service dogs or simply pets at MK last week?

[BayouMickey]

As long as your iguana doesn't blow bubbles or drive its EVC too fast while trying to use its GAC you should be fine.

As for service animals, if dear Fifi is hanging out in your designer purse with her little Minnie Mouse dress on while you feed her bon bons, I'm going to assume your little rat dog is not really a service animal and I will judge you. If you let said little rat dog anywhere near me, Fifi might just find herself "accidentally" falling in the water on the Jungle cruise.

don't be havin her eat peanut butter either!! Uh-uh!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Can small dogs, even toy breeds, be trained service dogs? Yes, they can.

Were the small dogs you saw service dogs, or pets? No way to tell.

The law does not allow questioning the owner regarding their disability. The business is allowed to ask only two questions: Is this animal a service animal? and What service is the animal trained to perform?

They can't ask what the guest's disability is, nor can they ask for any kind of documentation regarding the animal or the animal's training, inquire as to how the animal was trained or who trained it, or ask for the animal to demonstrate its task. If the owner says the animal is trained to perform a service, then the business must give them access under the law. Access can be revoked for the animal (not for the person, just the animal) if it behaves in a disruptive or dangerous manner and the owner is unable to control it. A service dog does NOT need papers or documentation. By law, the business is prohibited from even asking for this. However, there are outfits on the Internet who will send anyone who asks (and usually pays the fee) a service dog certification document, based only on the owner's assertion that the dog is a service animal. Allegedly there is a famous dog trainer that ordered an item like this for his beloved pet, so it could accompany him on airline flights for free. Of course, all he would have needed to do is say the dog was trained to perform a service, but I guess the extra gravitas the document gives is something he wanted.

It is true that therapy, comfort or companion dogs are not considered service animals by law because they are not trained to perform a service. "Having the dog with me keeps me calm" is not a response that would REQUIRE a business to then admit the dog. But the business can do so if it wishes to. There are some states that have passed laws that require companion, therapy or comfort animals to be admitted to housing, but some of the same states would restrict the same animals from food service areas like grocery stores or restaurants.

I believe the law was also revised to specify two types of animal only: dogs, and miniature horses. No cats, rats, birds, ferrets, snakes or iguanas.

There is a list of attractions which do not permit animals, even service animals, to ride or enter. This is due to safety concerns and are mostly the roller coasters, fast rides and others where an animal that could not wear the restraints would be a safety risk. WDW states that a member of the party must wait with the animal. Heard once that Disneyland is providing some kind of temporary kenneling for owners of service animals who want to go on an attraction where the animal is not permitted.

 

[dawnmichele]

My daughter has epilepsy and type 1 diabetes (lucky girl, right?) and we are in the process of trying to get her a service dog to help with both of those life threatening diseases. Little dogs seem to be everyone's favorites for those problems, although my daughter would rather have a larger dog to help sturdy her when she's shaky or unstable from either of those.

Here's my question (and yes, I know this is not the service dogs at Disney info thread), where do these people keep their dogs when they're at Disney? Do you get a pass to keep them in your rooms? They must, because you definitely need them at night (at least in my daughter's case), but since dogs aren't allowed in any Disney resort? Are there special rooms? Because what if you're allergic to dogs and the people who had the room before you had a service dog in your room the week before?

I am so very in favor of getting a service dog for my kid - I think it could revolutionize her life - but on the other hand having to deal with a dog when we're on vacation makes it seem a lot less like a vacation. We have two little dogs now that I love like a crazy dog lady, but the thought of having to drag them along with us in the park is about the last thing I'd ever want to do. That's got to be a huge pain.

I'd love to hear from someone who has taken their service dog to Disney with them. What's it like from that perspective? Anyone?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If your animal is a service animal trained to perform a service, under ADA, WDW MUST allow the animal into the hotels, the restaurants and the parks. Even though they do not admit animals under other circumstances. They can exclude the animal only if it is disruptive, dangerous and out of control. The only thing you have to worry about is the inability to take the dog on certain attractions; someone will have to wait with it.

 

[lucas]

Last year we were on a Holland America cruise. We had a meet & greet and one couple had their service dog on the cruise. We got to talking to the woman at the meet. She said her dog was trained that if she was on a walk (at home, in the neighborhood), that if she got confused about where she was, the dog would lead her home. Ok. But how does that work on a cruise ship?

 

[North of Mouse]

How about.....The reality of today's world is that some people insist upon bringing their pet with them EVERYWHERE and have figured out that claiming it's a service animal allows them to haul Pookie to restaurants, shops, WDW, etc. They don't give a rat's hiney if someone who is allergic to animals is made sick or if a kid who is scared of dogs is traumatized. What matters is that Pookie spends every second of every day with their addled owners.

This! And until Disney or other places are legally able to ask more questions I'm afraid more and more people will be dishonest and selfish.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if she got confused about where she was, the dog would lead her home. Ok. But how does that work on a cruise ship?

Doesn't matter, as long as the animal is trained to perform a service.

 

[Lorelei528]

I'd rather be surrounded by people and their well behaved dogs than people with kids who aren't....

 

[Bean786]

Are service dogs in training ok'd at disney? I have one in training but I'd never think to bring her there. She's in the early phases of training so she's still learning simple commands right now, but I guess it makes sense. She would be trying to sniff and be petted by everybody. Clearly not ready yet lol

 

[ZehnJahren]

I haven't seen dogs at Disney, but when I was living in Europe (Germany) dogs are EVERYWHERE. EVERYWHERE. I remember my initial shock in seeing a big dog in a department store, and then started noticing them everywhere else - trains, stores, grocery stores, outside hotels, hanging out with the homeless people, on the buses, etc. To that end, after living there for awhile I realized I could care less where people take their dogs, as long as they're well behaved and not peeing on my feet. Seemed like more of a hassle than anything, to me!

If you're highly allergic to any pets, I would not suggest going to Europe - I wonder if EuroDisney is full of pets??

 

[Odelay]

OP, a head's up. When one is saying they don't want things to start in their own thread, one should not say things like "Next year I'm going to bring my "working" service iguana (kidding)."

THAT, that exactly, is what sets off the posts. I'm sure you didn't know. But that's a trigger.[/QUOTE]

That feels like a needlessly aggressive reply for a comment clearly made in jest.

 

[roxazul]

I'd rather be surrounded by people and their well behaved dogs than people with kids who aren't....

This

 

[LilyWDW]

Are service dogs in training ok'd at disney? I have one in training but I'd never think to bring her there. She's in the early phases of training so she's still learning simple commands right now, but I guess it makes sense. She would be trying to sniff and be petted by everybody. Clearly not ready yet lol

Dogs in training are allowed. However, they are expected to adhere to the same "rules" as fully trained dogs. As in, not disruptive, knowing when and where to use the bathroom, and not being aggressive. Otherwise the dog, training or not, can be removed.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I'll add a little heat

My DH is allergic to cats and dogs to the point of his eyes swelling shut, and it concerns me to see so many people with tiny pets in places you just don't expect, like grocery stores for example. In the parks is one place I thought he could be safe. Big service dogs can be avoided, the little ones not so much. I've never thought about it before, but surely they don't take pets on rides, who cares for them while their owners are riding

Yes, service animals can do on rides with their owners. There are a few rides that animals aren't allowed on.

.

Comfort/companion dogs are not service dogs. They do have some rights to be in housing that don't normally accept pets, but they are not allowed in stores, hotels, etc that must accept service dogs.
Service dogs are not required to be certified. Would be nice if some sort of testing could be required, but no one has fiqured out how to implement it.

In the USA, companion dogs aren't service dogs. In other countries however they are considered service dogs. Here in Australia, a companion animal has every single right that a service dog has So not everyone realises the laws are different.

 

[Bean786]

Dogs in training are allowed. However, they are expected to adhere to the same "rules" as fully trained dogs. As in, not disruptive, knowing when and where to use the bathroom, and not being aggressive. Otherwise the dog, training or not, can be removed.

Got it. I'm just thinking about my dog and I don't know who would be more excited there. The kids or my dog. She's got a long ways to go lol

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Yes, service animals can do on rides with their owners. There are a few rides that animals aren't allowed on.

Id love to see a service animal on RnR or ToT or even SM

 

[BayouMickey]

Id love to see a service animal on RnR or ToT or even SM

The service dog will need a service dog afterwards.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Id love to see a service animal on RnR or ToT or even SM

Yes, well there are rides obviously the dogs can't go on

 

[RunningWithScissors]

I'd rather be surrounded by people and their well behaved dogs than people with kids who aren't....

Or surrounded by well behaved dogs than by RUDE adults who aren't!! (kids, too.)

As for service dogs, my nephew has epilepsy and I WISH he would get a service dog. He had a 16 minute seizure (the last in a series of 6 in 2 hours) that almost killed him this summer. Epilepsy is scary and if a dog can save a life, it is worth it.

Carry on.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Service dogs can come in all sizes. Many small dogs are used for seizure disorders or for detecting low blood sugar.

That sounded like an excuse, but apparently it's a thing. Interesting.