I help run a nonprofit that provides free equipment to people with disabilities. I am also a service dog handler, but my dog is retired and ill, so I’m currently not bringing a dog in public.
Today, one of our clients brought an aggressive dog that was wearing an in training vest. The dog is very unassuming looking and initially appears gentle and a bit fearful. I could tell that the handler was a bit nervous about her potential behavior, but I didn’t think it was anything serious. I petted the dog very briefly with her permission, and the dog seemed fine. She wasn’t super warm with me, but touched me gently with her nose and smelled my wheelchair, picking up on the scent of my four dogs.
However, a few minutes later, when my personal care assistant petted her and then stopped, the dog barked, snapped, and lunged at her. It was unexpected, scary, and unprovoked. I believe the dog is fear aggressive and potentially very dangerous, especially because she doesn’t initially seem dangerous.
I didn’t say anything to the client, partially because I was in shock, and also because I don’t know her at all and didn’t feel like I could successfully intervene. I have already reached out to the client‘s caseworker to talk to her about the situation. I’m waiting for her to get back to me as this just happened this afternoon.
I feel really bad, because this person is absolutely disabled and probably very lonely and the dog is probably all she has. She seems to have cognitive challenges and possibly mental health issues as well. But I believe it is deeply unsafe for her to be taking the dog in public. I would hate for the dog to bite a child and have to be put down. Her owner has been through enough already.
Besides reaching out to the caseworker, is there anything else I can or should do about this situation? As a local handler, I also have a personal interest in making sure that aggressive dogs are not being utilized as service dogs in our fairly small community.