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

[wilkeliza]

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.

Except what you are suggesting is against the law. ADA says nothing but verbal confirmation (i assume nonverbal is okay if the person isn't verbal) that it is a service dog. If it is not apparent what service the dog (or miniature pony) provides a follow up question of what service dogs your dog provide is also okay. Some people think the second question is a violation of their right to privacy but ADA says it is allowed and if unanswered could mean the removal of said service animal.

Now some states have a registration and test but they can not actually be required by law due to the fact the ADA supersedes any state and local law. I know someone who went ahead and got their service dog as such in NYC because their service dog was a pitbull mix and many business were very nasty to the man about his very well behaved seeing eye dog.

 

[Lucysmom2]

We have two dogs. Our Aussie is a pet. Our border collie is a service dog. We just returned from a holiday trip to DLR. Our service dog was very well behaved. He rode rides, stayed in the crates at some, was a perfect GCH hotel guest. He stayed under the tables at restaurants. He walked next to my daughter with a flashing light-up collar to alert people to his presence. He never barked, and was generally inconspicuous, as he has been trained to be. Our pet dog could never do any of that. She goes wacky if we take her to Petco! Service dogs are working dogs trained to do important jobs. I am very grateful that Disney is so accepting.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We have two dogs. Our Aussie is a pet. Our border collie is a service dog. We just returned from a holiday trip to DLR. Our service dog was very well behaved. He rode rides, stayed in the crates at some, was a perfect GCH hotel guest. He stayed under the tables at restaurants. He walked next to my daughter with a flashing light-up collar to alert people to his presence. He never barked, and was generally inconspicuous, as he has been trained to be. Our pet dog could never do any of that. She goes wacky if we take her to Petco! Service dogs are working dogs trained to do important jobs. I am very grateful that Disney is so accepting.

I laughed when you described your pet dog, our dog goes all wacky all the time too. She is a miniature schnauzer and likes to bark. There is no way (not that I would try to because I respect service dogs too much), but there is no way we could pass our pet off as a service dog.

 

[Malcon10t]

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.

I am 99% sure I have met these dogs before. I personally love Newfies, and think they can make great service dogs. However, as I have posted in the past, these dogs pulled their handler off their feet trying to get to my daughter's hearing dog (60lb golden lab.) I ended up having to position my ECV between my daughter and her dog to prevent the dogs from getting to our pup. They were growling and barking. Not the way a service dog should act.

And to be clear, the women have no access rights with the dog. The son is the only one with rights to access with the dog. My daughter has a hearing dog. She can take the dog to the store, a restaurant, Disneyland, etc... However, *I* cannot. The access follows the disabled person, NOT THE DOG.