Guide dog meets Pluto

[Beatles_Girl]

OMG!!!! Thats so Cute!!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

The loyalty and love they have for their people is amazing.

I feel this way too. I am not a massive dog lover (don't mind small ones!) as I adore my puss cats! But seeing the pic - oh it makes my heart melt and I crave and crave to have a dog with this much love and loyalty for me too!!!

I have sent the link to my hubby to see - he will look at me with puppy dog eyes tonight and beg me to get a dog!

Thank you SO much for sharing - I feel all warm and happy inside now! Disney magic at its best

 

[Shel]

Ok, I admit it too...that picture made my eyes leak. I also have a hard time at the parks when I see a guide dog because it makes me miss my own furbabies that I left behind at the kennel (I call it their doggie spa). Only another dog lover would understand that when you see a dog you want to pet a dog, and knowing that they're working & you must not pet them makes it difficult.

 

[Gina]

Ok, I admit it too...that picture made my eyes leak. I also have a hard time at the parks when I see a guide dog because it makes me miss my own furbabies that I left behind at the kennel (I call it their doggie spa). Only another dog lover would understand that when you see a dog you want to pet a dog, and knowing that they're working & you must not pet them makes it difficult.

I can't speak for every guide dog owner, but I can say that my dad has never had any problem at all with people coming up wanting to meet Newley. He simply needs to be asked, so that he can release the harness, which is like telling the dog "at ease." If the harness handle is being held, then the dog knows he's working -- but once Dad lets go of the handle and he's just on the lead, Newley is all Mr. Social. I'm an animal nut and owner myself, and I know how much I miss my own furbabies when we're at WDW. And tons of people have come up to us and said it makes them feel so much better to just pet Newley when they're missing their own animal friends.

So I would say, if you see someone with a service animal, just ask them if it's okay if you can meet their companion! Chances are, they'll be happy to tell you about their service animal and let you love on them for a minute. The problems come because of parents who fail at parenting, and let their kids just run up to the animals, pull their tail, hit them (!!), you name it. And just stand there and watch their precious little snowflakes while they do.

 

[harpinjean]

What a great pic - he looks like a great dog!

 

[collegejunkie]

Ohmygosh, y'all are so sweet!! That is Newley... and definitely in the "it's a small world" category, I discovered after posting about him a while back that it was an actual DIS'er who had taken care of him as a little puppy before he began his training with the guide dog association.

He is a Disney vet, and there have been some great character moments with him, but he *really* took to Pluto there... It was so sweet. And equally as wonderful was how Pluto interacted with Newley, just so gentle and non-intimidating.

It's funny -- Usually on almost every ride, Newley immediately crams himself under my dad's feet and goes straight to sleep. But there are two rides, Jungle Cruise and Snow White, that just fascinate him for some reason. He rests his chin on the side of the ride vehicle and just watches everything go by. It's so cute!

I'm just so thankful Dad has Newley... he has given him so much more independence and freedom, and he is just the sweetest dog. It's hard to not love him.

i love this photo! when i first went on the disney memories site, this was the first photo i saw and i showed everyone i know. it's absolutely adorable! it's awesome to know who it's from. thanks for sharing so much joy

 

[collegejunkie]

double post sorry

 

[BrerVixen]

Oh, wow, what an AMAZING picture! Brought tears to my eyes!

 

[rndmr2]

I can't speak for every guide dog owner, but I can say that my dad has never had any problem at all with people coming up wanting to meet Newley. He simply needs to be asked, so that he can release the harness, which is like telling the dog "at ease." If the harness handle is being held, then the dog knows he's working -- but once Dad lets go of the handle and he's just on the lead, Newley is all Mr. Social. I'm an animal nut and owner myself, and I know how much I miss my own furbabies when we're at WDW. And tons of people have come up to us and said it makes them feel so much better to just pet Newley when they're missing their own animal friends.

So I would say, if you see someone with a service animal, just ask them if it's okay if you can meet their companion! Chances are, they'll be happy to tell you about their service animal and let you love on them for a minute. The problems come because of parents who fail at parenting, and let their kids just run up to the animals, pull their tail, hit them (!!), you name it. And just stand there and watch their precious little snowflakes while they do.

I have to say that dog is so cute and the pic is so precious.

I worked with a Physical Therapist at a small hospital who was blind and she brought her guide dog (Victor) with her to work, he was so sweet, everybody loved him! He would still guide her somewhat (she knew her way around pretty well and he would mostly lie down outside the patient's room or at the nurses station) but she wouldn't have him with his harness or vest or anything like that becasue she knew being at the hospital people would want to touch him and pet him, etc. She used to joke that when she came to work, he knew it was a day off for him!

FYI--Victor was a yellow Lab too.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

that is just too cute...makes me want to bring my berner along on the trip even more!

 

[ilovepete]

He is soooo cute! That picture is just perfect!

 

[Poohbear123]

Awesome photos Gina, thanks for sharing.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Great Pic! All of my sons have a teacher at their high school who is blind and uses a guide dog. Honestly he looks a lot like him.

This one got a "save as" ... I hope you don't mind.

 

[twoplustwins]

love this!!!!!!!!!!

 

[midnightlouise]

That is just too, too adorable. I got choked up looking at that sweet picture. That made my night. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Batch]

I loved this picture so much!

 

[bouncycat]

Yes Gina, LOVE that picture!! It's WAY too adorable!! I have a black lab named Mollie, she's not a service dog, but labs are SOOOO smart, and I think if I would have known her personality before we named her, she'd have been named Goofy!! LOL Great animals, and I'm glad your dad has him to help, cause they're more than just service dogs, they're part of the family!!! My Mollie is like a child, cause I can't have any more kids, so of course she's pampered!!!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

We've always handled the petting thing differently. The stance I always took when we had a guide dog was no petting in harness except under very particular circumstances (mentally handicap person or tiny child who did not know better) I just want to reiterate what Gina said, not everyone is the same about how they want you to deal with their service animal. If you choose to approach someone with a service animal, ALWAYS approach the human, not the animal. Ask, don't assume. And not to sound like a jerk but not everyone wants to talk about it...some people see it as a nice way to educate people who may not be informed about service animals but others prefer not to discuss it and you should respect their wishes. The best bet is if an animal is wearing any type of harness or jacket, consider them at work. I grew up around these animals and the way I learned it was that, at least with guide dogs, the little jacket/blanket they wear is preparing them for the harness, and teaching them that while they have that on, they are in work mode. Almost teaching them to think of it as a uniform...then when it comes off they are off the clock. Our last service dog was very calm when he was in harness and a bouncing moron when it came off. Please do not expect everyone to be ok with you petting their animal, and even if you are talking to the human, ask them before you pet the animal.

On a perkier note, our dog loved Living with the Land and It's a Small World, and had his own set of Mickey ears with his name embroidered on them, and has met Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Tigger and Pocahontas. And if you've made it all the way through my spiel, my reward for you is this. This is a link to a post that was on the disabilities boards that is all pictures of Disney going service animals. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2091479&highlight=service+animals

 

[Shel]

Thanks for the advice Gina & LockShockBarrel. I always taught my daughter that they were working & not to be bothered. To me that's just the sensible & considerate thing to do when a person's well-being/safety is depending on a service animal, why would someone let their child be a distraction? I know some do, but it doesn't make any sense.

It's nice to know that some folks would welcome introducing their furbaby & have a special way to let them know it's ok to enjoy attention & lovings.

Again, love the picture. It's priceless!

 

[Gina]

We've always handled the petting thing differently. The stance I always took when we had a guide dog was no petting in harness except under very particular circumstances (mentally handicap person or tiny child who did not know better) I just want to reiterate what Gina said, not everyone is the same about how they want you to deal with their service animal. If you choose to approach someone with a service animal, ALWAYS approach the human, not the animal. Ask, don't assume. And not to sound like a jerk but not everyone wants to talk about it...some people see it as a nice way to educate people who may not be informed about service animals but others prefer not to discuss it and you should respect their wishes. The best bet is if an animal is wearing any type of harness or jacket, consider them at work. I grew up around these animals and the way I learned it was that, at least with guide dogs, the little jacket/blanket they wear is preparing them for the harness, and teaching them that while they have that on, they are in work mode. Almost teaching them to think of it as a uniform...then when it comes off they are off the clock. Our last service dog was very calm when he was in harness and a bouncing moron when it came off. Please do not expect everyone to be ok with you petting their animal, and even if you are talking to the human, ask them before you pet the animal.

Excellent advice. My dad is my dad, and strangers are just friends he hasn't met yet (and Newley is the same way!) but everyone has trained with their animal differently and just has their own boundary preferences. It can't hurt to ask, but don't be offended if the answer is "sorry, no."


On a perkier note, our dog loved Living with the Land and It's a Small World, and had his own set of Mickey ears with his name embroidered on them, and has met Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Tigger and Pocahontas. And if you've made it all the way through my spiel, my reward for you is this. This is a link to a post that was on the disabilities boards that is all pictures of Disney going service animals. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2091479&highlight=service+animals[/QUOTE]


That is pure awesome. I had no idea there was such a thread!! Thanks so much for the link!