A viral video capturing two very different “service dogs” seated side by side on an airplane has sparked debate about a growing problem: people fraudulently passing off their untrained pets as service animals to skirt airline restrictions.
The stark contrast in behavior between the two has millions convinced one is legitimate and the other is a fake. This highlights how not all animals wearing service vests are created equal.
Which is the Real Service Dog?
In a viral video with more than 3.2 million views, a TikToker who goes by @vegojcfzx2 captures the stark contrast between two service dogs on an airplane. (The golden retriever or labrador appears to be hers.)
The text overlay reads, “Pov: your service dog gets seated next to a ‘service dog.'” She adds quotation marks around the second mention, clearly suggesting skepticism.
The video shows two service dogs standing next to each other with only a middle seat passenger as a buffer. On the right is what appears to be a golden retriever/labrador that remains super chill and completely unreactive. On the left is a smaller black and white bulldog wearing a service dog vest that can be seen sniffing toward the golden retriever.
The contrast in behavior is striking. While the golden retriever sits calmly and maintains its training, ignoring the other dog entirely, the smaller dog shows curiosity and interest. This is behavior that trained service dogs are specifically conditioned not to display while working.
Making matters worse, the owner of the smaller dog tells the other owner, “She’s very friendly.” This comment further suggests the dog is likely a pet rather than a working service animal.
Legitimate service dog handlers typically don’t characterize their animals as “friendly” because the dogs are working and should not be interacting socially with people or other animals.
The Problem of Fake Service Dogs
The video taps into ongoing frustration among people with disabilities who rely on legitimate service animals. True service dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA guidelines state. Part of that training includes ignoring distractions, including other animals, while working.
The smaller dog’s behavior of sniffing and showing interest in the golden retriever is exactly the kind of distraction that real service dogs are trained to avoid. For someone who needs a genuine service animal to navigate daily life, encountering fake service dogs can be more than just annoying. It can interfere with their animal’s ability to work.
The issue has become increasingly common as people have learned they can purchase service dog vests and certification documents online with no questions asked.
The ADA notes that service animals are not required to wear vests, meaning a dog wearing a vest is not necessarily a service animal. The dog still needs to be trained to perform a task for a person with a disability to be a legitimate service animal.
Emotional Support Animals vs. Service Dogs
Part of the confusion stems from the difference between service dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs). According to the ADA, while service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and allowed in public spaces because they perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, emotional support animals do not have the same legal protections.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
Airlines previously allowed emotional support animals to fly in the cabin, but many carriers have since tightened their policies. This was after incidents involving untrained animals. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a final rule that no longer considers emotional support animals to be service animals for air travel purposes. The rule defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
The distinction matters as service dogs are working animals with specialized training, while emotional support animals provide comfort simply through their presence but don’t perform specific disability-related tasks.
The problem is that people who want to travel with their pets have discovered they can simply buy a vest online and claim their animal is a service dog, regardless of training or actual need. This not only undermines the legitimacy of real service animals but can also create safety and sanitation issues on flights.
Real service dog handlers often report that fake service animals are the biggest threat to their working dogs. The untrained animals may be aggressive, disruptive, or simply distracting in ways that can interfere with a legitimate service dog’s ability to perform its duties.
@vegojcfzx2 #dog #dogsoftiktok #dogs ♬ original sound – vegojcfzx2
Viewers are outraged
“‘She’s very friendly’ was a solid give away that she isn’t a service dog,” a top comment read.
“I love the beef between service dogs and SeRvIcE dOGs,” a person said.
“Your dog looks so offended too,” another wrote.
“‘They hire any damn body these days’ – the golden probably,” a commenter joked.
The Mary Sue reached out to @vegojcfzx2 for comment via direct message.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
