I to would love to able to take my lil one every where when I get her but, there are liabilities. I used to work in retail for many years before I had my first child, we would have to kick out many people that would come in with dogs that were not service dogs. One reason is if you let one in you have to let all in. It is very easy to get accused of racism, or discrimination. If you let someone with a small dog in, someone with a bigger dog should have those same rights. Just explaining as someone who used to get yelled for following rules. Dont shoot the messenger though I am a huge animal lover who would love more pet friendly establishments. :D

sue

It is fairly easy under the Americans with Disabilities Act to comply with the laws and take your dog everywhere with you. If you research the law and you have any malady (high blood pressure, loss of some hearing in one ear, social anxiety disorder, stress, anxiety attacks, mild mental illness, epilepsy, diabetes, migraine headaches, etc.) and you can "train" your dog in some way to assist you with that malady, then your dog is a service animal under the law and you can take them ANYWHERE.

All of my dogs are service animals and you don't have to have any special license, the dog doesn't have to wear a vest or have "proof of training" or "proof of disability". I cannot tell you how handy it has been in emergency situations.

Even in restaurants, I don't understand the ordinances against dogs. They don't exist in Europe. Most dogs are much cleaner than most young children and better behaved. You don't see the restaurant management asking people to leave if a child whines or cries.

If you want to get the vests and the patches to make access easier you can order them online at several places, www.Raspberryfield.com is just one.

Good luck!

You don't have to "prove" anything. That's like asking a person in a wheelchair to "prove" they cannot walk. The establishment is not supposed to even ask what your "disability is" and there are harsh consequences for violating the law.

Yorkies and small dogs are used a lot as service animals because they are so small and they travel well and people with physical disabilities like arthritis can carry them comfortably. Pick up the latest issue of Yorkshire Terrier Magazine nd there is a long article in there about yorkies who are service animals, some who have saved lives. There is a link to a Question and Answer paper for business establishment that I carry with me to educate businesses that are unaware of the law.

Here is the link for the business questions and answers regarding Service Animals:

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

I actually printed all of these things out when we brought Tia on her adventure in her bag yesterday. I have some health problems and firgured, what the heck, lets try it. Luckily for me, no one even cared she was with me. I believe it will come in handy in the future though.

So far, I haven't gotten caught with Maddie in businesses. She's been lots of places with me and about the only place I haven't taken her is into grocery stores. I do know a lot of people who have gotten kicked out of places, so when I walk in, I put my hand over the area where Maddie can stick her head out...until I've passed by the greeter or whatnot. Once when I had her in a dollar store, she barked! LOL Thank goodness it was only once and no one knew where it came from.

Schatzie...I hope you found a new hairdresser...that is terrible what they said to you!

Aimee...I was shocked to read that you aren't allowed to have your dog in the car when you pick up kids at school! It is YOUR car and you should be able to transport anything you choose. It upsets me when they make such stupid laws...good for you having Tia in her purse! When I pick up my grandkids at school, my car gets circled by kids wanting to see the puppy!

SoCalyorkiLvr: Thanks so much for that info regarding service dogs. As of today, Maddie is my little service dog. LOL I have printed out all the info and going to laminate the one!

Good info. So basically (sorry, it's been a long day) you can take your dog with you anywhere and if anyone tells you to leave, you show them a copy of the FAQ and that's it? What about the part "A service animal is not a pet"?

ERRR is right!!!
 

Hey, I totally agree, I have seen some NASTY people get to go in a place, with who knows what kind of germs, and WE cant even CARRY a little dog in our arms, carrier etc. It's not like they are going to jump on the meat counter or something. I'd rather be around 100 dogs than to be around person who sould be sick with the Flu, or something more contagious. I dont see a sign on stores saying, "No sick people allowed"... which would you rather stand behind in the register line. :mad:

I think i would be offended but i can also understand if I was to get kicked out of a business place for bringing my dog. Even though we have small dogs, it's no special treatment b/c theyre easy to carry around and cute. If we could get away with it than anyone who own big dogs like great danes and golden retrievers would be bringing them in too. I can understand both points though..which is why they make dog parks, pet stores to bring in your pets, and some outside restruants. I do bring my dog into drugstores without a problem and gas stations to get a gallon of milk sometimes, but never a store..

"A service animal is not a pet" when it is working and performing it's duties for the disabled person. They use this phrase as a way to advise business owners and others that they are not discriminating and that they do not have to now allow "pets" into businesses, but rather that these "specially trained" working animals are more than mere pets, they are special animals with a purpose to their masters.

I usually carry their rabies license and some business cards I've made up to hand to people who tell me no dogs are allowed. Sometimes I have to tell two or three people but I have never had to leave. If they persist in asking questions I give them a copy of the FAQ. Sometimes I mail a letter later and I always try to thank them on the way out especially if it is a restaurant.

You don't have to tell a hotel or apartment manager that you have the animal and they cannot charge you extra like a cleaning deposit or anything. Of course, you would have to pay for any actual damages the dog may cause just as anyone would.

This is a federal law so it takes prcedence over ny state and local ordinances. So, if an establishment that serves food for instance tries to tell you they will be shut down by the health department you can assure them that that is not the case. Your dog is the same as a seeing eye dog that everyone is familiar with.

Anyway, I hope you can all read the law and the interpretations of it and figure out if it might work for you or anyone in your family.

LOL sheras mom, I dont know I think I could see my dog jumping for the meat counter He loves his food lol. :D

i wonder if i could make Oreo and Ginger service dogs for me. i have a reallly bad temper problem when people ask me the same thing over and over again (like why are you bringing your dog in a purse) lol.. oreo and ginger lick me when i'm mad/frustrated and im ok!

other than that i do have to be reminded to eat every 3 hours or else my blood sugar gets too low..

Target is really good about letting dogs enter. But Walmart isn't. I took Bella in there and they kicked me out! I think if your dog is in a purse it should be ok. It's not like I was going to let her pee in there!!!!!

Two things
1. I dont understand, if their not runnning around making trouble then they should be ok. I mean he was in his little bag being harmless. I think it is dumb.
2.My uncle has a collie and she is a chapion in the US and Canada for a NUMBER of different things. She has a red vest that he can put on her and she can go ANYWHERE!!!! If anybody knows how to knit then you should knit a red vest to put on Starsky!