Service animals are the rage

Service dogs for people with disabilities amaze me. I love that people who may have debilitating injuries or maladies can live fuller lives thanks to service dogs.
Ol’ Dutch had a friend who was blinded at birth and she had a dog that helped her around and that was one smart animal to be sure.
Of late there has been a real move for service animals that can help people such as soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from wartime duties plus people with depression and illnesses.
Of course, with anything good there can be problems. I recall the old comedian Jerry Clower always said that “too much of anything ain’t good.” And that is certainly true of rain, snow, food, kids, in-laws, outlaws, friends, family, dogs, cats, birds and sun just to name a few.
I do take exception to that rule in that I can’t ever recall having too much money. Nor have I ever heard anyone say they had too much and needed to get rid of it. That just does not happen.
But back to the story about service animals. I have taken Cooper about everywhere I go and he was a great help to me back during the great depression. No, not The Depression but there was a time I was lower than whale poop and he was a real comfort to have around so I do understand the merits and need for such companionship for many people.
But like anything people will take that to the limit and last week I saw the U.S. Department of Transportation issued its final guidance on the subject and added miniature horses to the list of emotional support animals that can fly in any cabin.
Now I am not one to doubt the sincerity of anyone needing to have their service animal with them for whatever reasons but I am not sure I am ready to share the seat with an oats munching equine nag on a trip to Disney World.
Ol’ Dutch used to have a horse or two and most of what I can recall was being bucked off, bitten and piles of horse apples everywhere. For the uninitiated, horse apples are what come out of the reverse end of the beast after consuming copious amounts of hay in the front end. So to think about having to share even cabin space with a composting plug with a saddle does not sound right.  
Miss Trixie, a true Texan, had horses and loved them but I am not sure even she is prepared to share her lettuce salad lunch with a mini-horse no matter how much she loved them growing up.
I was so curious as to how this was all gonna’ work out that I began to research it further so that when the day came to share my seat with a mare or stallion, I would be prepared.
It seems that they have to be housebroken -- the horses not passengers -- to be allowed on the air-plane but I do have to wonder who in the world can ever certify that any pony will not feel the need to make fertilizer while en route to Buffalo?
Most of you know that my father Fast Freddy (grew up in Dodge City, Kan., home to Matt Dillon and Wyatt Earp), was a pastor for many, decades and he always reminded me that the Bible said that “A horse is a vain thing for safety.”
And I have to admit my experience of lying on my back looking at the stars-from concussions- after being bucked off certainly gave credence to that little bit of valuable information.
Someone once said “it’s a slippery slope when you allow one thing as it leads to another with unintended consequences.”
And so here we are now where once dogs were allowed into public areas as service animals we now also have therapy animals, which according to the almighty Google can include: dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, rats, miniature pigs, llamas, alpacas, dolphins, horses, donkeys and monkeys just to name a few.
Ol’ Dutch is tolerant of most folks and their things if he is nothing else but someone is going to have to draw a line somewhere or we are headed for real trouble.
Imagine someday boarding a flight for a dream vacation to Hawaii or Tibet and having to share your seat with a companion elephant that some Swami is traveling with to his next convention?
Now Ol’ Dutch does not know a lot about elephants but I do recall the old joke about “where do elephants sit?” The answer of course is “anywhere they want to.” Enough said.    

Kevin Kirkpatrick and his Yorkie, Cooper, fish, hunt, ATV or hike daily. His email is [email protected]. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.


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