Wyoming may make it illegal to pretend pet is service animal

Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal may become a crime in Wyoming under a bill being considered in the state Legislature. The bill passed the Senate Travel Committee unanimously Thursday. It has already passed the House. The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Landon Brown of Cheyenne. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that the issue stems from people claiming their animal is a service animal in order to bring a pet into a place like a restaurant, store or rental property that doesn’t allow pets. Bill supporters say those situations can delegitimize actual service dogs and endanger the people the dogs assist. The bill calls for a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $750 for people misrepresenting their pets as service animals.