First time I've seen this...dogs at Disneyland

[scrapperkimmydee]

Is this something new? I noticed 3 people with dogs - and not service dogs. One was being carried inside a sweatshirt. None seemed to be service dogs.

We did notice a large dog crate near the exit of Hyperspace Mountain.

When did this start and why/how?

 

[justgrace]

It's been like this for a while. Not even just at Disneyland, either. I see so many dogs (not service dogs) at grocery stores, restaurants, clothing stores, etc. I think many claim they are "emotional support animals" which are different from service animals, as they do not provide a physical service to their owners. I think business are afraid to say anything about any dogs, with fear of being slapped with a lawsuit. Just my thinking, anyway. There's definitely been an increase in recent years.

In regards to the dog crate near Hyperspace Mountain - we saw one near the exit of Star Tours. It had a sign that it was for Service Animals. I think it's a safe place to keep service animals while their owners ride an attraction that wouldn't be safe for them to accompany their owners on.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

I was wondering what they did with the dogs when they go on the rides. Maybe they don't go on rides?

 

[lalasmama]

I was wondering what they did with the dogs when they go on the rides. Maybe they don't go on rides?

That's what the crates are for on height restricted rides, near the entrance/exit.

Legally they can't ask if it's an emotional service animal (like for PTSD) or a physical need service animal (like seeing eye dog, or such). They can only ask, "Is this a service animal?" and if the person confirms it, they can't do anything about it.

 

[Malcon10t]

That's what the crates are for on height restricted rides, near the entrance/exit.

Legally they can't ask if it's an emotional service animal (like for PTSD) or a physical need service animal (like seeing eye dog, or such). They can only ask, "Is this a service animal?" and if the person confirms it, they can't do anything about it.

Actually, there are other questions that can be asked, but too many businesses fear a lawsuit. You can ask "Is this dog needed due to a disability?" and "What task is the dog traned to perform?"

 

[Ckkk]

I cant wait until I can bring my pet alligator to Disneyland.

 

[bumbershoot]

There is absolutely NO way you can tell at a glance that a dog is a service dog. Please oh please stop assuming it.

I get that people have the image of a Seeing Eye Dog in their minds, with the harness and the vest and all of that, but that is ONE kind of service dog.

Today I met three massive Newfoundlands who were service dogs. Their owners shared with me that they are seizure dogs; they can detect an oncoming seizure. The woman shared that her son is a veteran and had come back from Iraq with traumatic brain injury and seizures. These dogs could tell, without training, when his body was setting up for a seizure. They alert him which lets him get safe. She said that they will surround him and keep his head from hitting the floor. The dad said that the dogs will come in and wake him and his wife up, if their son is having problems while he is sleeping.

Amazing, isn't it?

And many small dogs, the ones that are carried, are just that sort of service dog. Some dogs can also sense blood sugar changes before the person actually feels the changes or regularly tests. (I don't know how it works with type 1; DH had type 2 for a few years, and it was super-obvious when he was going high, because he changed so much, and when he was being honest with himself he could sense it, too...I don't know if a dog could sense it BEFORE we would notice it, would have been interesting to find out, but he made the diet and exercise changes needed and doesn't have it anymore) The Newfie owner said that they later realized that their dogs can sense the blood sugar problems, too. And apparently they will alert for *anyone* around them who is having an issue. (eek!)

So you simply have NO way of knowing that a dog is not a service dog. I choose to assume that a dog IS. And I choose to be happy for the person who has the dog with them, because they are getting the help they need. How wonderful is that? This combo makes my life happier. I recommend it.

 

[offwithyourhead]

The image of service dogs is changing a lot. A lot of people don't realize that there are a lot more kinds of service dogs than seeing eye dogs and those who are trained to help people in wheelchairs. Over the last decade or so, people have been able to find ways to use dogs, cats, and other animals to help so many more conditions!

Emotional support animals are a fairly new 'official' thing, but people have been using them that way since pets became popular.

All I can hope is that these dogs ARE trained/conditioned service animals, and not just some dummy bringing their pet dog into the park because they felt like it. That could be very, very scary and upsetting for an average dog. Best to always stay clear of any dogs you see in the park and not interact with them in any way unless the owner gives you the go-ahead. Small dogs that are trained for medical purposes (as a PP said -- seizures, blood sugar drops, etc) need to focus and not be distracted by being talked to or pet by strangers.

 

[bethwc101]

The problem is there are those ruining it for the people who actually need it. I can go online right now and register my dog for $25 as an emotional support animal and she can go anywhere I want with me. I can take her in the grocery store, movies, and Disneyland and I never have to explain how or why. And all it did was cost me $25. And it doesn't matter how poorly trained or what bad behavior my dog has. You can't ask us to leave or I could sue them. Those are the people that bug me.

I work with dogs for a living so I know there are some service dogs that aren't the typical Lab or Belgian Malanois or German Shepherd. There are lots of other breeds, but there are other people who don't have service dogs that claim they are and it makes me mad. They truly ruin it for those who do need it.

 

[bethwc101]

All I can hope is that these dogs ARE trained/conditioned service animals, and not just some dummy bringing their pet dog into the park because they felt like it. That could be very, very scary and upsetting for an average dog. Best to always stay clear of any dogs you see in the park and not interact with them in any way unless the owner gives you the go-ahead. Small dogs that are trained for medical purposes (as a PP said -- seizures, blood sugar drops, etc) need to focus and not be distracted by being talked to or pet by strangers.

Service animals SHOULD be wearing some form of Do Not Pet or Do Not Touch vest just for that purpose.

 

[wilkeliza]

The problem is there are those ruining it for the people who actually need it. I can go online right now and register my dog for $25 as an emotional support animal and she can go anywhere I want with me. I can take her in the grocery store, movies, and Disneyland and I never have to explain how or why. And all it did was cost me $25. And it doesn't matter how poorly trained or what bad behavior my dog has. You can't ask us to leave or I could sue them. Those are the people that bug me.

I work with dogs for a living so I know there are some service dogs that aren't the typical Lab or Belgian Malanois or German Shepherd. There are lots of other breeds, but there are other people who don't have service dogs that claim they are and it makes me mad. They truly ruin it for those who do need it.

Service animals SHOULD be wearing some form of Do Not Pet or Do Not Touch vest just for that purpose.

Emotional Support Animals are not recognized by the ADA so no matter how much money you pay they can't go everywhere most are only covered for housing and air travel, not hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Also if a dog is poorly trained which thus causes it to act badly (urinating indoors, barking, snarling, generally uncontrolled) a business can demand the dog be removed. They of course can not removed the person with the disability but they can remove the dog.

Also while the ADA suggests some sort of best or do not pet signage it is not required by law either.

 

[Niltiac]

Who would want to sneak a pet into DL? I'm sure some people do, but when you really think about it it sounds annoying. Gotta take care of them, get through crowds with a leash, keep them calm amidst all the noise... So as long as they don't look anxious or uncontrolled (which I've never seen), I just assume the dogs I see are service animals.

I do feel for those with less obvious service animals because I'm sure they are constantly being questioned, getting dirty looks, etc. I'd rather give them the benefit of the doubt even if it means some people take advantage. Some dogs identify dangerous medical events by smell (changes in blood chemistry), so in that scenario maybe carrying the dog close to you would make sense in a crowded, smelly park. I've never had one so I'm not sure, and I'm not bothered enough by it to question it.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

There is absolutely NO way you can tell at a glance that a dog is a service dog. Please oh please stop assuming it.

I get that people have the image of a Seeing Eye Dog in their minds, with the harness and the vest and all of that, but that is ONE kind of service dog.


So you simply have NO way of knowing that a dog is not a service dog. I choose to assume that a dog IS. And I choose to be happy for the person who has the dog with them, because they are getting the help they need. How wonderful is that? This combo makes my life happier. I recommend it.

This wasn't meant as a downer post! Sheesh! I was just curious because I've never seen it before. And I was wondering what they do with the dogs when they ride - I only saw one crate.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

The problem is there are those ruining it for the people who actually need it. I can go online right now and register my dog for $25 as an emotional support animal and she can go anywhere I want with me. I can take her in the grocery store, movies, and Disneyland and I never have to explain how or why. And all it did was cost me $25. And it doesn't matter how poorly trained or what bad behavior my dog has. You can't ask us to leave or I could sue them. Those are the people that bug me.

I work with dogs for a living so I know there are some service dogs that aren't the typical Lab or Belgian Malanois or German Shepherd. There are lots of other breeds, but there are other people who don't have service dogs that claim they are and it makes me mad. They truly ruin it for those who do need it.

These didn't seem to be a problem to anyone, but I don't know what it was like in the queues. Two were on leashes, one was held in a sweat shirt.

 

[wilkeliza]

This wasn't meant as a downer post! Sheesh! I was just curious because I've never seen it before. And I was wondering what they do with the dogs when they ride - I only saw one crate.

Some crates are not visible to the general public. They may be off to the side or in the wheelchair entrance/exit area. Also for rides that a service animal is allowed to ride (basically anything with out a height requirement) the dog is allowed to accompany the handler. Other times someone holds the dog for the brief period of the ride and then swap kind of like rider swap.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

Ah, that makes sense. I'd like to watch some on some of the rides - I'm imagining them with their tongues out, like when they hang out a window. Although, with the tiny one, I'd be worried it'd fly out!

 

[GatorChris]

Service animals SHOULD be wearing some form of Do Not Pet or Do Not Touch vest just for that purpose.

I agree with this. My wife has an aunt who has this little terrier looking dog. She says it's service animal for low blood sugar, which I had never heard of at that time. It was jumping in everyone's lap, playing like a normal dog. The aunt would get upset if the kids were playing with it. Seemed weird to me.

Anyway, if a dog's coming to Disney, it should have a marker or vest of some kind that says it's a service dog. And the owner should carry a card to show to the entrance CMs to prove the dog is a service animal. Otherwise, anyone could bring their pet to Disney and the streets would be littered with more than horse droppings. Even the nursgin home I used to work at barred dogs from coming in, due to the mess they could potentially make (some had), and even fleas! With the close quarters we all share at either Fantasmic!, the parades, the fireworks, or the shows, that's something i don't want to worry about.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

The dogs have to be crated for an ride that has a height requirement. Otherwise the dogs can ride with their owners, but the dogs are supposed to sit on the floor of the ride vehicle. I have noticed a crate at the Matterhorn as well, it is right by the exit on the left hand side of the ride.

A couple days ago I was at Soarin' and there was a family that had two service dogs but I guess Soarin' only has one crate. So the cast member told the family they would have to have someone stay back with one of the dogs as only one could be crated at a time. The family was really mad and they wanted both dogs to be crated at the same time so the whole family could ride together. They didn't understand why the dogs couldn't be crated together since they live together. The cast member tried to explain that the policy was only for one dog at a time, which makes sense in case they fight Disney doesn't want a lawsuit on their hands over a damaged dog. But the family was just really rude about it but eventually decided to split up their group.

 

[disneychrista]

People who abuse the ADA service dogs rule make it harder for those who truly need a service dog.

I wish that there were legal registration for service dogs to make it easier for everyone.

 

[disneychrista]

Legally they can't ask if it's an emotional service animal (like for PTSD) or a physical need service animal (like seeing eye dog, or such). They can only ask, "Is this a service animal?" and if the person confirms it, they can't do anything about it.

They can also ask what service the animal provides.