Marion Gwizdala, CEO of Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc. (ASAP)—a Tampa-based national nonprofit dedicated to securing, protecting, and advancing the rights and responsibilities of service animal handlers and the businesses they patronize—recalls receiving his first service dog in 1987, and just days later, encountering discrimination when a restaurant he frequented prevented Gwizdala from entering with that dog. 
This gives way to him discussing the federal legislation prohibiting that kind of inequity was put in
place just three years later, noting that similar Florida law has more teeth—and that fines for violations of such laws have escalated dramatically, in some cases reaching as high as $75,000. Noting that I’ve done multiple shows over the years seeking to address the confusion—both innocent and calculated—about what constitutes a service animal, I ask Gwizdala to define what a service dog is and isn’t. He responds, advising asking the dog handler that’s encountered a couple of fundamental questions. The answers to those queries—and, particularly, the dog’s behavior—can largely identify the pooch in question as a legitimate service animal. Or not. 
Gwizdala clarifies that a vest worn by the canine, or “documentation,” are, in fact, empty indicators of that animal’s status—easily purchased online or elsewhere, but not at all bonafide. Gwizdala identifies the
breed of his guide dog, Trooper (Smooth Coat Blue Merle Collie), and outlines key beats of their days together, specifying that each day can vary greatly in tasks, locations, paths taken, correcting the misconception that guide dogs—and their humans–tend to travel the same “routes” everyday. Gwizdala highlights that ASAP operates the only 24-hour national hotline to assist service animal handlers and the businesses they patronize in understanding their mutual rights and responsibilities under state and federal laws. The hotline number is 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211); there’s also a wealth of information and resources presented on the ASAP website: https://serviceanimals.info/
ALSO: I spoke briefly with Charlotte Arndt & Griffin Richardson, of Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, filling us in on a new venture the Sanctuary is launching, the “Seaside Birding Club,” with its initial outing the “Seaside Birding Club at Walsingham Park,” on Sept. 28. The pair began by providing a brief overview of the Sanctuary, including its location and mission, and explaining the protocol if someone in the general proximity of the Sanctuary sees an injured seabird or one that otherwise appears to need help. Arndt & Richardson mention some additional forthcoming Sanctuary events, including the Bird Book Club and the double-pun “Owl-O-Ween Spooktacular.” (https://seasideseabirdsanctuary.org/, https://www.facebook.com/SeasideSeabird/, https://www.instagram.com/seaside4thebirds)
COMEDY CORNER: Alex Edelman’s “Koko The Gorilla” (https://www.alexedelmancomedy.com/)
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: We didn’t play “Name That Animal Tune” today.
AUDIO ARCHIVE:
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