Lots of service dogs this trip

[wilkeliza]

I agree totally but I don't think individuals will make an impact .... maybe they need to work with national groups to start the dialogue to push for this. School districts are probably being impacted as well. I think the issue is there is no connectivity between these groups - so who will be the leader? Tough situation.

yeah it is a very tough situation. It will take everyone together doing it because for everyone who is for something being done I'm sure there are just as many people who want it to stay exactly as it especially the trainers making a ton on ill trained PTSD dogs scams. (Just for clarification PTSD service dogs are not scams but there are a rise in trainers selling ill trained/not even trained dogs as PTSD service dogs)

 

[HopperFan]

yeah it is a very tough situation. It will take everyone together doing it because for everyone who is for something being done I'm sure there are just as many people who want it to stay exactly as it especially the trainers making a ton on ill trained PTSD dogs scams. (Just for clarification PTSD service dogs are not scams but there are a rise in trainers selling ill trained/not even trained dogs as PTSD service dogs)

But, forcing regulation may help put these folks out of business and get well trained dogs to folks who need it.

 

[NYDisGuy]

But, forcing regulation may help put these folks out of business and get well trained dogs to folks who need it.

What regulation would you want? That the owners of the service dog would have to provide documentation of their disability? Not many people would sign off on that.

 

[HopperFan]

What regulation would you want? That the owners of the service dog would have to provide documentation of their disability? Not many people would sign off on that.

No. Documentation the dog has been trained as a service dog by a licensed trainer, certified to have passed their certification and prepared to do their job (and be safe for others to be around). Folks who are just bringing their pets will not want to spend the money for training and likely most the dogs wouldn't pass anyway without training. There would be no discussion at all of the person's disability, that would be between them and the trainers who certify the dogs to make sure the dog can handle their issues.

PS. My DS is "severely" disabled by most folks standards, so I am not a stranger to that side of the fence.

 

[AngiTN]

A business cannot ask a person what the nature of their disability is, but one question they can ask is what tasks is your dog trained to perform? Anyone with a real service dog should be able to quickly explain what mitigating tasks their dog can perform. Most fakers probably don't bother dreaming up an answer for that ahead of time and may be taken by surprise.

Never suggested anyone was to ask that one should be asking anyone what their disability is, or anything about their disability.
I'm referring to this post when I said Disney has 2 questions they can ask but are not asking

Service animals are not required to wear a vest, ID tag, or special harness. CMs may ask only two questions, which they will not. (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? CMs are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, ask that the dog demonstrate its task, or ask what is the guest's disability.

 

[SaintsManiac]

More dogs, less people!

 

[AngiTN]

And I fail to every comprehend why there can't be a regulation that service dogs have a requirement to wear a vest/ID/or harness
Yes, I realize these can be bought. I've seen this myself
But, there could be stiffer requirements put on this and that would be a deterrent to some of this right there
I'm in the group that has to think those with legit service animals would want to do anything they can to keep these fake or improperly trained animals out of general use. They are a danger to their animals, or a potential danger at the minimum. No?

 

[NYDisGuy]

No. Documentation the dog has been trained as a service dog by a licensed trainer, certified to have passed their certification and prepared to do their job (and be safe for others to be around). Folks who are just bringing their pets will not want to spend the money for training and likely most the dogs wouldn't pass anyway without training. There would be no discussion at all of the person's disability, that would be between them and the trainers who certify the dogs to make sure the dog can handle their issues.

PS. My DS is "severely" disabled by most folks standards, so I am not a stranger to that side of the fence.

These are the documentations that already being faked so this wouldn't so anything to certification mills, it would probably give them new business. Plus regulations are slippery slopes, the outrage won't end until it's iron clad proof that it's a service dog. Which means medical records come into play. There's no other way around it unless they create a governmental master dog database with pawprints that Disney can somehow access and verify.

 

[firefly_ris]

Never suggested anyone was to ask that one should be asking anyone what their disability is, or anything about their disability.
I'm referring to this post when I said Disney has 2 questions they can ask but are not asking

Sorry, I wasn't trying to insinuate that you were. I was trying to say it more like a broad informational thing for anyone reading the thread, because I think a lot of people don't know what they can and can't ask.

 

[SL6827]

One last shameless plug here

 

[Farro]

and one more for the cats!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Pretty sad when it's tough to feel safe going to WDW. With knowing this it'll be tough for us to feel safe, and undoubtedly countless others will feel the same way. They really need to enforce their rules more and ask questions more often, maybe require legitimate signage/documentation

I'm not sure why you wouldn't feel safe going to WDW. You have a better than average chance of not even seeing a service dog. In 12 trips to WDW and 5 Disney cruises, I've seen 2 service dogs. And both were well-behaved dogs that were very obviously providing services to their handlers. I have seen the trend of questionable service dogs in my every day life (in stores, malls, restaurants) far more often, but I have yet to feel unsafe around one. I think this thread is perhaps making the issue seem like a bigger problem than it really is. You really don't need to worry about a dog attack in WDW.

 

[wilkeliza]

But, forcing regulation may help put these folks out of business and get well trained dogs to folks who need it.

That's why I said they would have to fight those groups because the groups profitting off of it will pay to make sure they can keep profiting. Think about other lobbies for regulation. The tabacco industry fights legislation left and right even though most are actually for the better of people because it would hirt their bottom line. Same for environmental regulations. When it is cheaper to dump waste in the river companies will fight having to dispose of it properly. It is the sad fact of our world.

 

[epcotty]

I'm not sure why you wouldn't feel safe going to WDW. You have a better than average chance of not even seeing a service dog. In 12 trips to WDW and 5 Disney cruises, I've seen 2 service dogs. And both were well-behaved dogs that were very obviously providing services to their handlers. I have seen the trend of questionable service dogs in my every day life (in stores, malls, restaurants) far more often, but I have yet to feel unsafe around one. I think this thread is perhaps making the issue seem like a bigger problem than it really is. You really don't need to worry about a dog attack in WDW.

So far I haven't seen a service dog and the only ones I've seen were obviously there going to a dog show near closing time. However this thread makes it seem like we've been lucky. However I guess that WDW's as safe as anywhere can be

 

[JerseyJanice]

View attachment 259662
One last shameless plug here

Aww...a puppy.

 

[JerseyJanice]

and one more for the cats!

View attachment 259663

Aww...kitty cats.

 

[wilkeliza]

So far I haven't seen a service dog and the only ones I've seen were obviously there going to a dog show near closing time. However this thread makes it seem like we've been lucky. However I guess that WDW's as safe as anywhere can be

I think it is the reverse that those of us who have seen the bad either go all the time or just had bad luck. I was a CM so I saw them because I was legit in the parks 5-6 days a week for 6 months and then off and on sometimes 9 days straight seasonally for another year.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Pretty sad when it's tough to feel safe going to WDW. With knowing this it'll be tough for us to feel safe, and undoubtedly countless others will feel the same way. They really need to enforce their rules more and ask questions more often, maybe require legitimate signage/documentation

Do you have F.O.D.? (Fear of dogs?)

No judgement here. I have F.O.B. myself.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Do you have F.O.D.? (Fear of dogs?)

No judgement here. I have F.O.B. myself.

Fear of birds?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Do you have F.O.D.? (Fear of dogs?)

No judgement here. I have F.O.B. myself.

FOB? Fear of beer? Fear of boys? Fear of Buzz Lightyear?