Service Dogs

[PolDisneyfam]

It was a large poodle or poodle mix and we didn't even know if it was real at first, it was just under the cart thing.

There were two large poodles or poodle mixes with the family we saw on Saturday. One for sure had a service vest on, but I don't think all of the dogs had the vests on. Maybe if they are just being trained, they don't wear them, and they do wear them if they are already qualified? They were very well behaved in the 15 minutes we watched them.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Pets are not permitted in the parks. if you are seeing dogs in the parks, it is because they were presented as working dogs.

A service dog is one that has been trained to perform a task to assist a person with a disability. Under ADA a service dog must be given access. Service dogs are not pets.

Service dog vests don't mean anything. Anybody can buy a vest online, slap it on their pet and say it's a service dog. There is no official service dog qualification or registry. All that matters is that the dog has been trained to perform a task for a disabled person. Doesn't matter who trained it, or where.The business can legally ask only: do you have a disability? is this your service dog? what task has the dog been trained to perform?

They cannot ask for documentation of training, a description of the disability, a diagnosis, or to have the animal demonstrate the task. If the owner says it is trained to perform a task to assist with a disability, the dog must be given access.

There might also be "emotional support" animals. They are not covered under ADA but a business can admit them if it wants to. Because ADA doesn't apply to emotional support animals they can ask for documentation like a doctor's note. Don't know what WDW does about those, but they are not required under law to allow access to emotional support animals. However, it's possible they may have decided to do so.

The State of Florida recently passed a law making it a misdemeanor to pass an untrained pet off as a service animal. It would seem this law would only come into play if the animal misbehaves and it becomes apparent it has not been trained.

Never heard of one family training six service dogs at once but there aren't any restrictions of that type in the law anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

There were two large poodles or poodle mixes with the family we saw on Saturday. One for sure had a service vest on, but I don't think all of the dogs had the vests on. Maybe if they are just being trained, they don't wear them, and they do wear them if they are already qualified? They were very well behaved in the 15 minutes we watched them.

Service dogs don't have to wear them at all.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We saw an older woman with a chihuahua service dog on her lap in a wheelchair over at blizzard Beach couple of weeks ago. They are good for detecting seizures from what I have learned since.

 

[JOE DELL]

There were two large poodles or poodle mixes with the family we saw on Saturday. One for sure had a service vest on, but I don't think all of the dogs had the vests on. Maybe if they are just being trained, they don't wear them, and they do wear them if they are already qualified? They were very well behaved in the 15 minutes we watched them.

I saw them too, they were there July 4th weekend, odd seeing a shaved up poodle as a working dog then I saw a dash hound that weekend at Hollywood and a pug last weekend at Epcot.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Breed, appearance or size of dog is irrelevant. As long as the dog is trained to perform a task to assist a disabled person, it gets access. It can be any task. I remember a service dog that was trained to carry a bottle of water and make sure that its handler drank water.

ADA applies only to two types of animal - dogs, and in certain circumstances miniature horses. It doesn't apply to any other animals. Even if someone has a service cat or a service monkey, a business isn't required to admit that animal by law.

 

[JOE DELL]

Breed, appearance or size of dog is irrelevant. As long as the dog is trained to perform a task to assist a disabled person, it gets access. It can be any task. I remember a service dog that was trained to carry a bottle of water and make sure that its handler drank water.

ADA applies only to two types of animal - dogs, and in certain circumstances miniature horses. It doesn't apply to any other animals. Even if someone has a service cat or a service monkey, a business isn't required to admit that animal by law.

Very interesting ty. Learn something every day! It's funny because you wouldn't think a poodle in show dog shape would be a service dog, be like seeing a pit with a service vest on lol.

So what would a pug or dash hound be trained to do?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Dogs can be trained to anticipate seizures and alert their handler so they can get to a safe place, to detect the presence of allergens, to alert to changes in body chemistry, to help maintain personal space, recognize when a person who has PTSD is having a panic attack, pull wheelchairs, retrieve medication, alert to sounds for deaf handlers, all kinds of tasks.

If the dog does not perform a task and its mere presence serves to help the owner to stay calm or feel better, then it is an emotional support animal, not a service animal.

 

[JOE DELL]

Dogs can be trained to anticipate seizures and alert their handler so they can get to a safe place, to detect the presence of allergens, to alert to changes in body chemistry, to help maintain personal space, recognize when a person who has PTSD is having a panic attack, pull wheelchairs, retrieve medication, alert to sounds for deaf handlers, all kinds of tasks.

If the dog does not perform a task and its mere presence serves to help the owner to stay calm or feel better, then it is an emotional support animal, not a service animal.

Awesome thank you

 

[PolDisneyfam]

Service dogs don't have to wear them at all.

Good to know. I appreciate the information from you more knowledgeable disers.

 

[WEDWDW]

The Service Dog "restrooms" started appearing onstage in 2012-before that it's my understanding there were backstage areas available.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

there is a lady in my area who works in the deli of a supermarket that had a sheltie who is her seizure dog. at beginning of summer she had her dogs hair clipped very short. had a number of people who thought she had a new dog. when she first started working there a lot of people complained about her dog but most have gotten used to it.

 

[WEDWDW]

there is a lady in my area who works in the deli of a supermarket that had a sheltie who is her seizure dog. at beginning of summer she had her dogs hair clipped very short. had a number of people who thought she had a new dog. when she first started working there a lot of people complained about her dog but most have gotten used to it.

No Health regs.?

 

[Betty Rohrer]

no ADA allows as her service dog that was a lot of the complaints. she clipped the dog in summer because of the heat

 

[WEDWDW]

no ADA allows as her service dog that was a lot of the complaints. she clipped the dog in summer because of the heat

Wow,thanks,I would have thought Health concerns would trump just about anything in a food environment.

 

[Nohal]

We were at the Magic Kingdom on Saturday, Sept. 26th and saw 6 service dogs with one family. My husband and I watched the family take care of each dog, feeding them and giving them water and were wondering why they had that many. Another guest asked them as they went past and were told that the family trains service dogs, and that's what they were doing that day. If you were there Saturday also, that would explain it.

We saw this same group last week at Epcot. If I recall most if not all were German Shepards. Since it was such a big group I figured that the dogs were in training. DS sister in law does this for the blind. I also saw a security guard with a dog at HS as I was leaving, the dog was walking along all of the trash cans and stopping for a quick sniff.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The right of a disabled person to have their service dog with them trumps nearly everything. I think the only places that can bar a service dog are hospital operating rooms and burn centers. Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow a service animal into all public areas. Nor can service be denied to a person with a service animal because someone else is allergic to dogs or afraid of dogs.

The only obligation on the service dog owner is that they must maintain control of the dog. If they can't control the dog they can be asked to remove it from the premesis, but the owner must be allowed to return without the dog. Business staff are not required to provide food or care for the service dog; that responsibility lies with the owner.

 

[wilkeliza]

The right of a disabled person to have their service dog with them trumps nearly everything. I think the only places that can bar a service dog are hospital operating rooms and burn centers. Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow a service animal into all public areas. Nor can service be denied to a person with a service animal because someone else is allergic to dogs or afraid of dogs.

The only obligation on the service dog owner is that they must maintain control of the dog. If they can't control the dog they can be asked to remove it from the premesis, but the owner must be allowed to return without the dog.

I think the PP knew that for a patron but someone reported that they work in the deli of their local grocery store with a service dog. I have to admit I don't know how I feel about a service dog in a food prep location. It isn't about how well behaved they are or anything but animals shed and if the person preparing the food has to wear a heir net to prevent hair from getting into food how do you prevent the dog's fur from getting into the food as well?

 

[kmermaid]

Just back and counted 5 dogs in one day at Epcot. One person had two dogs with them. The most distinctive one was the yellow lab helping his owner in a wheelchair - that dog was working hard maneuvering thru the huge F&W crowds and it was HOT.

 

[bumbershoot]

They are good for detecting seizures from what I have learned since.

Blood sugar changes, too.

No Health regs.?

No.

Wow,thanks,I would have thought Health concerns would trump just about anything in a food environment.

Not having the employee die or injure herself from a sudden seizure (think of the John Travolta's oldest son, who died from falling in a bathroom during a seizure in the middle of the night) is more important.

Service animals are treated as humans. Just like with humans, as long as they behave themselves, they are allowed (with VERY few exceptions) everywhere. At least in the US. Can't speak for other countries.