re: Penalty for using fake service dog?

What's the deal with all of this service dog business? It seems like several years ago all of a sudden a lot more people started having service dogs.. At first I thought more blind people were getting out and about.. Don't get me wrong, I love dogs. I have two myself, but the last time I flew, there were people across the aisle from me who had a dog. It was a small dog and it sat with the woman for most of the flight, but from time to time they put him in a small kennel. Then when we landed I noticed someone from the back had a dog.

I get they are good companions, but having a dog seems like that will show you down and limit what you can do or where you can go. They can't just take a xanax or something when they fly?