Pet dogs in Disneyland??!!

[Silly Little Pixie]

We went to DL on Monday, and noticed some very cute Daschound dogs that the owners were taking through security, no doubt to the Kennel. My kids were fascinated with why someone would travel to DLR with their dogs. I reminded them that at WDW we saw a CM walking some of the dogs that were in the Kennel. Anyway, they were very cute.

But outside HMH, we saw a guest on an ECV who had a real live Shi Tzu dog on his lap!!!!! I have never in my life seen any dog except service dogs inside DL. I just think this is wrong. Dogs are not purses or accessories. Yes, I know that a small dog can be called a "companion animal" and that some people have used that in conjunction with whatever disability they may have to get their little dogs to go everywhere with them. I don't have anything against dogs (I have 3 and I love them!!), but I don't wish to see them in public places like Disneyland. It's dangerous. The little dog could get frightened, and bite some unsuspecting child who reaches for it.

I think it's a bad precedent for Disneyland to allow "companion dogs" into the park. Has anyone else ever seen a "companion dog" in the parks?

 

[bumbershoot]

Many others have seen them. It could very well have been a service dog; service dogs are NOT required to wear a vest, NOT required to have special obedience training, and there's no real ID for a service dog. Yes we're used to seeing the vests and whatnot, but there is no legal requirement for it.

Although I had the joy of living above a woman who *absolutely was* getting away with total fraud by calling her two otherwise-against-the-rules-of-the-complex dogs service dogs (problem was she never TOOK them with her anywhere, and she used to work in apt rental management and knew what could and could not be asked), the reason she used was absolutely something that dogs can and do do: there are dogs who detect an epileptic seizure well before they happen, which allows them to alert the owner so that they can get to a safe place. So the dog could very well have been one of those extremely helpful dogs.

And that's almost all I have to say on this. The ADA does not require anything, and there are very few questions authorities can ask. I think this is good, even though I ultimately had to leave the apartment complex b/c I was tired of living in fear of those awful dogs (routinely let out without leashes by the boyfriend-du-jour who had no authority over the dogs, the female pinned hubby in his car two times until the boyfriend coaxed her back into the apartment, and protective of the whole building, not wanting anyone but their owners up the stairs (we lived on the 3rd floor and they lived below)). I do not want ONE person who NEEDS their service dog to have any more questions than currently legally allowed, I don't want anyone to have to go through any further difficulties, just b/c there are some people who scam.

So regardless of what we think might be going on, it doesn't matter, because the ADA protects people who need such animals, and IMO it doesn't serve anyone to wonder, in our heads or online, if those dogs are really service animals (lol, unless you live above someone for 2 years I guess).

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I surely didn't mean it to sound like I don't think the gentleman I saw was genuinely disabled, and needed a companion animal. If it came off that way, I apologize. I just mean that it seems dangerous, especially since the dog didn't have any sort of identifying vest, collar, etc. that made it look as if it were a service animal. To anyone standing nearby, it looked like any other pet dog, sitting on their owner's lap. It was terribly crowded in the area, and I could imagine a child reaching for a cute little dog, and it being frightened in the crowds and noise, and biting. ANY dog can bite.

I know that your typical "service dog" through groups such as Guide Dogs of the Desert, or Canine Companions for Independence, go through extensive training so that they can handle such crowded places. Certainly this dog *may* have received that kind of training, but it wasn't identified in any way as a working dog. It worried me, because my DD's first reaction was to reach for it, especially as it was right at kid-eye-level.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I dont wish to see dogs in disneyland unless they are a service dog. And IMO I think they absolutely need special training and some kind of special ID so that those dogs who do not belong there wont be in the parks. If a dog bites my child I would hate to be that dog.

 

[Disney Dreams]

A dog would only be permitted in Disney Parks if it were a service dog of some sort or another. They do need to get clearance before entering the park. I don't know what is involved in that. I saw a small lap dog with a lady in a wheelchair last week one day. I asked her how she was able to have her dog at Disneyland. She told me that he is a service dog that assists with her condition. Clearly, she had to go through some "permission process" to bring him in the park.

- Dreams

 

[audrabolster]

I was at a convention in San Diego and saw a woman with a chihuaha. I was a little shocked that she was allowed her dog. I overhead someone ask her about the dog, and she said that the dog recognized when she was having a seizure and pushed a panic button on her wheelchair for her to alert authorities? It's been a while but I think that is what she said. Service dogs are not always big labs or golden retrievers I guess.

 

[spacemermaid]

I was at a convention in San Diego and saw a woman with a chihuaha. I was a little shocked that she was allowed her dog. I overhead someone ask her about the dog, and she said that the dog recognized when she was having a seizure and pushed a panic button on her wheelchair for her to alert authorities? It's been a while but I think that is what she said. Service dogs are not always big labs or golden retrievers I guess.

This is pretty much exactly what I was going to say- not all service/companion dogs are of the larger breeds. Sometimes what may look like a "lap dog" to onlookers is a life-saving helper, who can tell when their "mom" or "dad" is about to have a seizure.

 

[DLSuperVet]

Most of the service dogs for people who have seizures or narcolepsy or whatever tend to be smaller breeds like terriers or chihuahuas. If they didn't have on the special vest they're not service dogs. Disneyland requires it.

If I remember correctly Disneyland's dog kennels are inside the security checkpoints so it's that could also be why you saw them going through security.

 

[roxydotty]

Sadly, I think sometimes it is abused. I know two people who got their dogs (poodle and terrier) licensed to be service animals because the dogs help them "feel comfortable". There's more to the story of course, but both of these people used certain language to show their doctors that they "needed" this license. They takes their dogs in restaurants, on their laps on planes, etc.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...she said that the dog recognized when she was having a seizure and pushed a panic button on her wheelchair for her to alert authorities? ...

Yes, there are many of these dogs helping people. And I think it's just amazing that dogs have that ability! How incredible to be able to save a life by recognizing such changes in their human companions' system! Amazing animals!

 

[Bsbllmom]

We are in the process of training our dog to detect low blood sugars in our youngest son, he is Asymptomatic. So far so good. But he actually has to take a test to make sure he is good with crowds, not agressive and has basic obedience training before he is a certified service dog. He is a cocker/dachsund mix.

 

[pixiewings71]

While I adore my doggies I will not take them on vacation with me. Why? Because it's very stressful for them and for us to have to help them relax. Our older dog has separation anxiety, for him to be crated all day is not cool. He digs and cries and whines and tries various ways to get out, all of which end up hurting him if he is confined to the crate. When we are gone during the day for work/school he's fine at home because 1, he's at home, 2, he's got a huge dog run, 3, he's got his buddy our other dog Autumn. He's 4 and he's a shep. mix. Best dog, smart and sweet but his anxiety issues can really stress him out. Our little doggie is a doxie, she also has slight anxiety but mostly she just plays off of Blue (older dog). lol I would much rather take them to the kennel, where they can board together in a dog run (not as big as theirs at home but not a crate either), get play time with other dogs being boarded and have some one on one time with the trainers. I love our kennel!!!!! and so do the dogs, they get soooooooo excited when we take them there! So I would much rather just leave them with Tina and Erica and not worry about them all day at the DL "kennel". As for taking dogs into the parks, I have seen a few. One was in a baby stroller being pushed around, hard to believe that was a service animal. I do not begrudge anyone a service dog but please do NOT take your "purse pup" into DL because you think the rules don't apply to you. I do think that they need to have ID of some kind.....the service dogs that is. And yes, I do know that any breed can be a service dog, I just think they need to be identified.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I do think that they need to have ID of some kind.....the service dogs that is. And yes, I do know that any breed can be a service dog, I just think they need to be identified.

I agree. And I dont recall anyone stating that service dogs must be large...perhaps I missed that. My parents neighbor has a dog to assist with hearing, alerts him when someone is at the door, phone rings etc and it is a small little furball. But I still think they must be easily identifiable by others and preferably are trained to be around people.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...Our little doggie is a doxie...

Doxies are the best! They are such "people lovers" though, that, yeah, separation anxiety is an issue for us too. He hates the kennel, but seemed to develop a "boy love" for our friends' male dog when they were kind enough to take care of him on our recent WDW trip.

Here's my little boy, peeking out from behind "his" pillows on our couch.

Did someone say, "Food!"?

 

[pixiewings71]

Awww he's too cute!! I don't have any pics at work so I'll have to try to remember to add one from home. Our girl is all red and yes, definite people lover. LOL She's actually DD8's, that's what she got last year for Christmas/birthday. She thought that rocked. LOL Autumn's anxiety isn't as bad as Blue's but yes, she has it too.

 

[GBShorts]

OP, I think I saw that same guy parked out in front of the train station back over Halloween weekend. I was confused about how there could be a dog (without a vest) inside the park!

Some are saying vests are required, some aren't. Anybody know for sure Disney's policy? I would think that it would be very easy for someone to get around this rule...

 

[Angiet]

My father in law had a seeing eye dog (sadly the dog passed away in October). We had been to Disneyland twice with the dog and he doesn't wear a vest. He did, however have the harness. My FIL always had his papers ready to show proof that he was a service animal. Nobody questioned us at Disneyland about the dog. California Adventer, on the other hand requested seeing the papers. Not all service dogs require vests. (here in Canada anyways)