Lots of service dogs this trip

[si-am]

I am assuming that these dogs are not allowed on rides? That seems dangerous for them. What do owners do with the dogs while they ride? Or do they opt to skip rides?

 

[danikoski]

I am assuming that these dogs are not allowed on rides? That seems dangerous for them. What do owners do with the dogs while they ride? Or do they opt to skip rides?

I believe it depends on the ride...slow moving rides, like boat rides and omnimovers probably wouldn't be an issue. Thrill rides probably would be. I'm just guessing though, but I'm sure someone with experience with that situation will chime in.

 

[erin1715]

I can only speak from our personal experience. I attended training with my daughter and Mo, I am the secondary handler, for reasons just like what you mention. When she has been in the seizure unit, or has had surgery, Mo stays at the hospital with her. Mo has also gone with her by ambulance when she had been out and gotten injured. Mo wears a vest, clearly marked SERVICE DOG DO NOT PET. He has a pouch that is marked MEDICAL INFO and contains her medical history, meds, drs and emergency contact numbers. He has been allowed everywhere except into the actual OR. A secondary handler is required for times she cant care for his needs, like to toilet him when she is in surgery, etc. He has only gone by ambulance once and they paramedic called me. When I got to the ER my daughter was in a room with MO, and he was laying on the floor watching her and the medical team.

I am truly amazed by these animals that can provide these services

 

[HillsboroHoppers]

Shows and many rides the dogs can stay with the handler. For rides that are not safe for the dog they can either handle it like a child swap and a secondary handler stays with the dog or at some locations there is a kennel available for the dog to be placed in and kept safe while the handler rides the ride.

 

[greg9x]

As someone seriously allergic to dogs and cats, this issue is very sensitive for me. I am all for service animals, but I do believe the policy is being abused.
Last time on a plane there was a service dog next to me. I did not question it at all and do believe they can benefit the humans. I asked to be moved to a different section of the plane which was accommodated. Of course, there could have been a service dog in that seat on the previous flight - I never know, so come prepared for medical emergencies. In the parks I am able to avoid them easier which is nice. I think Disney will have to start as other hotels have done - allergy free rooms - for those of us that can not stay in a room that was previously occupied by a service animal as these are becoming more and more common.

My favorite comment I always get when I ask to be moved away from a service dog because of my allergies is "My dog is hypo-allergenic" or "dander-free". They are questioning my allergy, when I never question their disability. Unfortunately I am allergic to the animal's saliva which is airborne and all around the animal. I love dogs, wish I could have one - but at this point in my life I just need to be away from them as much as possible for my health.

Another dog/cat allergy suffer too... although I take allergy meds year round so doesn't affect me as much.. it is still annoying that people think they have a right to take pets everywhere. I get a serious Service dog, those seem to be rare though. The Emotional Support variety is where I think things have gotten out of control with the fake 'certificates' just because people want to take their pet everywhere. I don't believe pets should be allowed everywhere (Especially restaurants and such where sanitation comes in to play... no, your dogs mouth isn't cleaner than a humans or what ever urban myth people use to justify it). But people have more of a bond with their pets than with other humans these days and don't give courtesy to others who don't think their 'baby' is as great as they do.

Again, if you have a TRUE service animal that absolutely NEEDS to be with you... then fine, i'll do my best to avoid you. Otherwise leave them out of public places where others may be affected by them.

 

[MrsDuck]

Quite a few people and companies who are local use the parks to train dogs. There are plenty of fake service dogs at the park but some are legit.

There ARE invisible illnesses. Dogs don't have to be in vests... I'm not saying that you saw all legit service dogs but you just don't know.

 

[Klayfish]

We actually noticed it this trip (July) ourselves. We saw far more of these dogs on this trip alone than we did in all other trips combined. I have no doubt that some or many were legit, and I couldn't have told you which ones were or weren't. However, I have zero doubt that many of them were totally bogus, probably under the guise of "emotional support".

 

[twob4him]

So it sounds like I can just bring my dogs and tell Disney they are service animals with no proof? I wouldn't do that but it appears there are no requirements?

Correct and it isn't just Disney. It is everywhere. And if you are allergic to dogs, you can't do anything about them being there. As long as the dog handler can answer those two questions, true or not, no one can ask anything else. So, of course, people will take advantage. Which is a bummer for legit dogs, and people who really need the dogs.

 

[Shoshana]

Do you see the glass half full or half empty?

When you see a person with an invisible disability who has a dog in the park, do you assume they're taking advantage and faking their need for support, or do you give them the benefit of the doubt and recognize that you're not trained to detect or identify therapy, emotional support, or service dogs or who might benefit from them?

This thread is all about perspective and our ability to know what we know, and what we do not.

 

[HopperFan]

Have a disabled DS, have a dog that helps him stay calm and panic issues down. I would never take the dog to the parks, I think it's not fair to the dog. I cringe when I see them walking in the heat on the hot paving - most without booties.

Saw a FB post a couple of weeks back. someone posted a service pony walking through MK.

Saw it .... I know it's legal .... it was interesting situation ... I'll leave it at that.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Emotional support dogs provide their owners therapeutic benefits through companionship.

By this definition, wouldn't every pet canine on the planet be an "emotional support" dog?

I mean, I adopted my dog largely for sharing unconditional love. She is my baby girl. I adore pampering her; it fills an emotional need of mine to nurture now that the children are grown.

I doubt she would enjoy a Disney trip though. She gets nervous in the car going to the groomer. A plane ride would freak her out for sure. I really doubt she'd enjoy going on the Pirates of the Caribbean or Spaceship Earth.

So I will leave her home and try to get through my vacation without the therapeutic benefits of her companionship.

 

[Dentam]

I was in Costco one day and a guy was walking down an aisle with a service pony - I did a triple take! I think it's amazing what service animals can do for people but sadly, like anything else in life, there are people who will take advantage of something like this and ruin it for the people who legitimately need it - and no, I don't think the pony was an example of that, it was just a crazy thing to see in the middle of a Costco. I do think that the laws need to change and service animals should be required to be registered and marked accordingly. I work in a public place where we have been told not to ask and I have noticed an uptick in dogs coming in. They can definitely cause damage to my work place, but our hands are tied for the time being.

 

[Farro]

What can you do? You can't prove they don't need the animals, so I guess try not to give it another thought.

Dogs...what about cats?

I would love to bring these guys everywhere!

 

[FastPasser.]

And if they would just ask those questions, as people enter the park, or when they check into the resort, it would cut down on the number of dogs at both places.

CMs are not instructed or required to ask. It's not part of their job.

 

[JerseyJanice]

What can you do? You can't prove they don't need the animals, so I guess try not to give it another thought.

Dogs...what about cats?

I would love to bring these guys everywhere!
View attachment 259392

Those look like emotional support animals to me!

 

[CT Disney]

I have noticed more animals in public places as of late. Last week I saw a lady at the grocery store pushing her cart and she had a service dog sitting in the back of it. I wouldn't like the be the next person to use that carriage. I just kept thinking of the bottom of the dogs feet and all the stuff it may have walked through Nothing personal against dogs...I feel the same way when I see a kid sitting in the back of a grocery carriage.

 

[Amanda999]

So it sounds like I can just bring my dogs and tell Disney they are service animals with no proof? I wouldn't do that but it appears there are no requirements?

While it is true you need no paper proof, Florida is unusual as it has a law that makes it a criminal offense (misdemeanor) to intentionally misrepresent your animal as a service animal. Fl. 413.08(9).

Seems difficult to prove someone is lying, but at least the law probably keeps the honest people honest. If you aren't disabled then you'd have to flat out lie when someone asked the 2 permitted questions ((1) "if the animal is a service animal required because of a disability"; and (2) "what work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform." The term "disability" is defined in section 413.08. So if you aren't disabled as defined, you'd have to lie that you are disabled (you can't answer 'yes' to question 1 if you aren't disabled), and then lie that the dog has been trained to assist with some aspect of that disability.

 

[supersnoop]

Saw a FB post a couple of weeks back. someone posted a service pony walking through MK.

Yes, under federal law, only dogs and miniature ponies are defined as service animals. I've heard claims of people with service monkeys, but those aren't legitimate.

What can you do? You can't prove they don't need the animals, so I guess try not to give it another thought.

Dogs...what about cats?

I would love to bring these guys everywhere!
View attachment 259392

Nope, only dogs and ponies qualify as service animals under federal law.

 

[flortlebap]

I seriously doubt that anyone is purchasing a high vis vest just to take their prize pet pooch with them to Disney world.

 

[flortlebap]

Yes, under federal law, only dogs and miniature ponies are defined as service animals. I've heard claims of people with service monkeys, but those aren't legitimate.

Nope, only dogs and ponies qualify as service animals under federal law.

I would LOVE to see a miniature pony wandering around MK....