Service dogs at concerts raise concerns about canine welfare.

A reader questioned whether bringing a service dog to a loud, crowded concert is fair to the animal; columnist Lisi Tesher noted Ontario recognizes three categories—service dogs, emotional support animals and therapy dogs—and said appearance alone does not prove someone's need.

A reader described seeing a woman with a service dog at a large concert and asked whether such settings are appropriate for the animal. The reader raised concerns about dogs' sensitive hearing, crowd stress and the cleanliness of venue floors. Columnist Lisi Tesher responded by outlining Ontario's distinctions among trained service dogs, emotional support animals and therapy dogs. Tesher emphasized that a person's appearance does not reveal why they might need an animal and that the specific case cannot be judged from observation alone. Key points: - A reader reported seeing a dog wearing a service vest at a crowded concert and questioned the dog's welfare. - The reader noted dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans and may be affected by loud music and crowds. - Lisi Tesher explained Ontario recognizes three categories: trained service dogs, emotional support animals and therapy dogs. - The columnist said appearance alone does not establish whether an animal is legitimately needed. - Tesher acknowledged concerts can be noisy and floors dirty, and noted owners can wash dogs; she also said the legitimacy of this particular dog is unknown. Summary: This exchange highlights tension between public concern for animal welfare in crowded venues and the difficulty of assessing individual needs from appearance. Undetermined at this time.