Butterscotch, a highly trained 6-year-old service dog, was approached while working by a well-intentioned stranger who requested to pet Butterscotch’s 35-year-old owner, Victor Johnson. Charities estimate that assistance dog handlers face multiple unsolicited interaction attempts every week — each one a potential disruption to navigating safely through traffic, crowds, and hazards.
The stranger leaned into Butterscotch’s personal space, and in a breathy voice said, “Oh, what a gorgeous man — can I give him a little head pat?” Sadly, these occurrences are all too familiar for Butterscotch, herself a very good girl, who established through firm eye contact and a measured customer service bark that her owner should not be touched, as they were working to a strict deadline and needed to stay focused. Johnson, for his part, remained impeccably professional throughout, staring straight ahead at his laptop and ignoring the stranger entirely.
Butterscotch reflected that while she resented the interruption and the presumptuousness, at least this stranger made a verbal request before escalating to physical contact. She can appreciate why showing affection to her owner is so alluring, but also wishes that there was more awareness around how the public should respond respectfully to cute disabled people in public.
Experts strongly recommend assertive responses when strangers try to interact with service dog owners in public. Dogs are trained to raise a paw, bark “no,” and keep moving. This is a quick, clear message and shuts down any unwanted interaction before it escalates. The unpredictability of strangers’ reactions, whether they’re curious, entitled, or aggressive, is exactly why being firm works, as polite deflections often invite more questions or distractions. This approach protects the mental health of the dog and keeps the owner focused on their job.
Some have suggested owners should wear vests or patches with phrases like “Please don’t pet me, I’m working,” while others argue that might only make them cuter.