Is it REALLY a service dog?

[Melissa]

I have thought about getting Lola formal training as a therapy dog(for others). Not so much a service dog(for me) because I wanted to take her to vist kids and elderly people in nursing homes and hospitals. There was a site that I had looked into that had pretty simple tasks like walk a line and stop on command. Sit on command. Be around wheel chairs and people on crutches and not react to them. Have her tail pulled ears tugged to check her aggressiveness. Everything that was asked of them had to be done without a treat/toy/praise or other reward of any kind. The only time she does it right the first time asked everytime is if there is a treat. So we have been working on her with out treats.

For the privacy and not asking thing. I think asking and refusing someone with a service animal is in violation of the Disability Discrimination Act. They have a disability, they have the animal to help cope and when someone refuses them its in violation of their rights. Facilities need to have wheel chair ramps to allow access into a building. There are services that help people who are deaf or blind to be able to work on computers and online. So why not with people who have disorders/dsabilities which are not visible.

I think it has to do with having a disorder is a medical condition(which we dont have the right to ask the person to confirm or deny). And a service animal SOMETIMES needs to be prescribed by a doctor. One of my sorority sisters had a doctors prescription for a service cat because of anxiety, panic attacks and depression.(Mickey Mouse is suppose to keep her calm. But I dont ask its not my business) The school housing denied her the access to that. Told her she was more than welcome to find housing elsewhere or get medication for her anxiety if she wanted to stay. Funny how they mentioned that because she was living in the wellness building and no one wanted to help her.

 

[Ash]

I'm pretty sure that's illegal, Mel. That'd be like denying housing to someone with a service dog who's blind or in a wheel chair. Especially since she had written note from the doctor that she needed him.

 

[Melissa]

I'm pretty sure that's illegal, Mel. That'd be like denying housing to someone with a service dog who's blind or in a wheel chair. Especially since she had written note from the doctor that she needed him.

Oh I know it is. I did a lot of research for her about it. Spoke with a law professor on campus as well.. she just doesnt want to go through the fight of it. Her dad put her up in a really nice house so there are no worries for her now.

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

I think it's really sad when people abuse a good system. I work in a hotel that IS pet friendly (some rooms) and people will show up with their dog unannounced, and when we tell them we cannot house them because the room isn't pet friendly they have tried a few times to pull the service dog card. The dog is jumping all over me barking up a storm and what not, but we have to allow them...


sucks

 

[AmandaDi]

I dont think anyone should be able to ask to verify the person's disability, thats why its against the law. But I dont see a problem with asking for proof that it is a service animal. If you bring an animal in a public place then you are pretty much telling the world you have a disability, so its not like asking for proof of the animal is invading YOUR privacy. Just some flaws in the system.

What people can't forget is that a service dog is STILL a dog. Callie will not put her head on the table at a restaurant, or beg for food... but you better bet, if someone drops something in her area, she's gonna eat it! Walking in a store if a person smells like an animal, chances are, she is gonna sniff them. Thankfully, she only sniffs those with animals and when i appologize they are always polite and says "she must smell my dogs". When I first got her, she didnt do it, and she was better at leaving dropped food on the floor, but she is a dog and has days that she acts like one... and I think as she ages she gets more hard headed. She has a couple years left before she retires, unless she tells me otherwise before that. For now, she is still eager to work and I get compliments on her behavior in public all the time! Now at home, thats another story! She still does what I want or need... but in the interim, she is ALL dog!

That brings up the working vest. Callie is a whole new dog when her vest goes on. Her demeanor changes 100%, her tail becomes tucked (they are trained like this so they dont wag their tails in stores), and she looks to me for commands. At home, when the vest is off, she romps with the other dog and does dog things! Its important for people to know that service dogs are still dogs and get treated as dogs in their free time. If a dog didn't want to work, believe me, it wouldnt!

Oh and there are websites you can buy patches from that do not require proof to buy the working dog sign and so forth.

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

I dont think anyone should be able to ask to verify the person's disability, thats why its against the law. But I dont see a problem with asking for proof that it is a service animal. If you bring an animal in a public place then you are pretty much telling the world you have a disability, so its not like asking for proof of the animal is invading YOUR privacy. Just some flaws in the system.

What people can't forget is that a service dog is STILL a dog. Callie will not put her head on the table at a restaurant, or beg for food... but you better bet, if someone drops something in her area, she's gonna eat it! Walking in a store if a person smells like an animal, chances are, she is gonna sniff them. Thankfully, she only sniffs those with animals and when i appologize they are always polite and says "she must smell my dogs". When I first got her, she didnt do it, and she was better at leaving dropped food on the floor, but she is a dog and has days that she acts like one... and I think as she ages she gets more hard headed. She has a couple years left before she retires, unless she tells me otherwise before that. For now, she is still eager to work and I get compliments on her behavior in public all the time! Now at home, thats another story! She still does what I want or need... but in the interim, she is ALL dog!

That brings up the working vest. Callie is a whole new dog when her vest goes on. Her demeanor changes 100%, her tail becomes tucked (they are trained like this so they dont wag their tails in stores), and she looks to me for commands. At home, when the vest is off, she romps with the other dog and does dog things! Its important for people to know that service dogs are still dogs and get treated as dogs in their free time. If a dog didn't want to work, believe me, it wouldnt!

Oh and there are websites you can buy patches from that do not require proof to buy the working dog sign and so forth.

I think it's interesting how she changes with the vest. Service animals are so cool. But I agree, I think that if the situation calls for it, people should be able to ask for verification that it is a service dog.


Maybe someone can answer me this, our hotel has been having a few request from people with SD looking to make a reservation. We are a pet friendly hotel which is why we get more calls, but they get angry when we mention a pet fee. SD or not, it is a dog in a room which will need extra cleaning. Are we allowed to charge a fee or not? My boss thought it was at the will of the hotel, but I'm not sure...any insight?

 

[AmandaDi]

I have always been told that they cannot charge a fee for a service dog. The room has to be cleaned regardless. While we dont pay a fee, we are responsible for any damages. I will see if I can find documentation on this.

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

I have always been told that they cannot charge a fee for a service dog. The room has to be cleaned regardless. While we dont pay a fee, we are responsible for any damages. I will see if I can find documentation on this.

Thanks! I didn't think we could but my boss saw it as "stay at a pet friendly hotel and get the pet fee". She is a black and white kinda woman :no:


I would really appreciate it if you did have any info though :thumbsup:

 

[AmandaDi]

I emailed my SD agency to see if she could get me anything on it. I'll let you know when I hear back.

 

[Ash]

According to http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm which Spoof posted last night, you can't charge more for a SD.

7. Q: Can I charge a maintenance or cleaning fee for customers who bring service animals into my business?

A: No. Neither a deposit nor a surcharge may be imposed on an individual with a disability as a condition to allowing a service animal to accompany the individual with a disability, even if deposits are routinely required for pets. However, a public accommodation may charge its customers with disabilities if a service animal causes damage so long as it is the regular practice of the entity to charge non-disabled customers for the same types of damages. For example, a hotel can charge a guest with a disability for the cost of repairing or cleaning furniture damaged by a service animal if it is the hotel's policy to charge when non-disabled guests cause such damage.

So if you don't normally charge extra fees to a non-disabled person without a pet, you can't charge extra fees to a person with a SD.

 

[mapache315]

My concern with all of this is how the service dog in question is going to impact other people. I have a feeling that a lot of kids that may get snapped at by t his dog, may grow up to think that the reason why they shouldn't touch service dogs is because they are "mean" and might bite them.

I think it is nothing less than irresponsible to bring a dog you know isn't well socialized into McDonalds of all places. If it helps your child, fine, but at least take it to some obedience classes to help it become more used to other children and different sounds etc. This is a child's dog, after all. Also, I think that if it is indeed the child's service dog, shouldn't the child be the one disciplining it?


As for dogs helping children with ADHD, I believe it's true. My cousin has ADHD (we were all skeptical for a while...then I babysat her for two weeks- she definitely has it, although I do believe it is misdiagnosed in a LOT of children) and just got a dog. The dog helps her because it has needs and needs a definitive schedule. Pumba gets taken out at certain times, is fed on a schedule, is walked and exercised (which also helps with Rachel's energy).

Now, do I think that Pumba is on the same level as the Fidelco dogs which are trained down the street? No. I think that dogs for ADHD are more along the lines of therapy dogs. It doesn't make them any less important, especially to the handler, but I don't think that they should be going into places such as McDonalds since there is no purpose for it. The dog does not help the child be mobile, the dog does not alert others and sense when something is wrong with the handler (i.e. the onset of a seizure), and does not need to be with the child almost 24/7 to serve its use.


I think that all therapy and service dogs should be at least CGC (Canine Good Citizens), which is a test to test basic obedience, how the dog acts when handled (such as at the vet's), and how the dog reacts to friendly strangers. That is usually the first step into getting your dog to be a therapy dog, as most of the classes I've looked at have that as a prerequisite.

 

[AmandaDi]

According to http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm which Spoof posted last night, you can't charge more for a SD.





So if you don't normally charge extra fees to a non-disabled person without a pet, you can't charge extra fees to a person with a SD.

You are right, you can't charge extra. But what oxchincerelyxo wanted to know was if you could charge at all. Most hotels charge $30-50 for anyone who brings a pet to a pet friendly hotel. But they can't charge this fee for a service dog.

I did get a reply from my agency confirming that you cannot charge a pet fee for a sd... they sent a request to the director of education to find where it states this in print.

 

[Rickman]

Again, with that particular dog, what if a child was running by with french fries or part of a burger hanging out of his/her mouth? A confused and untrained dog might go for it!
As a previous resturant manager, when made aware of a dog in the establishment, I'd have asked for some form of paperwork on the dog, vest or not, and even with that, the dog would have a one strike chance with me - snap and you're out! A lawsuit for letting the dog in, and causing a injury, especially to a child, would be a lot more than throwing a snappy dog out, in my opinion! Kind of a loose - loose situation for the establishment!

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

You are right, you can't charge extra. But what oxchincerelyxo wanted to know was if you could charge at all. Most hotels charge $30-50 for anyone who brings a pet to a pet friendly hotel. But they can't charge this fee for a service dog.

I did get a reply from my agency confirming that you cannot charge a pet fee for a sd... they sent a request to the director of education to find where it states this in print.

Thanks! I'll be sure to pass this along to my boss :thumbsup:

 

[Rickman]

I just read the website Amanda posted, [should have before] and found even they agree, any act of visciousness, and the animal is out, but the person can stay!
The O.P. should make a copy of this, and drop it in the hands of the McDonalds General Manager, with an explaination of what happened, before this person comes back with that dog! Might even get free McD's for life!!
An ounce of prevention - - - -

 

[AmandaDi]

Thanks! I'll be sure to pass this along to my boss :thumbsup:

I'll be sure to post if I get anything with it in writing. Now personally, if my dog had an accident which called for shampooing the rug instead of just a vaccum, I would likely offer to pay part of the fee. Otherwise, they are going to vaccum and change the sheets whether or not my dog was there, so I dont see a reason for me to pay a fee! I know some places have to pay a refundable pet damage fee... $50 for possible damage, if you check out and your room is fine, then you get the $50 back. I think this is how all pet friendly hotels should be.

ALSO as a service dog owner (heck just a dog owner in general) you should ALWAYS pick up after your dog and place it in the hotel dumpster! I hate when I take my dog out to potty and have to avoid rolling in poo! If I dont have anyone with me to pick up after my dog, I will go out of my way to be sure she potties in an area that is not walked in!

 

[AmandaDi]

I just read the website Amanda posted, [should have before] and found even they agree, any act of visciousness, and the animal is out, but the person can stay!
The O.P. should make a copy of this, and drop it in the hands of the McDonalds General Manager, with an explaination of what happened, before this person comes back with that dog! Might even get free McD's for life!!
An ounce of prevention - - - -

Spoof was kind enough to post that site!

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

I'll be sure to post if I get anything with it in writing. Now personally, if my dog had an accident which called for shampooing the rug instead of just a vaccum, I would likely offer to pay part of the fee. Otherwise, they are going to vaccum and change the sheets whether or not my dog was there, so I dont see a reason for me to pay a fee! I know some places have to pay a refundable pet damage fee... $50 for possible damage, if you check out and your room is fine, then you get the $50 back. I think this is how all pet friendly hotels should be.

ALSO as a service dog owner (heck just a dog owner in general) you should ALWAYS pick up after your dog and place it in the hotel dumpster! I hate when I take my dog out to potty and have to avoid rolling in poo! If I dont have anyone with me to pick up after my dog, I will go out of my way to be sure she potties in an area that is not walked in!

We have a $15.00 pet fee, nonrefundable that is for the dry cleaning of the bedding. Due to all the hair etc. We do waive the fee a lot, especially if it is a smaller/short haired dog, but I still didn't think we could charge

 

[AmandaDi]

Thanks! I'll be sure to pass this along to my boss :thumbsup:

I just noticed that Ash posted something on that site.. it does mention not adding additional fees but it also states:

Neither a deposit nor a surcharge may be imposed on an individual with a disability as a condition to allowing a service animal to accompany the individual with a disability, even if deposits are routinely required for pets.

http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm


So you can show that to your boss! Sorry I overlooked the original post with it there. No additional fees .. No fees at all! *Unless damage*

 

[AmandaDi]

We have a $15.00 pet fee, nonrefundable that is for the dry cleaning of the bedding. Due to all the hair etc. We do waive the fee a lot, especially if it is a smaller/short haired dog, but I still didn't think we could charge

$15 is not bad and I probably wouldnt fight with a manager over that. At one hotel they tried to make me pay $50! Sooooo not happening!