Chopper the Biker Dog loses therapy dog license

Chopper the Biker Dog may be out of work after being stripped of his therapy dog license because of his outfit.

The five-year-old Boston Terrier has been visiting people at San Diego-area hospitals, senior centers and schools for years with his owner Mark Shaffer.

Shaffer has worked with therapy dogs for more than a decade, but recently learned Pet Partners, the therapy dog certifying agency that he and his dog work with, revoked Chopper's license after five years. Apparently, Pet Partners learned Chopper dresses like a biker, but the agency prohibits therapy dogs from wearing costumes.

"There was anger and there was a lot of hurt," Shaffer said to KGTV.

The national director of communications for Pet Partners says the decision is solely based on safety for both handlers and their pets and patients they visit.

"It's not a problem for dogs to wear costumes around town," they said to ABC News. "But in the context of a therapeutic visit it's not appropriate."

Shaffer plans on continuing to have Chopper the Biker Dog tour the area and have the Boston Terrier certified with another organization who will allow him to wear his costume.

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