By : CPT Robert M Cornicelli
Photo: Marine Veteran John K Welch and Onyx September 2, 1963 — March 3, 2025
As a disabled veteran who works with other veterans every day, I can tell you firsthand that real service dogs aren’t pets. They’re essential medical tools. They help veterans manage PTSD. They offer balance and mobility support. They detect seizures and help regulate anxiety. They can interrupt nightmares, reduce panic attacks, and even remind you to take medication. These dogs aren’t there for convenience. They’re there for survival.
The problem is, too many people want the benefits of having a service dog without putting in the time, money, or effort it takes to do it the right way. So they go online, spend thirty bucks on a vest and a certificate, and suddenly their untrained dog becomes a “service animal.” Then they walk into hotels, onto planes, and into restaurants, demanding access and avoiding fees. And because business owners are afraid of lawsuits or public shaming, most of them go along with it.
But it’s disabled veterans who end up paying the price.
People with legitimate service dogs are now being questioned, denied access, or looked at with suspicion. The public no longer knows who to trust. And when you’ve sacrificed so much and rely on that dog to make it through the day, being treated like a fraud is not just frustrating… it’s humiliating.
It’s also dangerous. Real service dogs go through months, sometimes years, of training. They are calm, obedient, and focused. They don’t bark in restaurants or growl in elevators. They stay alert to their handler’s needs. If they’re distracted or attacked by a fake service dog, the result could be a medical emergency.
I’ve personally seen this happen. Veterans with service dogs have been lunged at, knocked down, and even forced to leave public places because someone else brought in an untrained dog that caused a scene. It’s unacceptable.
So how do you tell the difference between a real and a fake service animal?
Real service dogs wear professional, high-quality harnesses. Their vests are snug-fitting, often include reflective material, and have clearly sewn-on patches that say “Service Dog” or “Do Not Pet.” The dogs are quiet, focused, and stay at their handler’s side at all times.
Fake service dogs often wear cheap, loose vests ordered online. The patches may be glued or barely attached. The dog might bark, whine, jump, sniff food off tables, or be riding in a stroller. Some aren’t even on a leash. If the dog looks and acts like a pet, that’s probably what it is.
We need to take this issue seriously. It’s not just about etiquette, it’s about integrity, public safety, and respect for people with disabilities.
Congress and state legislatures should pass laws with real penalties for impersonating a service animal. A fake vest and a fake story shouldn’t be enough to get free hotel stays and airline perks. It should come with a fine or even a criminal charge, just like impersonating military personnel. That’s what this is, stolen valor in a different form.
Business owners should be trained and protected under the law to ask the two questions the Americans with Disabilities Act allows. Is this animal required due to a disability? What task has it been trained to perform? If the answers don’t make sense or the dog is misbehaving, they should be able to deny access without fear of retaliation.
Most importantly, we should be lifting up and protecting the organizations that are doing it the right way those who spend years training dogs and placing them with veterans who truly need them.
Here are just a few of the legitimate, respected service dog organizations working every day to support disabled veterans:
Legitimate Veteran Service Dog Organizations
Paws of War
Provides service dogs to veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and physical injuries. They also rescue dogs from overseas war zones and train them for veterans in need.
Website: pawsofwar.org
K9s for Warriors
One of the largest nonprofit providers of service dogs for veterans. They focus on pairing rescued shelter dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, or military sexual trauma.
Website: k9sforwarriors.org
Patriot PAWS
Based in Texas, Patriot PAWS trains high-quality service dogs for disabled veterans and provides them at no cost. Dogs are trained by both professionals and prison inmates in a unique partnership program.
Website: patriotpaws.org
America’s VetDogs
Part of the Guide Dog Foundation, VetDogs provides specially trained service dogs to veterans with physical disabilities, PTSD, and vision or hearing loss.
Website: vetdogs.org
Warrior Canine Connection
This organization uses a “Mission Based Trauma Recovery” model, where veterans in recovery actually help train service dogs for fellow veterans. It promotes healing on both sides.
Website: warriorcanineconnection.org
Dogs for Our Brave
Provides service dogs to veterans at no cost, including all food, equipment, and veterinary care for the life of the dog. Their program is designed specifically for post-9/11 veterans who have suffered severe physical injuries.
Website: dogsforourbrave.org
NEADS World Class Service Dogs
Trains and provides service dogs for veterans with hearing loss, physical disabilities, and PTSD. Also supports first responders.
Website: neads.org
Canine Companions for Independence
Not exclusive to veterans but offers a strong veterans initiative. They provide highly trained assistance dogs to people with physical disabilities, including veterans, at no cost.
Website: canine.org
These groups aren’t handing out vests in exchange for a donation. They’re doing the hard work… training, matching, supporting, and following up. Their dogs change lives, save lives, and help bring our brothers and sisters home in the truest sense.
So the next time you see a dog in a vest, think twice before you assume it’s real. And if you’re someone who’s faking it friggin stop. You’re not just breaking the rules. You’re making life harder for people who already gave more than most Americans could ever imagine.
