight to a clueless owner and onto her clueless dad. Instead you should have asked these two morons how they would like to be left in a cage unable to do much else other than lay down or stand for most of their lives. I find both the question and your answer despicable. With contempt for your "expertise." -- Susan, via email

Dear Susan,

I am sorry to disappoint you. We clearly have different approaches to education. It doesn't matter whether the dog was "dumped" or "inherited;" the man was seeking advice on how to care for his new dog.

While I didn't chastise the man (or call him names) for keeping the dog in a kennel most of the day, I did recommend he not keep his dog in a kennel anymore. I admit I could have added that kennels should be used for training and short-term management and not all day use. When it comes to educating people about animals, I have learned that if you chastise people, they tend to not listen to your advice, and the animal continues to suffer.

It's important to educate people in a way that motivates them to do the right thing, rather than shame them for doing the wrong thing. Shaming people almost always backfires.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)