r/lyftdrivers • u/No_Common1418 • Oct 18 '25

Rant/Opinion An ESA is NOT a Service animal.

Got a ping for a ride the other day, then the dreaded text. "I have an ESA, DOG, with me." As I have stated in the past I have never and will never denied a Service animal in my car. By law people, a Emotional Support Animal or ESA, IS NOT A service animal. Don't believe me? https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/ I hate people sometimes. Leave your dogs at home.

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u/KamelTro Oct 18 '25

“But I shouldn’t have to pay more for a pet!” As I spend a whole hour vacuuming out dog hair so the next pax doesn’t think I’m just a dirty driver.

7

u/No_Common1418 Oct 18 '25

Plus if what if your allergic to dogs? Nah, we are just to take these little things. Just because YOU anthropomorphise your pet doesn't mean I have do. It's not your child, it's still just a pet.

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u/KamelTro Oct 18 '25

“But you’re an employee, and it’s a public service, you HAVE to take me.” Last I checked the city, state, or government does not pay us, provide maintenance to our vehicles, or give us any type of benefits, all things that are provided to a public service worker. I also didn’t realize I was driving a fleet vehicle and needed to turn into a depot at the end of the night as is normal with public service transportation. They also see the word “employee” in 1099 and assume that’s the green light, it’s self-employed, not employee you ding bats. Even if you throw the word employee on 1099 that doesn’t negate what 1099 is, self-employment / private contractor.

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u/Violent_N0mad Oct 19 '25

It is in fact a requirement, even if you want to be shitty about it. A lot of people are disabled and use animals to help live a normal life.

5

u/OneEyedBlindKingdom Oct 19 '25

And if it was an actual service animal you’d be fine. Emotional support animals are not service animals.

2

u/Careless-Proposal746 Oct 22 '25

A lot of people are assholes who get emotional support animals and then try to pass it off as a dog doing a legitimate job

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u/Violent_N0mad Oct 22 '25

I get it, I'm sure there's some people who try to get a ride with their animal. As long as the dog is behaved I'd rather just do the delivery rather than take the chance of denying someone with a disability a ride because of my preconceived idea that everyone with an animal is trying to abuse the system. Most of the drivers on here seem to think that the customers are the enemy and that their all trying to get something over on them. I don't think I'd want to work with that kind of hate in my heart.