Kernersville Leaders Support New Law to Crack Down on Misuse of Service Animals
Kernersville, NC Local leaders in Kernersville are supporting a new state proposal that would create stricter rules for service animals. The goal is to stop people from falsely claiming their pets are service animals—a growing issue that’s causing problems for both businesses and people with disabilities.
The bill would increase penalties for individuals who misrepresent pets as service animals. Under current North Carolina law, it’s already illegal to do so, but enforcement is limited. This new proposal would give authorities more tools to deal with violations and help businesses better understand what’s allowed.
Kernersville Mayor \[Name] voiced support for the measure, saying, “We want to protect those who truly need service animals. This law would help prevent people from taking advantage of the system.
Local business owners say they’ve had trouble telling the difference between real service animals and regular pets. This confusion has led to awkward situations and concerns about violating disability rights laws. Many hope the new rules will make it easier to know how to handle these situations.
Disability advocates also weighed in. While they agree the system needs better regulation, they stress the importance of making sure people with real service animals don’t face extra barriers. The proposed law includes language to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Kernersville officials say they’re focused on finding the right balance preventing abuse of service animal rules while still protecting those who rely on them every day. They believe this law could become a model for other towns and cities in the state.
