I'm thinking he is a "lethal weapon"?
I'd never question a combat vet's legitimate entitlement to a support animal. Hell, I have no such background and don't want or need a licence or certificate or whatever, but I consider every dog I've ever owned an emotional support.
For a period of time when I was constantly flying in and out of the local airport for work, there was actually a lady who spent her day simply walking around the terminal building with a big beautiful friendly dog, freely allowing anyone to interact with the big galoot as a sort of "traveller's soul refresher". She was sponsored by the airport, didn't just wander in off the street.
I also recall a program at a big job site in B.C. which basically bussed anyone who was interested into the small nearby town on our infrequent days off, taking us directly to the local animal shelter and allowing us to take one dog apiece out for a few hours of on-leash exercise. It was wonderful for the people and the dogs.
When my father was finally forced to move into a nursing home in his final year due to a need for constant medical attention, I would visit him after work most days and would always stop at home to pick up his dog, who had come to live with us. Every visit was a joyful reunion for the both of them, and I was always pleased to see how happy many of the residents were for the chance to visit with the dog; some of those folks knew the dog by name but only came to know my dad through his association with her! That place was spotlessly clean at all times, lots of medical gear rolling around, everything antiseptically clean...and yet they were completely open to visits by well-behaved animals kept under control. I guess they understood the benefits of those visits were difficult to quantify but very real. That was about 20 years ago; not sure if or how it may have changed since then.
Yes, I understand that there are probably people who abuse the idea, as is the case with any rule. But the rule can only be abused because it exists. I dunno...perhaps the answer is to have very strict limits on where we can be told that we cannot take a dog. Everything should be legal unless there's a good reason to make it illegal. Sadly, today there are far too many people running around who think that everything in life should be and is illegal unless we are expressly told otherwise.
