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Service Dogs are effectively personal private wait-staff......they are not needed in restaurants where there is a wait-staff that is attentive to the needs of the diner. If you should drop your cell-phone or fork or napkin, the wait-staff will gladly retrieve it for you, or a busser will, or perhaps another patron.
Right?
The dog can be left in the car, outside, or in the manager's office.
Mircea
No, it is NOT reasonable to leave a highly trained VERY expensive Service Dog either outside or in an office. These SDs are extensions of ourselves and it is on par with a restaurant or store insisting that we leave our wheelchairs, crutches, canes, oxygen tanks, etc outside or in an office.
It is far too easy for an SD to be ruined by someone to leave them out of our supervision.
Oh, and you are absolutely incorrect about it being legal for someplace to insist that an SD be removed for any other reason than misbehavior.
If dander allergies are potentially life threatening, desensitization is essential. I don't want to derail this thread further, but if all service animals are banned from confined spaces, how do you ensure the person next to you does not have dander on their clothing? And are you suggesting dogs for the visually impaired be banned to?
Just so you know, not everyone can or should be desensitized. You are not a doctor and I think I'll stick with the advice her various specialists, some who are considered top in their field, have given us, especially since they all agree. But....
No, I don't think all service dogs should be banned. If someone really and truly needs one to function, such as a seeing eye dog or the lady who needs one to be able to walk upright without falling, then I can swallow the inconvenience and accept that my daughter's needs have been judged inferior to theirs. We have, and will continue to, work around it the best we can and try to give her as normal of a life as possible. When the number of service dogs was limited and restricted to only those who truly needed them, as used to be the norm, then her chances of encountering a dog in an enclosed public place was not likely. The problem is that in the last 3 or so years, the number of "service" dogs have become incredible. I am willing to bet that most of them aren't really service dogs, but "emotional support" dogs, at least based on what I have seen - especially in hotels.
What I want? Better regulation and licensing. They do it for handicapped parking spaces, how is this different? I want the person to provide an established government agency with proof that they need a service animal and proof that their service animal is actually trained to do what they claim. I see no reason why this can't be done at the same place as where driver's licenses are done. Then the person with a service dog can be issued a free license, with their and the service dog's picture on it, that can be shown when questions arise. Surely that is less intrusive than telling what the dog is trained to do, which can indicate what the person's disability is.
There is no valid reason for this to not happen and it is not too much to ask.
Oldhag1~
I understand your concerns but the laws are there to make it easier for those of us who are disabled not to place more restrictions upon us.
Not everyone drives and in some places the DMV is inaccessible for many (there are handivans but it could take well over 4-5 hours waiting about for a ride to and from home).
Also, there are just SO MANY forms that we need to have filled out (all at differing times), even if the Doctor would be willing to fill out the form without an appointment many, if not most will charge a fee.
Oldhag1~
I understand your concerns but the laws are there to make it easier for those of us who are disabled not to place more restrictions upon us.
Not everyone drives and in some places the DMV is inaccessible for many (there are handivans but it could take well over 4-5 hours waiting about for a ride to and from home).
Also, there are just SO MANY forms that we need to have filled out (all at differing times), even if the Doctor would be willing to fill out the form without an appointment many, if not most will charge a fee.
I do understand, but unfortunately the laws that make it easier for you, also make it far too easy for people to cheat and lie. Having long valid periods, of say five to seven years, would mean it is not unreasonable nor is it too much to ask. It should be free. Really, it is no more of an imposition than having to get your dog's annual shots or for you to go to regular doctor appointments or get any other forms filled out. I am not trying to stop your well-trained service dog but the yappy yorkie, shivering in its little sweater, whose owner indignantly claims it to be a service dog.
Over the next couple of years something along these lines is going to happen. It is going to have to because there are people who will decide they are just as entitled to get your "advantage" or "perk" for themselves and people other than just me are going to start fighting back. The same thing happened with handicapped parking, which used to be on the honor system, and special pass that allowed line-avoiding accommodations at amusement parks. What you need to hope for is that they regulate it, like the parking, as opposed to just doing away with it, like the amusement park special pass.
No, it is NOT reasonable to leave a highly trained VERY expensive Service Dog either outside or in an office.
Yes, it is. Did I mention courts operate on the doctrine of the most rational person, rather than the most irrational person?
Quote:
Originally Posted by melaniej65
These SDs are extensions of ourselves....
I'm sure they are....and I'm sure they're worn just like a badge and thrown in people's faces and rammed down their throats at every opportunity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by passwithoutatrace
So what happens if the person with the service dog needs to use the toilet.
I don't know. Wanna tea leaves or chicken entrails?
So, Service Dogs wipe people's butts?
How's that happen?
You know, does the dog grip the toilet paper between their claws, or do they use both paws?
Do the Service Dogs wash their paws after their owner uses the toilet? Because that would seem to be very unsanitary.
Quote:
Originally Posted by melaniej65
Also, there are just SO MANY forms that we need to have filled out (all at differing times), even if the Doctor would be willing to fill out the form without an appointment many, if not most will charge a fee.
So, it disturbs you watching a dog lick his balls, while you have an appetizer??
Best post on the thread ! I stopped reading right there...lol.
I love dogs. I don't have one but my grandchildren have dogs that I love and that love me.....but, I don't think anything but a true "service dog" should be allowed in eating establishments. Children are human, dogs are not, and it is not an either or situation.
Can I say I prefer not having a dog in the restarant that I am eating in except as stated above without being accused of being an old meany ? Geez, some people are really rude. They seem to feel entitled to say anything about another person, just like they feel their dogs should be entitled to go anywhere the owners wish.
Just so you know, not everyone can or should be desensitized. You are not a doctor and I think I'll stick with the advice her various specialists, some who are considered top in their field, have given us, especially since they all agree. But....
No, I don't think all service dogs should be banned. If someone really and truly needs one to function, such as a seeing eye dog or the lady who needs one to be able to walk upright without falling, then I can swallow the inconvenience and accept that my daughter's needs have been judged inferior to theirs. We have, and will continue to, work around it the best we can and try to give her as normal of a life as possible. When the number of service dogs was limited and restricted to only those who truly needed them, as used to be the norm, then her chances of encountering a dog in an enclosed public place was not likely. The problem is that in the last 3 or so years, the number of "service" dogs have become incredible. I am willing to bet that most of them aren't really service dogs, but "emotional support" dogs, at least based on what I have seen - especially in hotels.
What I want? Better regulation and licensing. They do it for handicapped parking spaces, how is this different? I want the person to provide an established government agency with proof that they need a service animal and proof that their service animal is actually trained to do what they claim. I see no reason why this can't be done at the same place as where driver's licenses are done. Then the person with a service dog can be issued a free license, with their and the service dog's picture on it, that can be shown when questions arise. Surely that is less intrusive than telling what the dog is trained to do, which can indicate what the person's disability is.
There is no valid reason for this to not happen and it is not too much to ask.
And while we're at it, why don't we just get passports for dogs too.....make all the cats jealous.
In fact why don't we just make everyone get a permit or I.D. to do anything that you disapprove of...you can be the I.D. police.
..but, I don't think anything but a true "service dog" should be allowed in eating establishments.
And in theaters, museums, waiting rooms, grocery stores, and airplane seats. I'll loudly advocate all day and all night for trained, certified, well-behaved, service and therapy dogs.
They're not the problem.
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So what happens if the person with the service dog needs to use the toilet.
