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How to Bring a Service Dog to Disneyland
Trained service dogs are more than welcome to join their handlers at Disneyland. In this guide, we’ll explain Disneyland’s policies and give practical advice for bringing a service dog to Disneyland for the first time. Disneyland’s Service Dog Policies The Magic Kingdom is happy to welcome trained service dogs across most park locations! They kindly […]
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Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
Yes! Dogs can safely enjoy tomatoes, but there are a few risks to be aware of so you can feed your dog responsibly. Fully ripe tomatoes (without the stems and leaves) can actually have nutrients that are good for your pup. Tomatoes have chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant that can have anti-inflammatory effects in cells. They’re […]
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Can a Primary Care Doctor Write an ESA Letter?
Your family doctor, also called a primary care physician (PCP), can write a letter recommending an emotional support animal. We’ll explain what legally gives them that ability and explore what better options might be available for you. Why are Physicians Able to Write an ESA Letter? To turn your pet into an emotional support animal, […]
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There’s some decent stuff up there. Seems like a li’l bit of everything. Some support, some hate, some ignorance. People need educating, but more people need to leave their “pet” at home. You make it much harder for those of us that, without a service dog, barely get outside. @lesnluna, my situation is similar; combat trauma aside, I suffer from narcolepsy with cataplexy. Hank alerts me to sleep episodes and keeps me from splittin’ my melon if go down during a cataplexy episode. However, to look at me, you’d never know that I have this disability.
People need to understand that service teams do not need to be “certified”. Even if we did, people would just doctor credentials. While Hank wears his ‘handsome jacket’ in most public spaces as an easy visual for employees and patrons, doggies don’t need vest, harness, collar, tag, or any other piece of apparel designating them as a service animal. If people wanna ask, ask: 1) Is that a service dog? 2) What tasks does your dog perform for you? That’s it, 2 questions. For all of you that KNOW what is and what isn’t a service dog, keep in mind, nothing is 100%, 100% of the time. Animals can get frightened, animals can get sick, animals can pick up on the poor energy of people it comes in contact with. If a service dog barks, continually, you can be asked to leave… doesn’t mean that dog doesn’t perform specific tasks for its handler. If a service dog goes potty, you can be asked to leave… doesn’t mean that dog doesn’t perform specific tasks for its handler. Things happen… to all of us; why would anyone expect an animal, even an extremely well trained animal, to not slip on occasion?
While the problem has worsened with ESAs, it’s, really, the loophole, judgmental society that we live in. Thanks to all of you for giving us ANOTHER challenge on top of our disabilities: having to explain ourselves to complete strangers in order to gain entry… then get eyeballed and scrutinized by other staff and patrons. Which brings me to the end of my li’l rant. I don’t like to put anyone on blast, but Mr. Lahman, honestly, consider what you shared with this group of people. Hank goes EVERYWHERE with me. You talk about your “service dog” being taken away from you. Seems if he was with you, doing his job, there wouldn’t have been a problem. From what you wrote at the end, good thing you didn’t have a seizure or heart attack.
For those who are buying the fake $25 service dog certificate ID cards and registrations with dogs photo and information online, you are making it extremely difficult for People with real service dogs difficult. We are being asked for these registrations and certificates now. My service dog trainer had no such thing. We spend so much money and time( years ) making sure our dogs pass the appropriate service dog tasks for our disabilities so they can be legal and save our lives. It is not easy!! Only service dog schools for blind or def usually have a certificate.
We’re sorry to hear about your troubles. We strongly condemn anyone that is faking their need for a service dog. We have written many articles addressing the fact that service dogs do NOT require IDs or registrations, and that under the ADA staff at a venue are not permitted to ask for documentation for a service dog. All of our products are intended for service dog owners who use accessories like IDs and vests to help signal to members of the public that their dog is on duty. It is both unethical and unfair for anyone to fake their need for a service dog and use these accessories to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
Scott and Hank you know your ADA rights and what is right and what is wrong. I can really see by your writing that you are a reliable and real owner plus like me you will go ahead and tell people what disability that you have. I thank you for that as I too have a hidden disability of PTSD, severe anxiety and panic attacks and I would be out of luck without my service dog. God bless you for your service. Combat trauma is horrible and narcolepsy with cataplexy is so disabling and dangerous for yourself. I hope that you are well and safe
I absolutely agree. I run a hotel that is not pet friendly. Out of compassion for people, I didn’t previously question guests on the legitimacy of their service animals but it is a growing epidemic to get paperwork online and purchase a service animal vest. However, who protects the rights of all other guests? I have had some “service dogs” growling at other guests to find out later they purchased their vests and certificates online for their ESA. Who protects the child on vacation that has spent her fun filled week in a hospital because a severe dog allergy caused from a service dog previously rooming in what should have been a haven for all guests. I am all for protecting people’s rights, but it appears society is only protecting rights of some.
WELL SAID!!!
I agree that there is a epidemic of terrible people saying that their dog is a service animal. You can protect your guests by kicking out the growling dog unless the dog is alerting a person to something and it is not growling it would be a bark. A mother with a child with severe allergies protects her own child by carrying an EpiPen like my husband does for bee stings. I know that you can not guarantee that there is not bee in the room but you can not guarantee other guests that you have an allergy free room. Each person has to take precautions because of their allergies.
This is for Carrie. Everything about your comment is itself ignorant. You are the one that abuses something good and spoils it for all those people that genuinely need a service animal. Leave your mutt at home and if you want to go to a hotel with it pay for the pet fee. Not everybody enjoys sharing an elevator with a dog, you know. You have more sympathy for a dog than for a human being with a genuine allergy for fur. When your mutt leaves its fur all over a room and the next guest after you wakes up all puffed up and gasping for air because your 4 legged friend left a hair that somehow floated its way down to the pillow, you would rather a human being die than anybody say something about your mutt. The hotel will refund the offended guests entire room cost and probably gets a poor review because you just couldn’t leave your mutt at home. Just like smokers are subjected to specific areas only because of their habit, guests who wish to bring their dogs along on vacations need to be assigned rooms in a corner somewhere far away from everybody else.
I recently stayed at a pet friendly motel. Someone else there checked in with two “service” pit bulls, one for each adult.
They had three children and two rooms. The service card was not verified. The dogs were loose in the parking lot and one of them
attacked me. The owners loaded the children and dogs in the suv and left. They could not be located and the proof of
vaccination could not be verified by calling all the veterinarians within the two counties at there given address.
So I had to start the rabies vaccine program.
I was on the first 300 miles of a 2300 mile trip, I had to stop at hospitals along the way and wait out the triage, getting a shot is
not high on the list.
I feel pretty sure they were not real service dogs. They caused a lot of pain, aggravation, and huge delays in my trip. It was not a vacation trip
and the delays caused multiple problems.
So I have a service dog can a hotel refuse me
George I am so sorry that happened to you that is horrible. Pit bulls can be service dogs and yes two people in the same family can have their own service dogs but if there were loose in a parking lot yep they were not service dogs. Rabie shots are not at all nice I have had to get them.
I work at a motel and we have had guests tell us that they have a service dog to get out of being charged a pet fee, but they allow the dog to approach guests and employees, they only have a leash, no collar, on the dog, they let the dog run out of the room and down the hallway with no human in sight; or they will say they have a service dog, then, on camera, they are bringing in two or three dogs who are jumping all over and pulling on the leashs. I do ask to see the certificate to verify they do have a service dog. I do not ask guests who are in wheelchairs for a certificate. Guests who do have a service dog will offer their certificate without complaint, while other guests will tell me they left it at home or lost it. I also thought all service dogs are to wear a vest with service dog on it