Dog in the park

[Mama Who]

As a side note, in the airport I saw a medical dog of some sort that was wearing a harness, but then the harness had a patch that said "ask to pet me, I'm friendly". I thought that was crazy, talk about sending mixed messages!

Actually, it's kind of brilliant. "Ask to pet me" reminds people that just running up and petting a service animal is not okay. That tag probably reduces the number of faux pas in that area.

 

[wilkeliza]

Not to turn this into a terrible story thread but I did see one service dog in DHS that I almost alerted CMs to myself. It was clearly not a service dog and the family had no clue how to handle it. What I could see it appeared the family had a large dog that they say is a service dog but it is no way properly trained and they were I'm no way properly handling the dog. First it was on a 10' lead. Every service dog I've ever worked with was on 5' or less and typically in a harness. Also they were not using any commands. The dog was pulling the owner while chasing squirrels and the owners were just shouting at the dog. Not saying heal, not say stop, not saying no just yelling the dogs name and slow down. I had never seen someone with my own eyes until that point with a dog that was terribly behaved and a potential danger to guests and the wild life.

Now for those that are worried there aren't that many service dogs in the parks at any given time. In my year of employment I have seen maybe 10 or less. Many of them are unseen and unheard so you wouldn't even notice them.

 

[bookgirl]

I don't have a problem with people needing a dog for whatever reason, but if you have to have a placard to park in a handicapped space then you should have to have a license or vest/harness on a service dog, whether it's for anxiety or one that does a task such as seeing/hearing, or helping with physical tasks.

I don't see the difference between the two. Need a close parking space get a placard, need a dog with you in a non-dog place then get a license/vest. No placard on car no parking. No vest and license then no entry.

 

[6disneykids]

My DD has a huge fear if dogs, especially small ones, since she was almost bitten by one on the ankle by a little dog. I have tried to explain to her , how she is bigger than those dogs, tried to ease her fears, but she almost starts crying when she is near a dog. She saw a small dog ( I think it was a yorkie) at Epcot in March, looked for a vest to show her to mark it as a service dogm, but nothing. I did speak to the first manager I saw, and asked about dogs in the parks without identification as a working dog, because it caused undue anxiety for my DD impacting her day.

 

[tkgdisney]

I have a severe allergy to dogs and have issues if a dog has stayed in the room I am in. I totally understand the service animal in the park, but nothing else. I carry meds at all times, but don't want to use them so someone does not have to use a kennel for the day. I also would worry about the heat and cement on their paws at a park.

 

[wilkeliza]

My DD has a huge fear if dogs, especially small ones, since she was almost bitten by one on the ankle by a little dog. I have tried to explain to her , how she is bigger than those dogs, tried to ease her fears, but she almost starts crying when she is near a dog. She saw a small dog ( I think it was a yorkie) at Epcot in March, looked for a vest to show her to mark it as a service dogm, but nothing. I did speak to the first manager I saw, and asked about dogs in the parks without identification as a working dog, because it caused undue anxiety for my DD impacting her day.

Unfortunately licensing and identification has been considered too much for service dogs. I'm not sure why since ever person who needs one that I have met said they would gladly go get a paper from an agency and have their dog tested if it meant others couldn't abuse the system.

Also even if a state law says a license as service dog is required federal trumps that. Federal law saws nothing is required (except while flying) and that if the person says it is a service dog and that it is trained for x, y, z tasks then it is a service dog. Many states have identification laws for service animals and many don't realize these or laws that can not legally be enforced.

This came up with one of my Starbucks regulars. We loved his service dog. She is a very sweet gentle pitty who is the mans seeing eye dog. He had to fight the city to recognize his dog as a service dog and even went trough several AKC tests and he finally won when his lawyer pointed out that federal law does not say what type of dogs can or can not be service animals and that this dog has proven itself trained to perform tasks.

 

[aubriee]

Not to turn this into a terrible story thread but I did see one service dog in DHS that I almost alerted CMs to myself. It was clearly not a service dog and the family had no clue how to handle it. What I could see it appeared the family had a large dog that they say is a service dog but it is no way properly trained and they were I'm no way properly handling the dog. First it was on a 10' lead. Every service dog I've ever worked with was on 5' or less and typically in a harness. Also they were not using any commands. The dog was pulling the owner while chasing squirrels and the owners were just shouting at the dog. Not saying heal, not say stop, not saying no just yelling the dogs name and slow down. I had never seen someone with my own eyes until that point with a dog that was terribly behaved and a potential danger to guests and the wild life.

Now for those that are worried there aren't that many service dogs in the parks at any given time. In my year of employment I have seen maybe 10 or less. Many of them are unseen and unheard so you wouldn't even notice them.

I've posted on here before about the little 'service dog' I saw in guest relations at AK a few years ago. I had dropped in on my way out of the park to leave a guest comment card for the really, really good driver I had just had on the Safari. While I was waiting, there was a lady in there with a small, yelping, wriggling Yorkie. It was actually hilarious. I didn't realize those little dogs were that strong. It was all she could to hold onto him, while she was yelling at the CM. It may have been even more agitated than it would have been, because she was so upset and yelling at the CM. She kept yelling that the dog was a service dog, she knew her rights, and they could not tell her she couldn't have it in the parks. The CM remained very calm, saying they had no problem with "well behaved" service dogs in the parks, but according to security, hers was out of control growling, barking, and lunging at other guests, who had complained, so yes they did have a right to ask her to remove the dog from the park, if she could not control it. She kept saying it was other people's problem if they were afraid of her dog, that it wouldn't actually hurt anyone, and that since she said it was a service dog, Disney had no choice but to let her in with it. Funny thing is the dog never quit yapping, growling, and trying to get to the CM during the whole conversation. She had absolutely no control over the little thing and it was all she could to hold onto him. She was having to yell over the dog's barking.

 

[jpolak]

I would think bringing a dog into the parks would tend to limit the theme park experience of the owner. Obviously it could not go on rides, at least the best ones.

Just get a "baby" swap ticket.