Which Dog Are You Allowed To Pet??
The correct answer is to ALWAYS get consent from any dog’s owner.
Any dog could be a service animal.
It is impossible to tell for sure just by looking. They come in all sizes and breeds.
Rescue dogs may have certain triggers, that you are unaware of, from past experiences.
No matter what kind of dog you see, your best bet is to always ask the owner if you may pet it.
Seeing eye dogs are highly trained. They are trained that when the harness is on they are working. Play time comes when the harness is removed. To pet a seeing eye dog while it is wearing it’s harness is NOT harmless! By doing so you are confusing the dog and interfering with the training it received. If that happens often enough the dog will need to return for training. That could leave the person it is helping without the assistance they need for a period of time.
Additionally you should NEVER feed a dog that is not yours. Like humans, dogs can have food allergies. They can be on special diets. Just like when it comes to petting a dog, you should always ask the owner if you may feed the dog.
~Pyper_K