WGCL- TV 46 solicited the expertise of CPT for 3 recent feature stories.
The first story aired on Sunday, July 20 and Monday, July 21, 2014. The 2-part story covers “The Dog Project,” a novel research study founded by Emory Professor Greg Berns and CPT CEO Mark Spivak. WGCL filmed candidate training conducted at CPT and live canine MRI scans at Emory. Segment producers included interviews with Greg and Mark. There is also a video of CPT Trainer Patricia King handling her dog Kady during a live scan.
The second story aired on Sunday, July 27, 2014. The story covers a Douglasville resident’s attempt to keep her dog within an apartment complex. The resident claims her dog is an emotional support animal. Therefore, per the Federal Housing Act Amendment (FHAA) she should be allowed to maintain her dog within the property. However, due to complaints about the dog’s behavior, the apartment manager elected to not renew the resident’s lease. To explain both sides of the dilemma, WGCL reporter Jennifer Emert solicited the expertise of CPT’s Mark Spivak. Mark discussed Federal service dog and emotional support animal access laws, focusing on protections available both to tenants and landlords.
The third feature story aired on Monday, July 28, 2014. The story covers how an increasing number of persons are illegitimately posing their dogs as service or emotional support animals. The dog owners’ goal typically is for their dog(s) to receive public access or to avoid paying pet deposits or air transport charges. During the piece, CBS-46 reporter Jennifer Emert entertainingly obtains a mental health diagnosis and a prescription for an emotional support dog by placing a phone call and paying a California social worker $140. The story includes an interview with CPT Service Dog Trainer Patricia King and video of Patricia training a prospective psychiatric service dog, Teddy, a Great Pyrenees. The story also includes an interview with Mark, who discusses service dog legislation, the vagueness of the legislation, and the potential ramifications of persons abusing the spirit of the law.