Why Putting A Vest On Your Pet Does Not = Service Animal.

Katy Perry decked out in NASA gear is still not an astronaut.

Oct 05, 2025

After Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez and the other members of the Blue Origin NS-31 mission (pictured) passed the boundary of space, Blue Origin proudly declared that they were now astronauts — Image source: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/04/15/12/97292707-14613373-image-a-1_1744715859676.jpg

Not every person can be an astronaut. Not everyone should be an astronaut. The accurate term of the professional position I’m referring to is “cosmonaut,” but this isn’t a post discussing semantics about outer space travellers.

Anyone expected to travel and explore outer space as a professional must meet stringent criteria.

According to NASA, “space exploration requires scientific knowledge and the ability to apply it.”

Educational requirements for an astronaut:

Possess a master’s degree* in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics, from an accredited institution.
Have at least two years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft.
Be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical.

The criteria a human needs to become an astronaut exploring outer space and piloting a rocket are similar to those of a service dog (SD) certified to do public access work.

Image source: https://www.dogguides.com/program/seizure-response/

A working SD has been extensively trained to “mitigate disability” of a human handler. The handler can have visible or invisible disability. That dog is keeping the person alive.

Before that, the SD was trained for excellent pet manners such as meeting criteria to earn titles such as the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen and Canine Good Citizen Urban.

Besides having good manners in different settings, a working SD needs to perform tasks in various locations to support the handler. An SD needs to focus on the handler regardless of what else is happening.

Unless you are confirmed disabled by a medical professional, putting a vest on your pet does not make your dog a service animal. Even if your pet has good manners, that dog wearing a vest does not make you disabled.

Just entitled.