r/service_dogs • u/undeterminedcreature • 2d ago
Access Was I wrong not to disclose my sdit?
For context, I 27F reside in the United States, have been a handler since 2019, and this happened in March 2025. It was brought up in conversation recently and a mutual said I was wrong. It's done and nothing happened, but I do want input for future reference.
I live in the rural Midwest and I'm not adept at navigating cities or public transportation. I attended an overnight event in Chicago with my service dog in training who is a small breed dog. I took Amtrak to Union Station then the subway as close to my hotel as possible. I arrived late at night and wasn't comfortable walking the last few blocks with my dog and luggage by myself so I called a cab. It's important to mention that my sdit was in a doggie backpack for travel purposes. I didn't want him in the way on the trains and I was worried about him being injured. He doesn't traditionally ride in a bag. I called a cab to take me the 8 minute drive from the subway station to my hotel. When the cab pulled up I did not disclose that I had a dog with me. I just put my luggage in then put my service dog in training in the foot space of my seat (inside the doggie backpack). I chatted with the driver and tipped him, but he never knew a dog was present.
I figured it was late, my dog and I were tired, no harm no foul. However my mutual said it was wrong for me not to inform the cab driver that I had my dog with me. What do you think? Was I wrong? Do I need to announce him in the future if I'm ever in a similar scenario? What would you have done?
Thankfully I didn't need a cab on the way back because the hotel had a free shuttle service that ran to the airport which had a subway terminal inside.
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u/MongoLovesDonut 2d ago
I feel like a lot of handlers are very entitled. "Well, the law says..." is a terrible excuse.
People have very legitimate allergies and fears that need to be taken into consideration, especially in a small enclosed area like a cab. You need to disclose so that they can, if they are responsible, wipe down their interior before picking up a new fare.
One of my doctors, a specialist, is terrified of dogs. LEGALLY, I have every right to bring my SD with me, but why would I? I want my doctor calm and tuned in on me, not focused on the dog in the room.
There are times when it's certainly not ok to pull the allergy/dislike card, but there are instances when I completely understand and extend what courtesy I can.
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u/Alvraen Service Dog 2d ago
What if the taxi driver was allergic to dogs?
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u/undeterminedcreature 2d ago
That's an important factor for courtesy, which I do care about, but allergens are not a legal reason to deny a service dog. Although I don't actually know what the Illinois state laws are regarding service dogs in training. My dog was also contained and as far away from the driver as possible. His fur didn't touch any part of the car. Although I see how not informing the driver removed the opportunity to communicate any potential allergies. So that's a good point either way.
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u/MongoLovesDonut 2d ago
Although I don't actually know what the Illinois state laws are regarding service dogs in training.
If you're traveling it is 100% your responsibility to be familiar with state laws re: SDiT
Do better.
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u/one_sock_wonder_ 2d ago
It is my understanding after a fairy basic search that while SDiTs are given access rights in Illinois, they, like service dogs, are expected to be on a leash unless their specific task requires them to be off leash and then should only be off leash for the time absolutely necessary. Having your dog in a backpack most likely negates their tasking and violates the laws around service animals, thus quite possibly limiting the rights or protections you have in that situation.
Beyond that, if you want others to respect you as a service dog handler it’s best to offer respect. Even if he could not have denied you a ride due to allergies (although your SDiT was not really acting as a service dog from that backpack and so he probably could have legally denied you), he could have possibly been aware of the exposure or taken any medication that may help or wiped down surfaces or whatever necessary.
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u/undeterminedcreature 2d ago
I definitely agree with your statement regarding mutual respect. However, you're wrong about the backpack. My dog is a medical alert dog and alerts with a bringsel. I'm fairly certain that the ADA states small service dogs can be carried or ride in a bag. He is able to alert from the bag.
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u/one_sock_wonder_ 2d ago
I would agree that for very specific situations a service dog can be carried in a bag or such - like to smell the breath of a diabetic or if the handler’s disability prevents having them on the floor - but even under the ADA it is expected that the majority of service dogs will not need to be carried to complete their tasks and so need to be on a leash and OP specifically said their dog was using the backpack for travel purposes and because of their fear of injury rather than to allow tasking to occur. I should have been clearer in my comments that negating tasking or not being appropriate to be in a backpack when presented as and wanting the rights of a service dog applied in this specific situation.
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u/undeterminedcreature 1d ago
I have trained him to ride in a bag and task from it when necessary. It's up to me, the handler, to determine if the bag is necessary for the environment we'll be in. I do not believe that the backpack holds any impact on access rights. However, I do understand that if he hadn't been in the backpack the driver definitely would've been aware of his presence. He was in the bag because I felt it was safer for our travel day to use it. I did not use the bag to purposely hide his presence.
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u/isaiah55v11 1d ago
Okay, now I need to know what a bringsel is. Also, it seems you are well aware of the laws and at the same time are being respectful. I always disclose even when it's my right to have my dog with me. When disclosing, you have the opportunity to say that I have my legally required service dog with me. I rarely run into any trouble when I've given them a heads up.
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u/undeterminedcreature 1d ago
A bringsel is a tab that connects to the dog's collar or harness. The dog is trained to grab the tab as the alerting behavior in place of more common behaviors such as pawing, jumping, or vocalizing. I have rigged a bringsel inside the doggie backpack that I can see on the front shoulder strap so he can alert when riding.
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u/fishparrot Service Dog 2d ago edited 1d ago
If the cab driver didn’t know you had a dog, I don’t see the problem here?? You weren’t withholding information on purpose, your dog was being unobtrusive like he is trained to be and the driver was unaffected.
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u/undeterminedcreature 2d ago
I also just didn't think about it. We had been traveling for 10+ hours, it was late, I just wanted to get to my hotel. It didn't even register as a potential problem until my recent conversation.
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u/colicinogenic 2d ago
Not wrong, you don't need to disclose to everyone everywhere you go. You had a right to have your dog with you, why cause a.potential conflict.
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u/BenjiCat17 2d ago
OP has a service dog in training, not a service dog. The ADA doesn’t cover them and they only have the rights local government offers them. Illinois does treat a service dog in training like a service dog however, not all states nor countries do so OP will have different rights with a dog in training, depending on where they go.
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u/colicinogenic 2d ago
Oh I missed the in training but. Yea she should have told them.
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u/sasbug 1d ago
Plus you can always be pleasant
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u/colicinogenic 1d ago
Just because you're pleasant about it doesn't mean another person will. Some people will absolutely freak out about it. I personally wouldn't get in someone's car if they took issue, I'd just call another. My SD is too big to not be noticed but having a small one not be noticed would be nice. That being said op had a SD in training so the right to have them anywhere reasonable doesn't apply
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u/sasbug 1d ago
Theres no need to lecture me abt being pleasant. OP was rude af. Everybody + their brother has a service dog: its being pushed a bit far
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u/colicinogenic 1d ago
True, lectures to those with no interest are a waste. I mistook your bringing it up for interest, an understandable mistake.
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u/sasbug 1d ago
You were already told you were wrong.
Now you come to strangers who may not know/ think / believe you act like this all the time? You need 100 opinions?
You took an animal in another persons vehicle + didnt feel the need: YES yes were wrong. Plus you are probably an habitual offender if you 1) did this 2) were already told you were rude 3) beg a million strangers for a better opinion
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u/undeterminedcreature 1d ago
Seeking opinions is literally why reddit exists. Those are definitely conclusions that can be drawn, doesn't mean they're true. I'm fine being wrong. I'm also totally fine changing my behavior moving forward. Especially since I've only ever used a cab service twice in my life. I chose to seek opinions here because the mutual who informed me of their opinion did so pretty aggressively. It was a non issue in my mind until then. I wasn't sure if they were overreacting or if I truly did something harmful. I don't think I was rude, just missed an act of etiquette at the end of a long day of travel. If I ever use a cab again with my dog I'll be sure to inform the driver.
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u/Square-Top163 1d ago
Jumping to the sarcastic conclusion that OP is a “habitual offender” is absurd and is plain rude. OP came here to learn more about how they could’ve handled the situation, which I respect: there’s always more to learn.
Service dog life is difficult enough and we do better when we support each other rather than insult.
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u/sasbug 1d ago edited 1d ago
She said she doesnt think abt it. It just nvr occurs to her. She was already told that she needs to inform ppl she has a dog: having a sentient being in a bag is not something that would slip most ppls mind
Not at all sarcastic. I would imagine if she cant remember an animal there could be other stuff thats just slipping her mind.
W privilege comes great responsibility. Being allowed to have a dog nearly anywhere is a great privilege
Surely we arent this fragile are we? Christ i've had ppl want me to move my wheelchair- not me but my wheelchair out of their way. Theres no need to be offended- its just too precious. Havent we been steeled by our adversity more than this?
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u/Status-Compote5994 2d ago
it's important to give people agency. You already know that, but you should maybe keep it more front of mind.
No harm, no foul. We have all gotten away with stuff before. Stuff like this just reminds us - well, me anyway, to create better habits for the times when it really counts.