"what's it like going everywhere with a service dog??"
Imagine walking into a store and being the only person carrying a large, brightly colored backpack. You need the backpack with you because it contains something very important, but not necessarily something other people can see or understand.
Now imagine every child in the store noticing your backpack and screaming to their parents that they saw a lady with a big bag!!
Now imagine strangers coming up behind you and playing with the zippers, trying to look in the backpack, or even trying to slide one of the straps off of your shoulder without asking you first.
Imagine even more strangers coming up to you and telling you stories about how they used to have a backpack that was "just like yours!" And telling you about how their backpack ripped and they don't have it anymore.
Or demanding to know why you need a backpack when you look like your pants have pockets just the same as everyone else's.
Imagine them questioning if you're carrying the backpack for someone else. And asking how long you've had your backpack. And demanding again to know why you have to carry a backpack.
Imagine the "nice" people telling you over and over and over again how beautiful your backpack is. And saying they "understand they can't touch" your backpack because you're using it, but continuing to stare at it as you walk away and whisper to people nearby about your backpack.
And you might have a decent idea of what going out with a service dog is like.
