Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/mom-explains-why-cant-pet-service-dog-tiktok/
Service dog owners know how frustrating it can be when a well-meaning (or not-so-well-meaning) individual attempts to pet or otherwise distract a working dog.
One woman who knows this all too well is Haylee Graves.
Graves has a medical and cardiac alert dog named Jake who helps sniff her high heart rate and changing blood pressure. Jake then alerts Haylee that she needs to sit down or risk passing out.
Haylee regularly shares about Jake and helps educate the public on service dogs through her TikTok account, @jakethes.d and on Instagram.
@jakethes.d Please remember to respect people who ask you not to pet there dogs, and always ask before petting🥺 this man didn’t take no for an answer. #servicedog #serviceanimal #fyp #foryou #dog #disabled ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
Haylee takes Jake with her everywhere, but she doesn’t always get the best reactions.
Sometimes, people tell her to leave the dog at home or act perplexed that a seemingly healthy-looking young woman would really need a service dog.
@jakethes.d I wish i cought the start of the conversation on camera… lady felt i shouldn’t need a dog in the store (mind you we where in a pet friendly store anyway) tried to kill her with kindness 🤷🏼♀️😩 #servicedog #serviceanimal #fyp #foryou #disabled #dog ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
While Hayle may appear “normal” and healthy on the outside, she suffers from various medical issues that Jake can really assist her with.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry and Jake helps keep Haylee safe!
@jakethes.d jakes point of view when hes alerting me to high heart rate/pass out spell! Please enjoy his commentary as much as i did. #servicedog #serviceanimal #fyp #foryou ##dog##dogs##disabled##dogsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
Haylee encounters people who are rude and dismissive while out with Jake, but she also runs into the occasional person who goes above and beyond to be better.
In one sweet TikTok video, Haylee managed to film a mother-daughter duo talking about Jake. The mom explains to the girl that Jake is working and can’t be pet because it could distract him.
After all that Haylee goes through with other people, I’m sure it as a breath of fresh air!
“Another amazing mother and amazing moment caught in the pet store today when a mother brought her daughter up to us to teach her about service dogs with jobs,” she captioned the video. Check it out below:
@jakethes.d Another amazing mother and amazing moment caught in the pet store today when a mother brought her daughter up to us to tech her sbout service dogs with jobs! 😭❤️❤️ #servicedog #serviceanimal #dog #disabled #fyp #foryou #dogsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
Thankfully, that wasn’t the only time a mother managed to step up and teach her child the proper way to interact with a service dog!
Check out the video below:
@jakethes.d WHEN I TELL YOU MY WHOLE HEART MELTED. This mother deserves the top #1 award. What a AMAZING moment 😭❤️ #servicedog #serviceanimal #servicedogs #dogs #fyp #foryou #disabled #dog ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
Even a dad got in on the action by telling a child not to pet the dog!
@jakethes.d This little kid loved the fact Jake was carrying his pet smart bag for me while we where waiting in line to check out at target 😅❤️ also love these parents!! #servicedog #serviceanimal #fyp #foryou #disabled #dogs #dog ♬ original sound – Jake❤️
It’s nice to see parents educating their kids about service and working dogs.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
