Registered emotional support dog allowed?

[aaarcher86]

In all the times I have been to WDW, I can only remember ever seeing two dogs. Dogs are hardly overrunning the parks. I would think that a person's chances of being bitten by a dog at WDW are miniscule. In fact, I would hazard a guess that a person's chances of being bitten by a child are greater. Why all the hyperbole?

I don't see any hyperbole. Some jokes and opinions. No one seems very upset about it.

I'd like to think it'd be more likely to be bitten by a dog though...

 

[bedogged]

Well, now-

Point taken.....and enjoyed!

 

[bookgirl]

In all the times I have been to WDW, I can only remember ever seeing two dogs. Dogs are hardly overrunning the parks. I would think that a person's chances of being bitten by a dog at WDW are miniscule. In fact, I would hazard a guess that a person's chances of being bitten by a child are greater. Why all the hyperbole?

It's all about the training. A trained service dog is one thing someone's pet that has no training and is allowed to roam into other people's space is a problem so I understand people's problems with it.

I'd seen a few dogs before (mostly actual vested dogs) but last October I saw at least one dog every day and sometimes more. Most being carried is a sling like when you wear your kids or in a backpack. I only saw one on a leash and honestly you could tell it had no training what so ever. The owner spent the entire time telling it to be quiet, to sit, to come back, to quit....honestly yappy dog is about ten times worse then screaming kid every time.

I don't have a problem with a controlled dog, but untrained and uncontrolled, I think that's a problem however I don't know that I've ever actually heard of a dog biting someone, or a kid biting someone for that matter. LOL

 

[bedogged]

I don't see any hyperbole. Some jokes and opinions. No one seems very upset about it.

I'd like to think it'd be more likely to be bitten by a dog though...

You don't think that there has been some exaggeration regarding the dangers of being bitten by a dog at WDW?

 

[plumsiren]

I would hope that WDW would not allow them. I have a daughter with an extreme fear of dogs who would not be able to be anywhere near a dog. She was attacked by someone's "pet" dog and I think her fear is justified. The dog that attacked her was a pet and a breed that should have been gentle. Dogs are still animals and unless they have been through extensive training, I don't think others should be forced to be exposed to them. If WDW allows these dogs I hope their lawyers are prepared for law suits if anyone is bitten.

My thoughts exactly. I had that fear as a child, and my mother had it her whole life. It would seriously affect the experience of someone with that fear to know there might be dogs hiding anywhere. The issue is not necessarily a fear of getting bitten, and I wish people would try to understand that.

 

[Sparkly]

I'm in favor of emotional support potbelly pigs being allowed in the parks.

And a money saver too. Just bring some buns in and a knife...you've got walking lunch!

 

[aaarcher86]

You don't think that there has been some exaggeration regarding the dangers of being bitten by a dog at WDW?

Not really. No one is saying it happens very often, or even frequently. Someone mentioned it had happened before and someone else was surprised Disney would open themselves up to the 'potential' lawsuit.

Not too big of a deal.

 

[MichelleVW]

It is nice that you guys find it so easy to blame the victim. Get biten by a dog and it is your fault because you are afraid of the dog. That is just twisted logic and very, very wrong. I am not a lawyer but I think the responsibility lies with the dog owner. I also think that under the deep pocket philosophy that Disney is setting themselves up for lawsuits if they allow informally trined dogs in the parks. If a dog bites of course the dog owners can be sued and I hope they are. But Disney is also responsible for allowing unsafe conditions and you can make much more money by suing them. I am surprised that Fisney would open themselves up for that risk. If the local farmers market is smart enough to not allow this risk, I can't believe Disney isn't't just as smart.

A bite is the fault of the dog owner...BUT you need to know how to act around dogs to lesson the chance of getting bit. I have some nasty dogs in my neighborhood..they run at me and my little dog teeth barred when we are out for a walk. I see them coming I yell at them loud...I don't yell in fear...I yell in an authoritative voice "YOU GO HOME NOW!!" and they always turn tail and run back to their house. I'm not going to lie and tell you it doesn't scare me...but I sure as heck don't act scared as I'm yelling at them. I'm not going to give up walking and their owners won't keep them locked up, so thankfully I know how to handle them in a safe way for everyone.

I've seen a few service dogs at Disney and a few that were questionable...but it's not like the parks are swarming with them.

 

[aaarcher86]

And a money saver too. Just bring some buns in and a knife...you've got walking lunch!

OMG! You're a terrible person

as a pig shoulder cooks in my crockpot...

 

[bedogged]

Not really. No one is saying it happens very often, or even frequently. Someone mentioned it had happened before and someone else was surprised Disney would open themselves up to the 'potential' lawsuit.

Not too big of a deal.

I'm curious, is there any documentation of a dog bite ever happening at WDW?

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm curious, is there any documentation of a dog bite ever happening at WDW?

I have no idea. I've never personally seen a dog there.

I vaguely recall this discussion coming up a looooong time ago and someone had said that a dog in a stroller had taken a snap at them, but I could never find that post now.

Someone else had said it had already happened. Maybe quote them and ask?

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I would hope that WDW would not allow them. I have a daughter with an extreme fear of dogs who would not be able to be anywhere near a dog. She was attacked by someone's "pet" dog and I think her fear is justified. The dog that attacked her was a pet and a breed that should have been gentle. Dogs are still animals and unless they have been through extensive training, I don't think others should be forced to be exposed to them. If WDW allows these dogs I hope their lawyers are prepared for law suits if anyone is bitten.

Service dogs are legally allowed to go almost anywhere so your daughter will simply need to deal with this problem. I realise that it is difficult, however she will come across probably thousands of dogs in her lifetime. On the street, in parks, service dogs anywhere.

Those types of dogs are highly trained and controlled.

Emotional support animals are not highly trained or controlled.

People who claim an emotional support animal usually do so because they can't bear to be away from little Fifi or Fido, or they mistakenly believe little Fifi or Fido don't want to be away from them for any period of time.

Emotional dogs may or may not have had any training. However it's a mistake to claim that it's usually people who simply don't want to be away from their animals. I can assure you this is not the case in genuine cases. Some people might lie but emotional support dogs can do amazing things for the people who really need them.

Emotional Support Dog = Pet

No. And ESD is NOT a pet. If it were, these animals wouldn't be allowed in housing where no pets are allowed. Also, in other countries, they are allowed every single right that is given to Service Animals.

Yes and no.

A pet doesn't require a doctor's prescription. ESAs do.

A pet can be banned from an apartment building (ie, "no pets" rules). ESAs cannot. Nor can an owner be charged any extra for the privilege of having an ESA.

A pet doesn't have to be allowed to fly in a plane's cabin. ESAs are allowed to accompany their owner on board, and the owners can't be charged extra.

Pets are not allowed in college and university campus housing. ESAs are.

Emotional support animals are legally protected, insofar as once you've got a doctor's blessing to own one, you can't be prevented from having one in your apartment or from travelling on an airplane with one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_support_animal

While pets can act as ESAs, referring to an ESA as just a pet is extremely dismissive of the valuable job they do.

Which should not have to be a concern for a child or an adult in a place such as WDW.

Service dogs are allowed at WDW. Someones allergy doesn't mean someone can't bring in their Service Animal. I'm highly allergic to peanuts (so much so that if someone touches peanuts, touches a door handle and then I touch the same door handle, I'll get a severe reaction) But WDW can't stop serving peanuts because of this.

 

[#1DopeyFan]

My thoughts exactly. I had that fear as a child, and my mother had it her whole life. It would seriously affect the experience of someone with that fear to know there might be dogs hiding anywhere. The issue is not necessarily a fear of getting bitten, and I wish people would try to understand that.

Very good point...so for the comfort of one, it might cause many others to be not so comfortable.

 

[bedogged]

My thoughts exactly. I had that fear as a child, and my mother had it her whole life. It would seriously affect the experience of someone with that fear to know there might be dogs hiding anywhere. The issue is not necessarily a fear of getting bitten, and I wish people would try to understand that.

I am very sympathetic to this problem, but even if Disney were to ban ESDs, it would still have to allow service dogs. A person with this problem would still have the anxiety of wondering if a dog might be hiding somewhere. I don't think that would eliminate the problem.

 

[#1DopeyFan]

Service dogs are allowed at WDW. Someones allergy doesn't mean someone can't bring in their Service Animal. I'm highly allergic to peanuts (so much so that if someone touches peanuts, touches a door handle and then I touch the same door handle, I'll get a severe reaction) But WDW can't stop serving peanuts because of this.

As I said in my next post, I was referring to ESD's, not Service Dogs.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

As I said in my next post, I was referring to ESD's, not Service Dogs.

I know. I was simply saying that even with an allergy, people will still need to deal with service dogs and dogs in general in their lives. In other countries, ESD's are Service dogs (like here in Australia) I understand it's not that way in the USA. And I don't agree that just pets should be allowed at WDW.

 

[bedogged]

I have no idea. I've never personally seen a dog there.

If you have never seen a dog and I have only seen two in all my trips and none my last trip in September, how big a problem can this really be?

 

[Magpie]

Very good point...so for the comfort of one, it might cause many others to be not so comfortable.

This is the classic conundrum - what if you've got one person with a seeing eye dog, and another person with a severe allergy to dogs. Who gets priority when it comes to restaurant seating? The allergic person isn't allowed - by law! - to request the blind person be removed from their vicinity.

You can argue that the law is on the side of the blind person, and that solves the problem.

But then what if you're pitting the needs of an army vet with PTSD and his emotional support animal against a little girl with a crippling phobia of dogs? Who is more entitled to enjoy their Disney vacation? There's no clear legal guidelines to make things easy (relatively speaking).

Ultimately, we all have to try to live with each other, and respect each other's needs, even if it makes us uncomfortable sometimes.

 

[vek239]

Last month while waiting for our kids and grandkids in Fantasyland we sat next to a woman who had a yorkie in a dog carrier. She volunteered that he helped her blood pressure.

 

[AmyB2006]

Originally Posted by aaarcher86
Nice. I'm not above football punting dogs that try to bite me/my kids!




Baxter!!!!!!!!!