Nevermind my post, I thought this was the original poster that I originally quoted

Well said!!! {CLAP CLAP}

For the airlines charging so much to fly a pet, I wonder if it's for insurance reasons or anything. I don't know for sure, but I wonder if they do have a valid reason as to why they charge so much.

I worked in the travel business for 12 years and it has nothing to do with insurance. In fact they used to fly the small pets for free and children under 2 for free. It has everything to do with the airlines stuggling to survive and trying to find ways to make money. They can get away with charging so they do.

NASTKY - please don't ever be embarassed to be informative and share your very personal history. I applaud your bravery on this post as well as all the hard work you have done in your daily life to get where you are. I have a cousin who is severely bi-polar, schizophrenic, with OCD and anxiety disorder. She was diagnosed at 13 (is now 28) and cannot live on her own. Having spent a great deal of time helping to care for her, I can only imagine what you go through.

I didn't know there was even legislature for emotional support animals, although I think this is dramatically needed.

For everyone else - if you have gone through the process to have your babies labeled as "therapy dogs", please make sure you are helping others, not just yourself. Small dog owners are already labeled as crazy dog people. Let's not make that stereotype a reality. I love my baby and would like to take her as many places with me as I can, but I will do it legitimately.

One airline that does not allow pets on board, also does not charge for credible service animals... Unfortunately, if passengers complain about the "animal" on the flight and demand compensation...although it might seem small to the individuals demanding it, reimbursing 20 or even 100 passengers for their ticket price adds up...so I can understand how that happens. And again, most of the time it is caused by animals who are "claimed" to be service animals who are not adequately trained to behave during a flight.
I cannot imagine being the one who must question and get the credible verbal assurance or the documentation for an animal in any of these mentioned situations...if you see both sides... (Animal lovers...and not), it is not a good situation. With the new laws and lack of required documentation, businesses are only comfortable refusing the obvious for fear of lawsuits of discrimination of ADA....and it will not be solved today, but it would be nice if those who needed it did not have to be quizzed so thoroughly, especially for those needing emotional assistance animals. There animal can truly give them a path to freedom...yet they are mocked by those who pretend or lie, or any who have been lied to.

I love dogs. I would not be sad if everywhere I went, people could bring their dogs....but only if the dogs were clean and behaved themselves.

Not everyone is like us...not everyone loves dogs the way we do. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that most people do not love animals the way we all do. A lot of folks don't treat their animals like they are little fur babies and keep them clean and train them to behave around people. That is why there are laws that restrict people from bringing their animals into public places like...places where we eat or places where we buy food for our families. It is important to realize that if dogs are allowed to go everywhere with us, the lady with the Yorkie AND the fella’ with the German Sheppard are both going to bring their dogs to your favorite cafe. You will mind that, I promise you will.

You know that smell in Pet Smart? Yuck. Would you eat in Pet Smart...I hope not. Remember the thread where everyone was laughing and talking about how their yorkies poo on the floor every time they go in there?? THAT is why dogs aren't allowed everywhere. It’s okay if your dog has a boo boo in Pet Smart…it’s not ok when you’re trying to get some grocery shopping done and someone puts their dog on the ground and you step in that dogs….ooopsie.

It has nothing to do with political correctness...if you think it's bull that people with anxiety or other emotional issues can have special rules, say so! People who really need to have documentation for an Emotional Support Animal are not doing so to ensure that no matter where they go they can bring their fur baby…it’s so they are allowed to have there dog with them in an apartment or at there therapists…stuff like that. Some people would really be “up a creek” without their dogs, or cat or gerbil. It’s a real medical problem. It really, really is a great help to a very many people that they have their dog.

If you cannot see or hear…you should be able to have your service dog with you everywhere you go. It just doesn’t make sense to suggest otherwise.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has said nice words to me, I appreciate that very much.

you make a very good point about petsmart. i personally think the dog needs to be more than a therapy dog to go into a restaurant, JMHO

This thread has been interesting. Some comments I agree and some are so hard for me to read.

I think many stereotype people so quickly. I wouldn't think that original poster was taking advantage from the system right after I read her first post. I mean I could say the exact same thing, and do you know what I am going through? That's right, you don't!! So then how can you say who is taking advantage of the system. The girl in Manchester (sorry I am lazy to look it up the name .. :D) shared very personal experiences. It is really great that people can speak out of her own experiences. However not everyone can do that. I might say the same, but I might be going through really tough situations that I might not say, and I just say it like "I just wanted to take my dog with me to everywhere..." So don't assume if you don't know the person well enough. It really irritates me!!!

I always have considered to have my dog as a service dog, but I don't think I will do that. Only reason is because I don't like to be labeled or being called disable. Then.. what does disability really mean? How can people comare whose situation worse than others? WE all have struggles... and why do we have to have names of disorders to get service dogs. Who can tell you that you don't deserve the service dog? If you don't go to counseling, work full time, and live okay everyday then.. the person doesn't deserve one? even she might have anxiety attacks but have egos not to be labeled?

Sorry.. I am just mumbling.. maybe I am not making sense.. but this is emotional topic as I work with battered women and families that go through struggles in daily lives.

No, you are making sense. I know what you mean. We don't know what anyone else has been through. I think the original person was trying to be nice and share info, and sometimes people get jumped on. :rolleyes: :p

Good !! Someone understands me!! I was getting chocked reading in the beginning of this threads! :) We also should be careful talking with others.. specially to new members! :) GOod thing we didn't scare the originally poster away.. It was very nice that she shared.

We have an outdoor cafe that allows dogs - but still the owners have the right to ask dogs to leave if they are causing any problems.

They tell me that it is the larger dogs that are the best behaved and almost never cause any problems. They just come in with their owners and lie beside them the whole time.

But - often the little ones snarl, growl, and bark (at the other people and the dogs there). Plus they are much more active and often won't lie quietly for an hour or so.

And ---because of "little dogs" --- they have put up a sign - "Please don't let your dogs sit on your lap and share your food!!!"

They did ask a pekinese and a yorkie to leave - both owners were irate. One threw money on the table - the other refused to pay the bill. When the pekinese left - the customers applauded...

And - OF COURSE - not all little dogs cause problems. Most are well behaved. I think mine would be. He's 10 months old, definitely not a barker, very friendly, and extremely laid back. I'm sure he'd be good.

I think there are more and more places all the time where we can take our dogs. But - we need to do our homework - and go out into public with little dogs that are well behaved. (A lot of people don't do this....) I think people who want their dogs with them most of the time - should search these places out and enjoy going to them.

Carol Jean

lol...it kind of looks like it .....but there are a few missing posts that Admin must have removed - but the original poster didn't get jumped on. she started an interesting thread and I think it had some good information on it ....but not everyone found it interesting I guess...:)

Some of the issues we are talking about have to do with laws and each state has their own laws on what you can and can not do with Therapy Dogs and ESA Dogs. This article is very informative on describing the 3 different types of catagories. Hope this helps.

http://www.petsandpeople.org/difference.htm

Service Dog, Therapy Dog:
What's the Difference?
We believe that a large part of the problem with access comes from confusion of terminology.

Therapy Dogs
Briefly, therapy animals work with a health-care professional as part of a treatment plan. Dogs that do visitation are also commonly called "therapy dogs". Neither of these usually has access to public places.

This can be confusing, because sometimes people call dogs "service dogs", claiming that they are entitled to that label because they provide a "service" for people. You can call a dog whatever you like, but the fact is that no federal law (and very few state laws) allow access with that type of "service" dog.

Service Dogs
Dogs that assist people with disabilities are termed "Assistance Dogs" or "Service Dogs". Those dogs actually need to do something to help with the disability. In return, they are allowed anywhere you could take another medical device, such as a wheelchair. The dogs may or may not do actual physical work for their handlers; for example, some deaf people use very small dogs who can alert them to sounds.

A person who has a disability and uses a dog to help compensate for abilities lost as a result, is guaranteed the right to be accompanied by that dog in any place where the public is usually invited. This right is guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which is a (US) federal law. Some (US) states also have laws concerning access with a Service Dog. The state laws may include restrictions as far as equipment that must be used, certification, trainers, and so on. The rule is that where the federal law allows you more rights, it prevails.

Please be aware that the ADA does not mention service dogs in training. Many state laws do. In that case, the state law is the ONLY one that applies; however, once your dog is no longer "in Training", you are protected by the federal statute mentioned previously.
(a page with links to US state & federal laws, as well as links for Canada, Mexico, and Native American laws, can be found at http://www.lawsource.com/also/)

Emotional Support Animals
Dogs that provide companionship, relief from loneliness & depression, and similar support can be allowed in housing (even "No Pet" housing) without the requirement of a pet deposit. Those dogs are called "Emotional Support Animals", but they don't have access to public places, either.

More information on Emotional Support Animals is available from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and the Disabilities Rights Center.
Pets and People supports owner-trained service dogs, even those used for mental health disabilities like depression. Under the ADA, proof of disability and/or certification of the dog as a Service Dog need not be shown. Many people who live with a disability who choose to use a Service Dog (PWDWSD) have no or very few problems with access. Pets and People makes the Department of Justice's "Questions About Service Dogs in Places of Business" available for download in brochure form, which can help with access issues.

Chances are that if you don't have an obvious disability and/or you are using a very small dog, someone will attempt to deny you access or ask for proof (either of your disability or of your dog's status). Best to be prepared for that situation, either by having the so-called "proof" (a doctor or therapist's prescription, a Service Dog card), or by being willing to assert your legal rights and deal with the immediate consequences (yes, you may be right, but you may still be asked to leave). As an organization, Pets and People does not advocate one approach or the other. As with so many other things relating to living with an owner-trained service dog, the "best" approach is up to the person who must confront the situation.

Pets and People does not "register" or certify therapy dogs for visitation. A group that does, and is quite well known, is Therapy Dogs International (http://www.tdi-dog.org/). If you are looking for information on volunteering with your pet to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and similar activities, please see the book WANTED: Animal Volunteers by Dr. Mary Burch. If you are a health care professional who wants to incorporate animals into your practice or treatment protocols, please contact our founder, Dr. Patricia Gonser, through our contact page.





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Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up.