AK yesterday ---- dog in a stroller!!!

[selina4disney]

We saw someone (not disabled) with a dog wearing a "Guide dog in training" jacket. I thought this was fantastic! What a wonderful place to expose a dog to noise, people, uniforms, strollers, ECVs, fireworks, music, and of course, food smells...what a marvelous place to train a dog to deal with all sorts of things!

 

[goofyernmost]

Disney asks for no proof.. they need to stop taking people on their word. It is wrong to pass your pet off as a service animal..
Do I want to sit next to a service animal, sure. Do I want to sit next to a cheap guest who didn't want to spring for the kennel fee's pet.. no I do not.

Disney really doesn't have a choice. It is the ADA law that stipulates that one cannot ask for proof. The high paid supermen in Washington decided that all ADA laws are basically one size fits all. They didn't bother to think past their original thought to examine what the backlash might be towards someone with a legitimate problem because they saw fit to not require any proof. They instead chose to rely on the honesty of others. Not too bright in this day and age.

 

[LollipopPanda]

We also saw this at Epcot last week.

We were on the same elevator as the couple with the dog. It was a tiny little dog too. My mom got up the nerve to ask them how they got him in the park. They said that he was a service dog. My mom, "What service?" The lady said, "I use him for anxiety/stress."

I then asked how they ride the rides with the animal. She said they take turns watching the dog while the other rides the ride. I am guessing that they are regulars because the CM didn't even blink an eyelash at them when they strolled through the fast pass lane at Soarin with their stroller.

 

[kissthemouse]

OK...so here's my question...is anxiety/stress actually a DISABILITY? And really, if someone has anxiety to the point that they NEED a "service animal" in day to day life, why oh why would they go someplace like WDW?? Or, maybe they could just take some xanex or lexapro while on vacation...???

 

[uncle duck]

been wondering the same thing myself, but my brother in law with the amazon parrot says it keeps him from getting upset and cranky on trips.

 

[cm8]

I'm sure that was their excuse.
It's not like like they have to show any proof
I would bet it wouldn't be the first time someone lied to take their pet along.

exactly!

 

[jpolak]

Or, maybe they could just take some xanex or lexapro while on vacation...???

The Grey Goose Slushy works for me.

 

[lillygator]

It could have (potentially) been a seizure alert dog or an allergy-sniffing dog. I know a woman in my neighborhood has a severe peanut allergy and she has a bichon that is trained to alert her to allergens.

Back to the original dog in question, even if it was in a stroller, it would be able to smell allergens/changes in the handler's body chemistry that would alert it to seizures/blood pressure drops. So yes, it could be "working" even in a stroller.

really, in a zippered stroller? must use dogs for hurricane tracking and more....

OK...so here's my question...is anxiety/stress actually a DISABILITY? And really, if someone has anxiety to the point that they NEED a "service animal" in day to day life, why oh why would they go someplace like WDW?? Or, maybe they could just take some xanex or lexapro while on vacation...???

no, it is bs.....

 

[aubriee]

HEY your comfort cat just ate my comfort bird!


my brother in law would take his stress/comfort parrot to Disney, but we refussed to go with him if he did.

This is what I was thinking. Should I take my little 13lb shih tzu, my 90+lb akita, or my macaw parrot as my comfort animal? All three comfort me. My shih tzu relieves my stress when I pet her, with my akita around I know no one is going to bother me so I feel safer, and my macaw is my conversation partner when I'm solo. lol

 

[ServiceDogsFL]

Should I take my little 13lb shih tzu, my 90+lb akita, or my macaw parrot as my comfort animal? All three comfort me. lol

I know the above is a joke, but just to remind all.
There are three fundimental requirements to legally have a service dog.
#1 Be legally disabled with a long term, life-limiting condition (under ADA or State law).
A medical disabilty is not always a legal disabilty. Pregnancy is a short-term medical disability.
#2 The dog must do a trained task that you can not do for yourself. Comfort, licking and other affections, or making you feel good are not ADA tasks. The dog is a tool, a medical device, as defined by the IRS. Everyone that has a service dog would gladly trade it, if it meant they could be restored to normal.
#3 The animal must be safe in public at all times. If a dog misbehaves, barks, growls, snaps, lunges or becomes a distraction or threat to staff, clients, visitors or the public the businesses has the right and responsibility to eject the animal. This includes eating in a restaurant or using the bathroom in the wrong place. (Under the ADA the handler may return without the dog to continue their original business.)

These are core requirements under the ADA, and a federal judge has the authority to demand proof of each. Owner trainers need to keep records of their training, since it's very hard to prove number two without it.
www servicedogsfl org /docs/service_dog_binder_training_records.shtml

The reason so many dogs wash out of programs is usually #3, aggression issues are the number one defect. We spend over a year training #3 before we even start on tasks, #2.

BTW: We train our dogs for large crowds at Magic Kingdom and Epcot about 3-4 times a year as well as hold their graduation there. And when we go, we bring a crowd with about 10 dogs. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but training and behaviour is key.

Ken Lyons
Trainer / AKC CGC Evaluator
Service Dogs of Florida

 

[wdwislife]

wow! thats must have been a sight!

 

[TisBit]

Disney really doesn't have a choice. It is the ADA law that stipulates that one cannot ask for proof. The high paid supermen in Washington decided that all ADA laws are basically one size fits all. They didn't bother to think past their original thought to examine what the backlash might be towards someone with a legitimate problem because they saw fit to not require any proof. They instead chose to rely on the honesty of others. Not too bright in this day and age.

This is exactly true, unfortunately until it becomes a backlash issue, this will not be addressed. Truthfully it will take the disabled community backlashing at the people that are using pets as service animals to enact any type of change to the laws.

Imagine if Handicap parking was regulated by the honor system? Even now, there are a number of people that take advantage of the system, but the police are not allowed to "question" their disability, it is merely if they have a tag/placard or not......so the grandson driving grandma's car can park anywhere he wants.

 

[kissthemouse]

Imagine if Handicap parking was regulated by the honor system? Even now, there are a number of people that take advantage of the system, but the police are not allowed to "question" their disability, it is merely if they have a tag/placard or not......so the grandson driving grandma's car can park anywhere he wants.

Is this actually true? I thought it was illegal to park in a handicap space if the person with the tag/plate wasn't with the person in the vehicle or they weren't picking them up? My SIL has a tag, and my MIL and FIL can't use it unless she's with them. I could be wrong, but thought that was the way it worked. Not saying it is easy to enforce, but certainly an officer could question the person as to who the tag is registered to, correct?

I swear I saw this on parking wars once...(funny, I know...feel free to laugh at me...but seriously, I think I did and the kid got arrested...)

 

[SueM in MN]

Is this actually true? I thought it was illegal to park in a handicap space if the person with the tag/plate wasn't with the person in the vehicle or they weren't picking them up? My SIL has a tag, and my MIL and FIL can't use it unless she's with them. I could be wrong, but thought that was the way it worked. Not saying it is easy to enforce, but certainly an officer could question the person as to who the tag is registered to, correct?

I swear I saw this on parking wars once...(funny, I know...feel free to laugh at me...but seriously, I think I did and the kid got arrested...)

It is illegal.
The handicapped parking tags in each state are registered to an individual with a disability. The permit is to be used only for the person it is registered to.
If asked, the person using the parking permit needs to be able to provide information/identification that shows they are using it for that person.

If someone else is caught using it, they can be fined and the handicapped parking permit can be confiscated.

 

[Snape]

This is what I was thinking. Should I take my little 13lb shih tzu, my 90+lb akita, or my macaw parrot as my comfort animal? All three comfort me. My shih tzu relieves my stress when I pet her, with my akita around I know no one is going to bother me so I feel safer, and my macaw is my conversation partner when I'm solo. lol

I'm taking my comfort hippopotumus. But not to worry, we won't be using a carriage to ram someone in the ankles at the parks - comfhippo drives a golf cart.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

A serious mental health disorder can be a medical disability. Personally I think everyone should have to provide proof of their disabiliy when asking for accomodations, the no questions asked policy allows the system to be taken advantage of by many people, not just those with pets. If those with service animals need to provide written documentation I think everyone should.

 

[nanalisa]

I was at the MK last week and saw two women a man holding a Yorkie. I wondered about it. The next day I saw them again at the MK, we were in a gift shop. I was standing close to the man holding the dog when the dog whipped around, lunged and bit me. The man was nasty to me and told me she was a service dog. I have to say I seriously doubt this but I have no way of knowing. I felt awful and embarrassed. I'm a 53 yo educated woman being berated by a rude man holding an ill behaved dog (and I love Yorkies) at the MK. It ruined my day. I didn't tell anyone but now I wish I had, I guess I just felt guilty for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[dzorn]

I know the above is a joke, but just to remind all.
There are three fundimental requirements to legally have a service dog.
#1 Be legally disabled with a long term, life-limiting condition (under ADA or State law).
A medical disabilty is not always a legal disabilty. Pregnancy is a short-term medical disability.
#2 The dog must do a trained task that you can not do for yourself. Comfort, licking and other affections, or making you feel good are not ADA tasks. The dog is a tool, a medical device, as defined by the IRS. Everyone that has a service dog would gladly trade it, if it meant they could be restored to normal.
#3 The animal must be safe in public at all times. If a dog misbehaves, barks, growls, snaps, lunges or becomes a distraction or threat to staff, clients, visitors or the public the businesses has the right and responsibility to eject the animal. This includes eating in a restaurant or using the bathroom in the wrong place. (Under the ADA the handler may return without the dog to continue their original business.)

These are core requirements under the ADA, and a federal judge has the authority to demand proof of each. Owner trainers need to keep records of their training, since it's very hard to prove number two without it.
www servicedogsfl org /docs/service_dog_binder_training_records.shtml

The reason so many dogs wash out of programs is usually #3, aggression issues are the number one defect. We spend over a year training #3 before we even start on tasks, #2.

BTW: We train our dogs for large crowds at Magic Kingdom and Epcot about 3-4 times a year as well as hold their graduation there. And when we go, we bring a crowd with about 10 dogs. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but training and behaviour is key.

Ken Lyons
Trainer / AKC CGC Evaluator
Service Dogs of Florida

Yep DD therphy dog is a service dog flunky. She is a barker when excited expecially when someone go into or out of our front door. Perfect for an autistic family that has to worry about child escape. If it is barking and being a nuisance it is not a service dog.

Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

I was at the MK last week and saw two women a man holding a Yorkie. I wondered about it. The next day I saw them again at the MK, we were in a gift shop. I was standing close to the man holding the dog when the dog whipped around, lunged and bit me. The man was nasty to me and told me she was a service dog. I have to say I seriously doubt this but I have no way of knowing. I felt awful and embarrassed. I'm a 53 yo educated woman being berated by a rude man holding an ill behaved dog (and I love Yorkies) at the MK. It ruined my day. I didn't tell anyone but now I wish I had, I guess I just felt guilty for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

You should have immediatly had them call security. That behavior is unacceptable even if it was a service dog.

Denise in MI

 

[mollybeasley]

I'd bring my dog if I could, but she'd never sit still in a stroller.