Lots of service dogs this trip

[Grmnshplvr]

Not true pumpkin and I were bffs till the day he pass so to say cats only care about them selfs is not true



I agree I am a huge fan of kids but some times when dh and I go out we want a adult only place

I was making a joke, hence the guy rolling around laughing. Cats are notorious for being selfish animals (maybe a bit more than humans) I had a cat for 14 years, she couldn't be bothered by any of us. Dogs are just different.

 

[mousefan73]

Didn't realize there is a difference between a theraphy and service dog. I had just heard from friends who deal with these issues yöu can't even ask for what the dog is for. Are there two different papers then?

 

[NYDisGuy]

Disney only allows service dogs, and I hope they enforce that well enough. Otherwise it would put the guests at risk, especially if someone were to bring a biting dog (and the dog owner would also be risking lots of lawsuits)

I believe that's what the discussion going on is about. Disney doesn't seem to enforce it and they can only really ask two questions which i'm sure the person bringing in the dog were prepped for. A well trained dog that sticks by the owner and doesn't intrude in the public can be easily passed off as one. Biting dogs are another story which would be grounds for park dismissal and police intervention.

 

[vanillagirl]

Therapy dogs probably need proof of immunizations etc and there may be a certification involved, however therapy dogs r scheduled to visit places and provide comfort. Schools, nursing homes, libraries have read to a dog program etc...It would be up to the person/place booking their services to require whatever proof of health or temperament that they want and require.

Serice dogs are an aide for a disabled person. Think...wheelchair. There is no paperwork or certificate. True service dogs r well trained to provide an actual service. They are extremely well behaved and supposed to be pretty much unnoticeable.

 

[wilkeliza]

Didn't realize there is a difference between a theraphy and service dog. I had just heard from friends who deal with these issues yöu can't even ask for what the dog is for. Are there two different papers then?

There are no papers. You can ask 2 questions directly from the ADA faq "(1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?"

So you can ask what task the dog is trained to perform but not ask what the disability is directly.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Didn't realize there is a difference between a theraphy and service dog. I had just heard from friends who deal with these issues yöu can't even ask for what the dog is for. Are there two different papers then?

That's not exactly true. There are two questions you can ask:

1) Is the service dog needed for a disability?
2) What tasks has the dog been trained to perform?

My feeling is if Disney and other establishments weren't so hesitant to ask these questions, it might cut down on the problem, or at least temporarily until the cheaters learn what tasks to say their dog performs. But as mentioned, true service dogs are very well behaved even in crowded, chaotic places. The dogs which are not true service animals often are noticeable because they lack this training.

 

[Jennasis]

Do service dogs require proof of immunization to be carried with them?

 

[Beer Me]

I haven't read the whole thread but imo this is a non issue. I noticed one dog during our week long trip last month. It was with a group in the loading area of space mountain. I was kind of curious if it was going to ride! I assume not but it's a funny thought.

Anyway I have no idea why it was there but it didn't bother anyone. Can't see how it's any of my business.

 

[wilkeliza]

Do service dogs require proof of immunization to be carried with them?

No. Service dogs only have to follow local laws. So just like any other pet where you don't have to carry proof of all immunization they would still need rabies tag or registration tag if required by that municipality. So like NYC all dogs have to be registered with the city if they live there so if a person lives in NYC and has a service dog they would still be required to register the dog. I'm not sure if the city waves the registration fee for service animals.

 

[wilkeliza]

double post.

 

[Raimiette]

I've only been to Disney a few times and in my stays I've not seen too many service dogs (maybe 3 over all trips) and none of the dogs were misbehaving or anything. I certainly didn't find them intrusive.

I will say though that, at least in Canada, there is a difference between a service dog (protected by law) and an emotional support dog (not protected). Service dogs can go everywhere their person can. Emotional support dogs cannot.

 

[jkh36619]

Doesn't bother me either. Heck, Disney would have a Service Dog Rental outside the main gate if they thought they could make a buck.

 

[piccolopat]

The thing is, the seat is MEANT for children, it's not meant for groceries. Sure, some people will put groceries there, but that's their choice. The structure of the seat is obviously made to accommodate a child. I really don't think it's logical to criticize people for putting children in the seat meant for children, just because some people want to put groceries in a seat meant for children.

I use the seat for my purse, my eggs, my bread and any reading material or cards that I might buy (things I am not going to wash when I get home). I really don't want someone's dog sitting there and leaving behind fleas or whatever they might have on their paws or nethers. It is my expectation that any children that might have sat their before I use the cart are not flea infested and are a bit cleaner than the dog who might have just relieved himself before parking his butt in the cart.

 

[DVC-Don]

There are fake certificate mills online. They have been exposed on stuff like the Today Show. Send $50 and you too can turn your dog, or even snake, in to a service animal. They did it..............

One of my relatives has done this. She even got a vest for the dog that says "Service Animal".

 

[AngiTN]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that while service animals are permitted in the parks and resorts, they must always be where their owner is. In other words, you can't leave Fido in your hotel room to go grab a bite to eat or swim in the pool.

I hadn't even thought about that. We stayed at BWI last year and the guests in the room next to us had a dog in it. We heard it barking when the returned in the room and saw it walk out on the balcony. We know the staff was aware as the maids were in the hall and also heard it barking when the guests returned to the room, they all turned to look, just like we did, when they all walked in the to the barking dog.
It didn't occur to me at the time that they'd been out with out the dog though at the time I did have my doubts about it being a legit service dog as it was a very small dog that would not be a typical service dog. I'm sure it was possible but I'm going to bet that it was not and knowing now that Disney won't question guests claims regarding animals they want to bring to resorts and or parks I doubt it even more.

I'm guessing that it's going to be just like the DAS abuse, they'll let the animal situation alone until something bad happens or there are enough complaints that they have to address it.

 

[danikoski]

I've only been to Disney a few times and in my stays I've not seen too many service dogs (maybe 3 over all trips) and none of the dogs were misbehaving or anything. I certainly didn't find them intrusive.

I will say though that, at least in Canada, there is a difference between a service dog (protected by law) and an emotional support dog (not protected). Service dogs can go everywhere their person can. Emotional support dogs cannot.

I believe in Canada, the service dog actually has to be certified by a government approved agency as well.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I hadn't even thought about that. We stayed at BWI last year and the guests in the room next to us had a dog in it. We heard it barking when the returned in the room and saw it walk out on the balcony. We know the staff was aware as the maids were in the hall and also heard it barking when the guests returned to the room, they all turned to look, just like we did, when they all walked in the to the barking dog.
It didn't occur to me at the time that they'd been out with out the dog though at the time I did have my doubts about it being a legit service dog as it was a very small dog that would not be a typical service dog. I'm sure it was possible but I'm going to bet that it was not and knowing now that Disney won't question guests claims regarding animals they want to bring to resorts and or parks I doubt it even more.

I'm guessing that it's going to be just like the DAS abuse, they'll let the animal situation alone until something bad happens or there are enough complaints that they have to address it.

I'll tell you right now, all that money on a hotel... I'm not putting up with a barking dog.

 

[CounselorX]

I think a grocery store should be allowed to require service animals walk alongside their owners and not ride in the cart. It is not sanitary to allow a dog or other animal to sit where the next customer is putting their food purchases.

Well, people put their babies in shopping carts and I think babies leak more than dogs.

 

[Aurora0427]

I'll tell you right now, all that money on a hotel... I'm not putting up with a barking dog.

Me neither..... I'd be down at the front desk. Extremely unhappy.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

In November in Epcot we encountered a woman with 5 poodles--all of them done up with ribbons and painted toenails and three of them in a rented stroller. The woman was having trouble maneuvering through the store in Japan with them and was tugging on the leashes and struggling to keep the three in the stroller. The dogs looked uncomfortable, whining and trying to go somewhere else. We were in line to pay and she was at the cashier's counter when one of them urinated on the floor. When that happened, she started yelling at all the dogs. It seemed pretty clear to us by the way they were being handled that these were not service dogs and were not being trained to be service dogs.

In that case, I wasn't really bothered that she was there with the dogs, but it did bother me that they all seemed so uncomfortable. It seemed like they would have rather have been left at home than drug around on the concrete at world showcase.

I appreciate that WDW is accessible to people with lots of different kinds of needs. It's disappointing that people would take advantage of that.