dogs onboard

[belac]

As the mother of a disabled child with multiple chronic conditions who could benefit from a service dog but who cannot have one because my Husband is allergic to dogs (I am talking anaphylactic, not just sniffles - although sniffles are awful) I would sincerely hope that no one would register a non service-dog and take it on a cruise (or anywhere) just because they didn't want to leave their pooch behind. And if they did, I hope for their sake that they aren't anywhere near us.

I know you may have gone down this road but is your DH highly allergic to any of the 11 breeds that AKC has listed as less allergenic than most breeds? I know someone with a child with disabilities. They have a Portuguese Water Dog (on that AKC list) Service dog. They have another child that is highly allergic to every other dogs, sibling carries EPIpens and a EPIpen is never more than a few feet away, just in case, as exposure can bring on allergy all of a sudden. Maybe something to consider but, you probably already know.

I really hope no one brings their pets on board as service animals and I am a big dog person. I love dogs, all of them, but I am a firm believer that all dogs (even the little ones) are animals and they all have teeth, without that rigorous training service animals get, it is a chance I hope no one takes with their pet. Leave pets home at friends house, get a house sitter to take care of pets as we do (they water the plants too ) boarding for pets, all this is easier.
I lock up our German Shepards every time children are over, and although well behaved around my own DS I would never chance it. If I had a tea cup poodle I would do the same.

 

[wilkeliza]

I know you may have gone down this road but is your DH highly allergic to any of the 11 breeds that AKC has listed as less allergenic than most breeds? I know someone with a child with disabilities. They have a Portuguese Water Dog (on that AKC list) Service dog. They have another child that is highly allergic to every other dogs, sibling carries EPIpens and a EPIpen is never more than a few feet away, just in case, as exposure can bring on allergy all of a sudden. Maybe something to consider but, you probably already know.

I really hope no one brings their pets on board as service animals and I am a big dog person. I love dogs, all of them, but I am a firm believer that all dogs (even the little ones) are animals and they all have teeth, without that rigorous training service animals get, it is a chance I hope no one takes with their pet. Leave pets home at friends house, get a house sitter to take care of pets as we do (they water the plants too ) boarding for pets, all this is easier.
I lock up our German Shepards every time children are over, and although well behaved around my own DS I would never chance it. If I had a tea cup poodle I would do the same.

As someone else pointed out there is a very rigorous way you have to go about bringing a dog on the boat. Not only do you have to give Disney Cruise Line 72 hours notice you also have to provide all the documents each port requires. With out that they can let you on the ship but you may not be able to ever get off. The reason is a service animal can not be left unattended so if you do not take it off the ship with you then you can't leave the ship.

 

[Grammy j]

It was my understanding that a service animal must walk on the ground, not ride in a shopping cart or be carried in a stroller or purse. Our town is overrun with dogs being in every store. People are taking them in restaurants and let them sit in their laps during dinner. We can't go grocery shopping without finding dogs riding in the carts. We have called corporate and spoken with managers. Not much can be done. People taking their "pets" to public places and claiming they are service animals are really making it tough on the people that depend on their animals to save their lives.

 

[finkerbell]

It was my understanding that a service animal must walk on the ground, not ride in a shopping cart or be carried in a stroller or purse. Our town is overrun with dogs being in every store. People are taking them in restaurants and let them sit in their laps during dinner. We can't go grocery shopping without finding dogs riding in the carts. We have called corporate and spoken with managers. Not much can be done. People taking their "pets" to public places and claiming they are service animals are really making it tough on the people that depend on their animals to save their lives.

A service animal does not need to walk on the ground. That would be abusive in some cases to little dogs who service animals. Many Pomeranians are great seizure alert dogs and with their fur coat it would be dangerous for them to be walking in the heat.

What is really sad is when people don't know one's situation and judge according to what the "think" is going on. Just because a dog doesn't look like what someone traditionally thinks a service animal should look like doesn't mean they aren't one.

I'm sure there are many people abusing the system but I think most people are not. I just hope that people who don't need a service dog will stop and think a moment before judging and also be grateful they don't have a condition where a service dog is needed.

As many posters have said it is not easy to bring one on a cruise - not just $70 and a vest....who would go through all those hoops unless they really needed their service animal?

 

[lanejudy]

... For her to cruise it costs extra time and money so I wouldn’t think someone would just want to do it to have a family dog with them. Chloe has a microchip but will be getting a different type because there is a certain international one required for international travel. (Which a cruise is) then they have to have certain shots and tests depending on where you are porting (regardless of if you plan to disembark.) Then you have to go through each of the countries and get a special permit for the dog to enter their country, like I said it doesn’t matter if you are staying aboard. They have to have a certain type of health certificate within a certain number of days of porting and then it has to be USDA stamped so for us that means a vet apt in the morning then an hour drive to Richmond for the USDA certification.
With the whole process I can’t imagine someone just wanting to do it to bring their dog.

Thank you for taking the time to post about this process! It is really quite involved, though I didn't know the specifics.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[disneywonderfun]

Service dogs are usually highly trained and the best behaved dogs around. After all they are working dogs and have an important job to do. Unfortunately I've heard of people belonging their family dog along and calling it a service dog. Does Disney have any way of verifying if a dog is truly a service dog and which are simply dogs their owners won't leave behind?

In much the same way handicapped parking places have deteriorated into a joke, the entire service animal situation is basically headed into the same direction. "Emotional support" animals? I guess my son should bring his hamster to keep him entertained. It has gotten so silly that some people have tried to bring their ponies to the hospital for "support" while they are an inpatient. I am sorry if this offends people, but give me a break.

DWF

PS. There is absolutely no national governing process for this situation. You can go on ebay and buy your dog, cat, rodent, etc. a service animal sweater and bring it along as such. It is shameful.

 

[sabrecmc]

Actually, as others have said, the new ADA regulations limit the definition of "service animal" to dogs and, in certain circumstances, miniature horses. That's it. No service snake, cat or hamster, sorry. There was a big debate prior to the regs about service monkeys, as a number of individuals with severe mobility limits do use trained monkeys. Anyway, now, at least as far as the ADA goes, it is horse or dog.

Having recently completed a road trip moving with my dog and cats, I can't, for the life of me, imagine taking a pet on a vacation like that if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Yeesh.

We also know of a family that uses a little terrier-type dog to alert for nuts for their severely allergic son. There have been a couple of times when the dog has alerted to nuts when the restaurant or whatever swears there are no nuts in it. I don't know who to believe there, but why take the chance? Anyway, it is really cool to see and it gives the family such peace of mind.

 

[wilkeliza]

In much the same way handicapped parking places have deteriorated into a joke, the entire service animal situation is basically headed into the same direction. "Emotional support" animals? I guess my son should bring his hamster to keep him entertained. It has gotten so silly that some people have tried to bring their ponies to the hospital for "support" while they are an inpatient. I am sorry if this offends people, but give me a break.

DWF

PS. There is absolutely no national governing process for this situation. You can go on ebay and buy your dog, cat, rodent, etc. a service animal sweater and bring it along as such. It is shameful.

There is a governing body and that body says a liscense would cause financial strain on disabled individuas. There are ways to protect people from "pets" being used as service animals. The law states that at all times the service animal must be under control. If it is unclean, barks a lot, snarles, bites, pees in none relief areas etc an establishment can ask that the animal be removed

 

[Disney_Princess83]

In much the same way handicapped parking places have deteriorated into a joke, the entire service animal situation is basically headed into the same direction. "Emotional support" animals? I guess my son should bring his hamster to keep him entertained. It has gotten so silly that some people have tried to bring their ponies to the hospital for "support" while they are an inpatient. I am sorry if this offends people, but give me a break.

DWF

PS. There is absolutely no national governing process for this situation. You can go on ebay and buy your dog, cat, rodent, etc. a service animal sweater and bring it along as such. It is shameful.

I'm sorry but some people DO require emotional support animals. I have extensive experience and training in both disabilities and mental health services. This isn't just about bringing an animal along to keep someone entertained.

I'm sure some people are abusing the system but the majority of people are not. However many people don't really understand the true nature of service animals so assume if the person isn't vision impaired, their dog is obviously just a beloved pet and the spoiled owners can't be away from Fluffy.

The reality is, travelling with an animal is difficult, especially internationally. Few people would have to such effort and expense just to bring along their pet pooch.

 

[lanejudy]

... "Emotional support" animals? ...
PS. There is absolutely no national governing process for this situation. You can go on ebay and buy your dog, cat, rodent, etc. a service animal sweater and bring it along as such. It is shameful.

As others have pointed out, there is a formal legal definition of a "service animal" by ADA legislation. An "emotional support" animal MAY be a service animal, but in most cases is not legally protected as such under the ADA. The animal must be trained to perform a specific task for the individual, other than simply providing support or calming the person.

I will agree, though, that in regular daily life there are way too many people dragging along their pets into business establishments and trying to claim it is a "support animal." Most business simply don't bother to ask the right questions, and do not wish to lose customers, so they turn a blind eye. My most annoying encounter was a hyperactive dog that the owner kept yelling at until he finally cowered under a chair in the hospital laboratory waiting room. One would think a hospital would know how to properly question such things!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

As others have pointed out, there is a formal legal definition of a "service animal" by ADA legislation. An "emotional support" animal MAY be a service animal, but in most cases is not legally protected as such under the ADA. The animal must be trained to perform a specific task for the individual, other than simply providing support or calming the person.

Also, some countries also have legislation that supports all service dogs, including emotional support dogs. Here in Australia, emotional support dogs are allowed everywhere a guide dog is allowed. They are all under the one umbrella "Service Animal" Since Disney Parks and Cruise Lines have many international visitors, they may have different laws at home.

 

[huhwhat]

It's $70.00 to register any dog for any reason online as a service dog. My friend has taken his 200 pound Great Dane "emotional support" service dog with him on 30 + cruises including disney.

so wrong on so many levels....self absorbed people like this ruin it for people with legitimate service dogs...just like self absorbed idiots ruined the GAC for people with disabilites

 

[bumbershoot]

Bolding is mine. Sorry to get off topic, but I regularly evaluate people for medical and cognitive competence for driving. The fact that someone requires a dog to warn them before a seizure and/or blood sugar event indicated that their conditions is NOT controlled. To my knowledge, and at least in the state that I practice, this would disqualify you from having A.) having a license or B.) you would have to suspend driving until your condition was controlled (6 months with no incidents of seizure or uncontrollable - think pass out/faint- low blood sugar). Until that time that person that requires advanced warning of these events HAVE NO BUSINESS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR or being in a "high risk" situation.

Sorry, but I digressed from the original topic, back to the topic on hand.

I was just on a diabetes board the other night, thinking about my mil and her bizarre issues, and wishing she had been properly diagnosed instead of "you're skinny, it's type 1," and then the same doctor accepted that she refused insulin...and late the doctor died and the guy that took over just accepted the diagnosis and her refusal... (Side note, different doctor, DH was diagnosed with type two because "you're fat, and why would you need an endocrinologist". He was fired by us.)


Tons of people on that board have unexpected lows. Tons. None of them indicated that they couldn't drive. A friend of mine from the past had a license and regularly had huge seizures. Either all those people are lying or your states rules aren't every state's.


One could, however, think about a rider in a car. Eluded be far better to have the dog alert ahead of time so the driver can get to a safe place to deal with it, rather than have to deal with an actual event while on the road. Makes sense, yes?

We also know of a family that uses a little terrier-type dog to alert for nuts for their severely allergic son. There have been a couple of times when the dog has alerted to nuts when the restaurant or whatever swears there are no nuts in it. I don't know who to believe there, but why take the chance? Anyway, it is really cool to see and it gives the family such peace of mind.

How cool is that???