Newbies bringing a service dog to visit Mickey

[tink2007]

I am a nanny for a family. They have a 2 year who is required to be on oxygen 24/7. She recently obtained a service dog to carry her oxygen for her. I am a Disney veteran but have no experience with taking a child with special needs much less a service dog. I know her parents have contacted Disney about the service dog but I was wondering if anyone has some tips for them to make their experience special and not so stressful.

 

[dclfun]

I would be concerned about the dog's ability to do his/her task while in the midst of a busy theme park. Depending on when they are going, it can be VERY hot out and not only do a dog's paws get hot but they can become quickly overheated. When it's the midst of summer, which is May- October here, I do not bring my SD out in that kind of heat as I consider it cruel. She could never make it all day either at Disney in the heat even if I did bring her. I'm not sure how heavy the backpack is that carries the oxygen but it could be too much for the dog in that environment. I'm sure they know their dog best, but truthfully they might be better off just hooking the oxygen to their stroller vs. having a dog along to carry it, esp. since the child is only 2 years old. I could see it if the dog does alerts but not to carry O2.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I know there's service animals for a lot of things..but this seems very odd to me. IMHO, the dog isn't doing anything that's a service other than carrying it, which could be accomplished in a lot of other ways that make more sense than having a dog. It's not my place to say what this dog actually is, but the way the OP stated her post it seems like it'd almost fall between a comfort dog and a service dog.

As far as calling Disney, they're not going to tell you much. They'll tell you that there are some rides the dog will not be allowed on, that it must be on a leash or in harness at all times, and possibly tell you that the dog should not relieve itself except for in designated areas. They won't tell you anything about care.

Have the people you work for ever been to Disney? Then have they been to Disney with the child in her current condition? Having a service dog is a lot like having a toddler, you need to be constantly aware of its needs. I wonder if this may be just too many factors, having a child that age with her issues plus a dog that they've recently gotten.

I'd never recommend taking a new service dog to Disney. You aren't in tune enough with it's personality, quirks, reactions, and needs. The environment is totally foreign to them, and a couple trips to the mall or grocery store is not enough time to prep yourself or a dog for Disney. You have to be aware of their...lets call them in comings and out goings...the heat, the humidity, the pavement, the sun, it's normal schedule, the fact that it's going to be doing more walking that it's used to, that it will get tired just like you, and now adding in the fact that it'll be doing all this with a tank on it.

Depending on how the tank is situated on the dog, I can imagine ride vehicles being an issue. It might not be comfortable or even safe for the dog and child to ride in such a way where the tank, tube and everything else are where they need to be.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just adding to what the other posters said:

1) there is a link in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread to information from the WDW website about Service Animals. If the family contacts Disney, that is the information that will be sent to them. The disABILITIES FAQs thread is near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature to get there.

2) a 2 yr old will need a stroller at WDW because of the distances involved - most guests walk between 3 and 9 miles per day. Much too far for a 2 yr old without any health concerns. So, they will need a stroller and it would make much more sense ( for the reasons the other posters mentioned) to put the oxygen tank on a stroller than a dog. This would be true even in cooler months.

The family can get a sticker for the child's stroller that will allow it to be handled like a wheelchair because the child has a disability. That would allow them to bring the stroller with them into lines and attractions where strollers are not usually allowed. There is more information about that in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

The heat can't be over emphasized. My youngest DD has a service dog. When we take him out in the summer in Minnesota (which can be as hot and humid as summer in Florida), he only lasts a few hours outside before he is just too hot and tired to work. And, he is not carrying anything; a dog carrying an oxygen tank is going to heat up and get third faster.

 

[Paragd911]

Im a service dog trainer. For there feet, I allways have shoes on my dog(s)

What "Task" was the dog specifically trained help with the child with? The "New ADA rules" PPL will ask...its not right but.....

 

[dclfun]

Im a service dog trainer. For there feet, I allways have shoes on my dog(s)

What "Task" was the dog specifically trained help with the child with? The "New ADA rules" PPL will ask...its not right but.....

Hi Mark! Just to add that my SD won't wear shoes. We've tried and the results are hilarious. I try not to laugh to hurt her dignity but she lifts each paw one at a time and tries to shake them off. Then she hobbles around with one paw in the air. It IS a good idea though to protect the paw pads somehow. We use Musher's Secret and it does seem to help a little although she still does the pavement dance sometimes. As Mark mentioned, in order to be considered a SD and as such to have access to places where pets are not allowed, the dog has to be task-trained. I'm not sure carrying a tank of O2 would count, and I do have to admit that this seems a really far stretch for a need of a 2 year old anyway. Unless the parents are not capable of fastening the tank to a stroller or wheelchair, I don't know why a dog is a necessity or how the dog could keep up with a mobile 2 year old, of course this is assuming that the child is fully mobile and just requiring O2. I'm not here to judge someone else though- just wondering.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi Mark! Just to add that my SD won't wear shoes. We've tried and the results are hilarious. I try not to laugh to hurt her dignity but she lifts each paw one at a time and tries to shake them off. Then she hobbles around with one paw in the air. It IS a good idea though to protect the paw pads somehow. We use Musher's Secret and it does seem to help a little although she still does the pavement dance sometimes. As Mark mentioned, in order to be considered a SD and as such to have access to places where pets are not allowed, the dog has to be task-trained. I'm not sure carrying a tank of O2 would count, and I do have to admit that this seems a really far stretch for a need of a 2 year old anyway. Unless the parents are not capable of fastening the tank to a stroller or wheelchair, I don't know why a dog is a necessity or how the dog could keep up with a mobile 2 year old, of course this is assuming that the child is fully mobile and just requiring O2. I'm not here to judge someone else though- just wondering.

We use Musher's Secret winter and summer. It does help a lot. (our dog was also not impressed with shoes).

Legally, people were always able to be asked what task related to their disability their service dog had been individually trained to do. To qualify, the task has to be something the dog was trained to do, not just something dogs can do without training.

 

[gilesmt]

I also have a service dog, guide dog at the moment and my first dog who I still have is now retired but was a service dog for my seizure.

First let me state, that I to would find it very hard to believe this dog is a service dog. Originally it stated that the service dog had to do 3 tasks for the individual. I am not an expert but having a dog carrying a oxygen tank does not seem that s/he would have enough training to handle all the distractions you will come across in WDW.

I have had both my dogs go to Disney. My both did okay, but training was a key key issue. My first service dog was a challenge, needed a lot of breaks and a lot of rest and quiet time, so I will say he spent a lot of time at the kennel and we choose not to bring him next time.

My guide dog went, I have been legally blind since 4 but because of seizures that needed have under control before I could benefit from a guide dog. Anyway, he was trained at a school, bred just to be a guide dog, with a school with over 60 years of experience just raising dogs to be guide dogs. Even he was a little distracted.

The ground is hot. They are walking and standing more than 5 miles a day. They are doing it more than a few days. You will need to carry a bowl for water, especially if the dog is carrying extra weight. You can either have wax put onto there paws or use booties. (antoher reason I question that this dog is a truly trained dog, because both of my dogs, that were trained were trained with boots on. If this dog is not a probably trained dog and just a dog you are taking and going to pretend that the dog is a service dog, you must also know what you can not do with a dog, you can not take them on escalators or moving side walks, there have been horror stories about this, where dogs lose paws, unless of course the dog is wearing booties, which you have already said the dog has not been trained to. I question who trained this dog, for that alone, dogs paws get stuck and can cause serious injury to the dog and if a dog has proper training of $20,000 for a mobility trained dog, or $40,000 for a guide dog, what trainer would not train with booties on, knowing the dog at some point would need them on. So Haunted Mansion and other rides are out.

Also, be away, you can not leave a dog unattended in Disney hotels for more than a few minutes, like to run for a soda or get laundry. Also, be aware that an untrained dog should never be put on a plane, you never know what could happen when up in the air with an untrained dog.

Also be away, that every person mostly adults will stop and ask to pet, or try to feed the dog, or stop to talk about the dog. These are all a lot of distractions for a dog, never mind a person who is walking the dog in a very crowded park.

Also, since it seems like a lot of people question the dog may not be a trained dog covered under ADA, it is not a giving that it will be allowed, Disney may ask you to remove the dog for behaviors, for barking, for not being housebroken. Under ADA they have the right, so be prepared with everything you need to put the dog in the kennel or to go home if need be.
A dog in a resteraunt who starts sniffing for food, and eating it off the floor is not housebroken and can be asked to remove the pet from the resteraunt or the park.

I was at the park one day when this happened. A service dog, with vest and everything was barking, he grabbed an ice cream cone from a little boy who was in a stroller, when the mother yelled and jumped the dog growled, and there was other signs I guess, the dog was asked to leave. The dogs owner was saying that it was a service dog and was allowed. But by law disney had the right to remove the dog. How I know to question the owners truthfulness about the dog. She offered his papers, which by ADA law has any barring, Disney can not ask for them and most true owners of service animals would know not to offer. She offered a letter from her doctor, again ADA laws clearly state that Disney can even except, just like with a GAC card that is why it is not necessary to bring a doctors order.

I can not say for sure that this is not a trully trained service dog. But I know many pet owners who say the dog is a trained service dog, yet the dog has a history of biting. Which most owners will not let you know. I know many persons who use emotional support dogs as service dogs but these dogs have not had the training. I know sereral persons who had small lap dogs that say there dog is a service animal, when asked what there disability is they say a back problem, when ask what task the dog does, they say support them, come on a 5 pound dog supports the weight of a 160 women. I don't think so.

The school I went to have dogs for children who are blind and for autism. They tell the parents right up front although these dogs have been specifically trained for the child's disability, and help admensely they are not service dogs. These dogs by ADA rules do not fit into the same catagory as service animals, since they can not be control by the child with the disability. The parent is the handler, so these dogs are not allowed to school each day, because the parent does not go to school each day. The parent controls the dog not the child. I can not say for sure, because I am not a lawyer, but ADA I think has a part in it that states that the handler of the service animal has the disability and that the person with the disability must have control of the dog. Not saying these dogs do not give valuable service for the child, and that is why they give them to children who can benefit. Just like I am sure that a cat or dog for elderly, are very valuable, giving them a reason to get up each day and move. But that does not allow them the same rights under ADA.

People can buy service vest on line, they can buy little certificates stating the dog is a service dog. That does not make it right. and I know ADA does not want to limit it because there are disabilities that may be able to train there own dog, but I think a person who would do this would also know the limits as to where to bring the dog. I know that ADA wanted to word that only large breed dogs were service dogs, but they cut it off and did not pass this section. Allowing some with say seizure to have smaller breed dogs.

So in closing, if your dog is a true service animal, I hope he has had the training to go to a place like disney, adverse effects could turn a good service dog into a retired service dog, because of the stress they are under while there.

If not, or to all those who want to pass off a pet, please think of the stress you put the dog under, the risk you put others under and question if that risk is worth it to all involved.

 

[tink2007]

All I can say is WOW! Not judging?????? All I asked for was a few HELPFUL tips are taking a service dog to Disney and all I got was this? Thanks, but we'll just figure it I out on our own.

 

[livndisney]

All I can say is WOW! Not judging?????? All I asked for was a few HELPFUL tips are taking a service dog to Disney and all I got was this? Thanks, but we'll just figure it I out on our own.

For a service animal you got wonderful suggestions. There is no need to be rude. The poster you quoted is well versed in the ins and outs of service animals.

May I ask what task the dog is trained to do for the child?

 

[SueM in MN]

All I can say is WOW! Not judging?????? All I asked for was a few HELPFUL tips are taking a service dog to Disney and all I got was this? Thanks, but we'll just figure it I out on our own.

This is from the revised ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) on Service Animals, which takes effect in March 2012. Most of the this has been in effect for many years, but was clarified in the revision:
Service Animals

The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State and local government services) and title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) on September 15, 2010, in the Federal Register. These requirements, or rules, clarify and refine issues that have arisen over the past 20 years and contain new, and updated, requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards).
Overview

This publication provides guidance on the term “service animal” and the service animal provisions in the Department’s new regulations.

Beginning on March 15, 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA.
A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Generally, title II and title III entities must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go.
How “Service Animal” Is Defined

Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of “assistance animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “service animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act.

Some State and local laws also define service animal more broadly than the ADA does. Information about such laws can be obtained from the State attorney general’s office.

Where Service Animals Are Allowed

Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.

Service Animals Must Be Under Control

Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.

Inquiries, Exclusions, Charges, and Other Specific Rules Related to Service Animals

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (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. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example, in a school classroom or at a homeless shelter, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility.
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or (2) the dog is not housebroken. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff must offer the person with the disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence.
Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.
People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be isolated from other patrons, treated less favorably than other patrons, or charged fees that are not charged to other patrons without animals. In addition, if a business requires a deposit or fee to be paid by patrons with pets, it must waive the charge for service animals.
If a business such as a hotel normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may also be charged for damage caused by himself or his service animal.
Staff are not required to provide care or food for a service animal.


And, here is where it is found:
http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

 

[LockShockBarrel]

No one here is being rude. You're being given information you asked for. Most of us are giving you the tip that taking this dog to Disney is a poor idea. Everyone who has replied to you uses a dog or has an immediate family member that uses a dog. We're not given you second or third party information, we are telling you what we think based on our experience.

I think you could go to a lawyer and they would tell you that this dog would barely scrape by as a service animal if it did at all. We've tried to ask you if this dog provides any other service to the child and you haven't answered. Based on what information you've given us, we've answered the best we can. Flame away, but I can teach any dog to carry an O2 tank, but that doesn't make it a service dog.

 

[dclfun]

Actually you got great suggestions, however if you read carefully you'll note that the child's dog does NOT qualify as a service dog for purposes of public access unless it does more than carry an oxygen tank. That is not a trained task, it's just the dog being used as transport. Please read the information above that Sue posted. No one judged you either (in my case as I know you don't know the law) but you do need to know there are many things to consider when bringing a SD into the theme parks mainly for it's safety and comfort- and you were given advice there too. Meanwhile I have a fairly large labrador retriever and I would never, ever, ask her to carry something as heavy as an oxygen tank through WDW. Think about the dog and how it might suffer, and whether it is a necessity to have a living creature hauling something that might be best left attached to the little one's stroller or wheelchair.

 

[gilesmt]

I am sorry to offend you. My post was not just meant for you but for all those who intend to bring an untrained, non service dog to disney. But in my post I told you many things you needed to know, like carry a water dish, I also have to carry treats and food, are you going to make the dog carry these and say they are tasks also. I also warned you about escalators and moving sidewalks and not to put your dogs on them and gave you one example, haunted mansion. I also told you to be prepared to pay for the kennels and have enough money for that option because the dog will need rest and a stress free environment, if you can call a kennel stress free, because both of my dogs did need there time in the kennels and Disney does not give them for free just because they are service dogs. I also told you to make sure the dog is housebroken and what that means, not stealing food from a child in a stroller holding out an ice cream cone at a dogs face level will happen, make sure your dog is trained not to take the ice cream cone, because he can be asked to leave and it does happen. I told you this because housebroken to most people would mean not to climb on furniture but to a service animal well trained it means a lot more. I told you the dog will have lots of distractions, do you want me to list more, the birds in the park will be chirping, the rides will be Sauk king and roaring, the teens will be yelling with joy, the little ones will be having meltdowns because they are tired, people will be pushing in parades, the people will be stepping on the dog paws, the streets will have food on it, it is amazing how you will never notice food on the ground at Disney yourself, because they clean it up so fast, put a dog on a leash and I guarantee that your dog will find more food than even the staff do in a day, it you have a service animal it is a distraction they will ignore until they are tired and hungry or thirsty, every Chinese person with a camera is going to ask you to stop for a picture. Every dog lover in USA who left a dog at home to go on vacation is going to ask you questions and tell you at least 5 things about the dog they left at home. I would tell you were the designated areas are, but since I am legally blind and until recently could never find them myself and they were never on a map, I did not, but they will give you a map. I told you your dog would tire easy since it will be walking miles each day.

I'm not sure what you wanted me to say. I am more concerned if this dog qualifies and consensus is no, and that if it does not, you and the other people who want to bring a dog to disney that has not been trained think about the dog. I could tell you that at the school that trained my dog, will not allow you to take your dog to Disney or on any vacation for at least six months or more because usually the dog and you need that bond for a good year before you try something like Disney.

Sue gave you the ADA laws, go and check them out, because there is a lot writing in the considerations of the laws that they considered before they wrote them again to take effect this year.it is very interested reading.

In the end you are not going to listen to me or anyone, so I did my best to inform you what to expect, rather than you to get there and go on and escalator and rip the dogs paw up, or have yor vacation ruined when Disney tells you no to the dog and you can not put him in the kennel because you have not brought his vaccinations. I tried to inform you what to expect, with food and people and distractions, as well as what to expect or what rules Disney may have. I tried being very nice and without saying out right that this dog is not a service animal under ADA, to give you the information you would need when you take an untrained dog into the park.

They have portable oxygen tanks, that are small and very easy to handle in places like Disney, it would be a much better investment in money to these parents to ask there insurance company to cover the small portable tank for a few days, than the hospital or vet bills that they may be facing, and I now being judgmental yes.

I am writing to all those and we all know you are out there, who say they have a service dog and bring it into Costco, home depot, Walmart or the mall, please for the dogs sake and innocent people do not attempt to bring the dog on a five day Disney vacation, it is not fair to the dog or other people.

 

[Piper]

gilesmt

Thank you. I cannot tell you how many people marvel at how well behaved Lucy is and how focused she is on me. Their words are usually, "She really watches you, doesn't she?" I just want to say, "Of course! She has been well trained and she is working right now. She takes her job seriously!"

She doesn't go with me to the store, etc. Since I don't drive, I always have someone with me in the store who can help if I have a problem. At home, there's just Lucy ( and Katy, the cat, who would be useless in an emergency!)

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Gilesmt, you have nothing to apologize for. You, and the rest of us gave the information that was asked. The OP just didn't like it. There was nothing offensive in your post.

 

[Poohbear5]

The OP may not have appreciated all the time you all took to inform her, but I found this thread interesting reading and gives me even more appreciation for service animals.

 

[Agent555]

I agree, this thread was good reading!! I work in a mall and there are a few service dogs, I always find them adorable!!! I never walk up, try petting or anything I just like to look at them!!

 

[amsafko]

I may be hijacking this thread a bit but it got me thinking. What are the requirements that service dog training sites have for those who might benefit from having one? What's the cost to get one (outside of the care for the dog)? I ask because my daughter (age 10) is being trained on a cane due to recent vision loss (and the strong potential of greater loss in the future).

Thanks!

 

[dclfun]

I may be hijacking this thread a bit but it got me thinking. What are the requirements that service dog training sites have for those who might benefit from having one? What's the cost to get one (outside of the care for the dog)? I ask because my daughter (age 10) is being trained on a cane due to recent vision loss (and the strong potential of greater loss in the future).

Thanks!

My SD organization doesn't charge anything for the client. Each organization is different though and I'm not as familiar with the ones for the visually impaired. Some have extensive waiting lists and the costs/timeframe for training a SD for visual impairments is usually longer than those trained for other disabilities. The dog is literally the eyes and safety of the handler. I hope your dd has many years of vision ahead of her but you're wise to look into SD's now. Maybe someone who has a seeing eye dog can chime in.