Well you are correct in part; in that "Service Animals" are allowed most anywhere...including the dog-free areas and Loops. Your dog/pets however are not. A lot of people have been breaking the rules in the past few years and just pushing to see how far they can go. They think they've gotten away with it if they are not "caught" and made to leave at that moment, but in reality they are only helping to make the case for a Dog-Free Ft. Wilderness (the way it used to be). When I see dogs in the pet-free areas, I make a call and have the incident noted.... because people who love Ft Wilderness, but would prefer not to vacation in a Dog resort, have rights too.
Okay, So here is the problem I have. While trying to "resolve" this issue (as I though what I was saying was correct), I could NOT find any documented rules/policy on the net. Only that Pets are allowed at the Fort and then that maps show the Pet friendly loops. So I called and spoke with a CM at the Fort. He did confirm that Pets are
only allowed in the
designated pet loops, pet paths and the
pet parks. They are not allowed in Tents or Campers with canvas nor are they allowed in the cabins. Pets out side the Campers must be with the owners and must be leashed (not to exceed 8'). They are also not allowed in the "Recreational Areas" (except the dog park)
So when I asked where the rules are published he did indicate they are on the website (this was at the beginning of the call) but then after he located and read the policy from his computer, I told him it's not on the website. He tried to find it but could not.
So to have a policy that is NOT published for the guests to follow could be one reason that it's not fully enforced. Indeed, from a legal aspect, it could certainly be challenged were an issue to be made about it.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want people violating the rules and if they do they should bare the consequences... that said, the loops (as I recall) are NOT labeled as "No Pets" (in general) nor have I seen anything that states "Pets allowed in designated areas only". So since pets are indeed allowed at the Fort, the assumption by an average person would likely be that a rule/policy/sign needs to either explicitly Allow the pets in CERTAIN areas only or it has to explicitly declare where pets are NOT allowed.
I work in Information Technology and we would view this as one of either 2 sets of rules/policies.
- Allow All Except XXX policy
- Deny All Except XXX policy
Essentially a blanket policy with the exceptions noted.
So while there is a policy stating that pets are only allowed in specified areas (the "Deny All Except XXX policy) it's not well published or advertised to those that are to abide by the rules. So what is a person to think? Naturally the other policy ("Allow All Except XXX policy"), which in this case is incorrect.
The funny thing is that when we were there in November 2016, we were in the 500 loop (a pet friendly loop but we were without our pet) but there was a "No Pets" sign I saw by the walking path from Fort Wilderness Trail to the Comfort station between loops 400 and 500. When we were there in November 2014, in loop 1400 (non-pet friendly loop and again without our pet), I didn't notice any "No Pets" sign in that loop.
Ours are tiny- 3-5 pound Chihuahuas, so we wouldn't be doing the dog parks or ever letting them free- we actually have a little fenced in "yard" we'd set up right by the camper, so when they weren't on leashes or in the stroller, they'd be staying in there when we were outside... It just sounds like so much fun to have them with us!
