Parks gone to the dogs...

[pax_65]

The law also limits service animals to dogs and miniature horses.

Rats. There goes my plan. After seeing dozens of pets in the parks last month with "Service Animal" labels on them, I said I was going to bring a chicken on my next trip and label him "SERVICE CHICKEN".

 

[LAKid53]

Rats. There goes my plan. After seeing dozens of pets in the parks last month with "Service Animal" labels on them, I said I was going to bring a chicken on my next trip and label him "SERVICE CHICKEN".

If science ever really figures out how to un-extinct dinosaurs, I'm slapping a "service animal" vest and leash on a triceratops and taking it to MK. Don't think I'll have any problem getting on a ride...

 

[Rogue21]

If science ever really figures out how to un-extinct dinosaurs, I'm slapping a "service animal" vest and leash on a triceratops and taking it to MK. Don't think I'll have any problem getting on a ride...

In case you missed it . . .

 

[LAKid53]

In case you missed it . . .

I can't stop laughing, thanks for that!

 

[Rogue21]

On a recent trip, I saw several fake service dogs. One was a Pomeranian, sitting on a bench next to the woman. When she left the bench, she put him in a big satchel to carry him. Emotional support dog, maybe? The second questionable service dog was a pug mix of some sort, pulling on his leash trying to get to a dropped french fry. Maybe he was in training? I have my doubts about both of these.

I love my pup, but would never bring him to the parks. Although, I get a tad emotional when I leave him for a week . . .

 

[crawale]

What is with all of these dang dogs in the park? More specifically, the lady with the poodles. Yesterday, security actually "closed" the women's bathroom behind Imagination because she was using it. I'll be damned if I am refused a public bathroom because of someone with a dog. My wife said that people have had run-ins with her and that she's very difficult. Anyone else experienced this madness?

Last month we were at Disney and saw a so-called 'service dog' being pushed in a stroller. Also a person in a wheelchair carrying a Yorkie. I complained to Disney and they sent me the guide for service animals - seems if a person SAYS it is a service animal that is not questioned. With 4 hotels allowing dogs to sleep in the rooms, and probably in the beds, it is rapidly becoming ridiculous. If you can't be partied from your animal maybe you should stay at home. When the first dog bites a child and Disney has a huge lawsuit on their hands then maybe it will stop.

 

[ppete1975]

I will never understand people with their animals that think they have to be included with everything. Going to the store, going to eat (sorry I don't want your dog near me or my food when I'm at a restaurant), a 5k, a theme park. I actually have a good friend of mine that no longer talks to me because I wouldn't let her come over with her cat. I have never had animals in my house and id rather not have fur, and smells associated with them. I am also allergic to cats so why do you think your cat needs to be all over my house.
Maybe I'm too country, when I grew up animals were for the outside, now that's inhumane for dogs.

 

[crxbrett]

This annoys me. Just playing devil's advocate here to try to make some sort of sense to this story. Maybe she's a relative of Iger's or some other high-up executive that is untouchable so they bend/ignore the rules for her? I would think close family of an exec would get some sort of VIP tour treatment. But perhaps not. This could also explain the CM's unhappy look.

I can't imagine it's just some random lady being allowed to bring in a bunch of poodles. That's ridiculous if that is the case. And Disney should know that once people get wind that they can get away with it at their parks, others will follow suit and show up with the whole litter like 101 Dalmatians.

Last month we were at Disney and saw a so-called 'service dog' being pushed in a stroller. Also a person in a wheelchair carrying a Yorkie. I complained to Disney and they sent me the guide for service animals - seems if a person SAYS it is a service animal that is not questioned. With 4 hotels allowing dogs to sleep in the rooms, and probably in the beds, it is rapidly becoming ridiculous. If you can't be partied from your animal maybe you should stay at home. When the first dog bites a child and Disney has a huge lawsuit on their hands then maybe it will stop.

Unfortunately, that probably is what it's going to take in order for things to stop or change. Once a dog takes a bite out of someone's face or foot or leg and there is a lawsuit, Disney will make the change. Until then, we have to deal with all this nonsense. Something bad has to happen in order for changes to take place sometimes. It's much like a dangerous intersection in any given city. A city won't do squat and put in a signal or a crosswalk until someone gets killed.

 

[ppete1975]

The only dogs that should be allowed.....

 

[LAKid53]

I will never understand people with their animals that think they have to be included with everything. Going to the store, going to eat (sorry I don't want your dog near me or my food when I'm at a restaurant), a 5k, a theme park. I actually have a good friend of mine that no longer talks to me because I wouldn't let her come over with her cat. I have never had animals in my house and id rather not have fur, and smells associated with them. I am also allergic to cats so why do you think your cat needs to be all over my house.
Maybe I'm too country, when I grew up animals were for the outside, now that's inhumane for dogs.

Oh no, I agree with you. I've owned several dogs and now a cat. I'd never think of bringing my pet to someone else's home, that's not fair to either the homeowner or the pet Not all animals react well in unfamiliar surroundings. And I'm surprised at the number of people who are allergic to cats. That person really wasn't your friend if she wanted to bring her cat to your home, especially if she knew you were allergic.

I love my cat. But she belongs at home or boarded at the vet's when I'm out of town. Not Disney, not my grocery store, not a restaurant and certainly not someone else's home My god, it's a struggle just to get her into her carrier to take her to the vet's....

 

[ppete1975]

Oh no, I agree with you. I've owned several dogs and now a cat. I'd never think of bringing my pet to someone else's home, that's not fair to either the homeowner or the pet Not all animals react well in unfamiliar surroundings. And I'm surprised at the number of people who are allergic to cats. That person really wasn't your friend if she wanted to bring her cat to your home, especially if she knew you were allergic.

I love my cat. But she belongs at home or boarded at the vet's when I'm out of town. Not Disney, not my grocery store, not a restaurant and certainly not someone else's home My god, it's a struggle just to get her into her carrier to take her to the vet's....

but its their child!!!!!! they cant cope without their child!!! I bet katiebug has animals....

 

[Sans Souci]

I still want to know why this woman has security ensuring she has the restroom to herself.

 

[LAKid53]

This annoys me. Just playing devil's advocate here to try to make some sort of sense to this story. Maybe she's a relative of Iger's or some other high-up executive that is untouchable so they bend/ignore the rules for her? I would think close family of an exec would get some sort of VIP tour treatment. But perhaps not. This could also explain the CM's unhappy look.

I can't imagine it's just some random lady being allowed to bring in a bunch of poodles. That's ridiculous if that is the case. And Disney should know that once people get wind that they can get away with it at their parks, others will follow suit and show up with the whole litter like 101 Dalmatians.


Unfortunately, that probably is what it's going to take in order for things to stop or change. Once a dog takes a bite out of someone's face or foot or leg and there is a lawsuit, Disney will make the change. Until then, we have to deal with all this nonsense. Something bad has to happen in order for changes to take place sometimes. It's much like a dangerous intersection in any given city. A city won't do squat and put in a signal or a crosswalk until someone gets killed.

Disney is restricted by both what federal and state law allows them to do. To do otherwise would result in lawsuits from those with legitimate animals. Both the ADA (federal) and Florida statute are very clear. What Disney needs to do, though, is either refuse entry to people with animals who aren't complying with those regulations (dog not on a leash or some other restraint - a stroller isn't a restraint, animal is something other than a dog or small horse, animal is clearly out of control when approaching security, etc.) and remove ANY animal that is not under control of its handler, is not housebroken or is a threat to other guests and legitimate service animals.

I've included my previous post that cites the ADA and gives a link to the pertinent Florida statute, if you're interested.

Florida Legislature recently passed legislation cracking down on individuals representing their pets as service dogs. The law makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to misrepresent a pet as a service animal. The law also limits service animals to dogs and miniature horses. 18 other states have passed similar legislation.

Here's a link to the statute...

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Secti...ntType=StatRev&PublicationType=S&BillId=53081

The American with Disabilities Act requires all places open to the public, such as businesses, government agencies and entertainment venues, to give access to service dogs and their owners. And it permits them to ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to perform. It is illegal to request documentation for the dog or to ask the nature of the owner's disability. However, the law also requires service animal owners to keep their animals under control and allows service animals to be removed from a business or other public place if the animal is not under the handler’s control, is not housebroken or poses a serious threat to others.

With regards to the lady and her poodles, Disney would be within the law if after the bathroom incident, they asked her to leave the park.

 

[LAKid53]

I believe this photo is from a Disney event when they invited guests to bring their dog to the park for the day.

That's great. However, they need to warn other guest well in advance, especially those allergic so they can avoid the park the day. And immediately remove any owner whose pet is not on a leash or out of control - attempting to attack other humans/dogs. And any owner who won't clean up after their pet. I don't see dog poop bag holders on any of those leashes.

 

[JohnD]

One time, after passing through bag check at MK, I heard a bark behind me. A woman was bringing a purse dog through security and when the security CM leaned over to look in the bag, the dog barked at him. I heard him ask the lady to remove the dog so he could check the bag. She made some comment about the dog being her service animal, but she complied. The dog really started barking then and snapped at the security guy. But she got through. Under the existing law, she could - and should - have been refused entry.

A disabled woman confined to a wheelchair testified in her state what happened to her service dog when they encountered one of these fake support dogs. She and her dog were on an elevator, the dog sitting on the floor next to her. A woman with a large purse gets on. Almost as soon as the doors closed, a purse dog jumps out of the lady's bag and attacks the snout of the poor service dog, causing it to bleed. The disabled woman said her dog never moved, barked or defended itself, as that's what they are trained to do. She called it "all 4 down", i.e., all 4 paws on the ground. The woman with the fake first said her pet was a service dog. But later admitted she lied because she wanted to bring her pet with her.

Something will be done eventually. Not only are these fakes a nuisance and threat to others, but they are a real danger to those expensive and highly trained legitimate service animals and the owners who depend on them. I can't imagine what that poor woman felt watching her dog being attacked by some purse dog because some entitled woman couldn't leave her unruly pet at home.

Also, as the video indicated, those with actual service animals are forced to defend themselves for actually having a real service animal as opposed to a fake. Not saying they shouldn’t but those with fakes is making life harder for those that actually depend on them. Their lives are hard enough as it is.

 

[LAKid53]

but its their child!!!!!! they cant cope without their child!!! I bet katiebug has animals....

Those individuals need to retake Biology 101....

 

[draybook]

Yeah, my wife and I figure that they probably had to block off the restroom so that it could be cleaned and sanitized. Still, she shouldn't be bringing them there for training. They need to be trained elsewhere and THEN brought to the parks. I mean, you don't see me going to the dog's little grassy area and making a mess and inconveniencing them. Also, we saw a TON of dogs this past 8 days. It's getting out of hand. On the other hand, there's your 5th gate: Doggy World.

 

[LAKid53]

Also, as the video indicated, those with actual service animals are forced to defend themselves for actually having a real service animal as opposed to a fake. Not saying they shouldn’t but those with fakes is making life harder for those that actually depend on them. Their lives are hard enough as it is.

I agree. And I think that's the group who will get the needed changes made. It's their very existence and the safety of their animals at risk by the stupid people who either can't leave their pet at home or won't pay for a properly trained animal. I think of that poor woman in the wheel chair trapped in the elevator with that witch and her dog. Watching her dog get attached. A dog she needs to have a reasonably functioning life as she's paralyzed and in a wheel chair. And then the witch lies about the dog.

 

[LAKid53]

Yeah, my wife and I figure that they probably had to block off the restroom so that it could be cleaned and sanitized. Still, she shouldn't be bringing them there for training. They need to be trained elsewhere and THEN brought to the parks. I mean, you don't see me going to the dog's little grassy area and making a mess and inconveniencing them. Also, we saw a TON of dogs this past 8 days. It's getting out of hand. On the other hand, there's your 5th gate: Doggy World.

I've seen trainers with legitimate service dogs in WDW, training the animals. But that's probably the final stages of training. From what I've read, it takes up to two years to train a dog to become a service animal. And Disney is a great location to introduce the animal to crowded, noisy places. Both the trainer and the dog were clearly marked - she had a shirt on indicating she was a trainer and the dog had a vest indicating it was in training. She didn't interact with anyone, unless they approached her...she told them she was training the dog. All her focus was on that animal.

 

[ppete1975]

you don't notice a true service animal.. I mean you might think what a cute dog but that's it... they are right next to their owner, quiet and really well mannered. They don't pull at leashes or get around other people or wander around and you will NEVER hear them. At my work there are two service dogs and you see them walk next to their owner, outside of that they lay down right by them.. you don't even know they are there, ive never heard a yip or a bark. The dogs I see people with are just dogs (or other animals) there is a huge difference. I think eventually there should be a license or a vest that you have to show to prove its a service animal and it will be a federal crime to misrepresent your dog with a vest that isn't up to date or a true service animal, and it will be a lot of work to get that vest and hopefully very legislated. There is only a small portion of our society that should have a service animal (personally I think its smaller than most) and needs to be more legislated. IF not everyone has their dog or peacock and thinks they are allowed to go anywhere... eventually its a safety and health issue. I really don't want your animal near my food or food products.