wizard-of-roz

10 days before is the ultimate and best....if you can. We had it done 3 weeks (21 days) prior to going on the Costa Majica to Brazil. I told the cruiseline and Immigration that my Vet reassured me that this is a very safe time span for the titer test to be performed. My Vet stipulated that on the form and signed it. Just have the copy of the test results with you when you board.

Laws have to be made for the "general public".....there are always possiblities for exceptions. The INSISTED on the test being done. I did it within the perameters of my life. I told the cruiseline that due to health problems and other physical demands that the test would be done within the window that my Vet suggested. And, they accepted it and we had no problem with Brenda either boarding or leaving the ship in various docks.

Talk to your Vet.

Reno: Had you started your "puppy life" with a "Puppy Raiser" and gone into training (for at least 9 moths to one year) to become an SD, I know you would have been amazing. Because you're such a character around your kitty friends and such a loving dog to your mom and family, you would have been a truly awesome partner to someone. Enjoy your life and family.....you do a service with them everyday!

Andar: Elmer was lucky to have you in his life. I just love, love, love the look of Winstar. Before I trained with Brenda I worked with a Golden/Lab cross mix named "Braco", who looked exactly like Winstar and Elmer. I adored that dog and we were a great team!

flsunny: Presenting your IAADP card is perfect, if that's all you have, along with the necessary Vet documentation and immunization information. (Just a suggestion; copy your Drivers License and Passport and attach it to your dogs paperwork. It may help in showing how professional and sincere you are as a team.) Remember, this is not required, just a helpful suggestion.

CCI provides a great "Certification" of training card that just makes life so simpler, when going on cruises and entering public places. (Not that we haven't had our challenges, even with all that!) :mad:

The public is still so "wary" and "suspicious" of a dog outside of it's normal environment. (Or, what they perceive as "normal!")

They're not expecting to see a dog in a cruise or airline terminal/in the lobby of a hotel or anywhere else that they deem sacred to humans only!

*** Please remember to always have your SD on his/her best behavior, in public. You are representing ALL OF US when amongst them!!!!!

• Here, in California, and, even if your dog has a tattoo/chip/IAADP Decal on the windshield (which would give all the necessary emergency information) and is wearing a vest; your dog would be taken to the nearest animal shelter (ASPCA). And, there the appropriate person would look for all of the above and try and contact you/emergency contact person/training organization, etc. Some CHP officers may put the dog in their car, bring it back to the station with them and try and contact someone to pick it up, or not.
  

There are no set laws and regulations that stipulate that a Service Dog MUST be taken to a Police Station. It's really up to the officer who's at the scene.

I always hope that it will be someone who has a particular love for these animals but you never know. The police are not mandated to handle these dogs differently than any other dogs. They know to call Animal Regulations and that's all they really have to do!

• Your SD should have good I.D. Tags and emergency information on it, all the time. I keep emergency information on a small card in Brenda's zippered pouch in her vest, next to her potty bags.
  
• Brenda wears a tag on her collar identifying her as a Service Dog, with an identifying tag number. She also wears a tag with her name/my name and my phone number and her training organizations phone number, on it.
  

You really can't be too careful about the safety of your dog and in making sure that he/she wears all the appropriate identifiable information that is necessary, just in case of that one "God Forbid" that may happen.

Our dogs can do so much, they just can't talk and say where they live or who they belong to.

Sandy & Rich: Welcome! The most important thing for you to know, as you've been reading these threads is the awesome stares and wonderful experience you will have with your Service Dog in tow!

I will start by apologizing for the length of this response but I'll try to be as informative as I can, without being verbose! ;)

You'll get so many questions from your fellow cruisers, onboard, that you'll need to schedule your time so that you'll be able to go everywhere without frustration and arrive on time.

Give yourselves lots of time to walk from the dining room (after your sumptous dinners) to the theatre, because you'll be stopped along the way, not just once but several times. And, finding the right seats with lots of room for your dog to lay down safely without people stepping on him/her can be daunting....just basically looking out for his safety. People are not expecting a dog in the room and when the lights go out, they don't look at where they're stepping. :o Most ships allow for "handicapped" seating, with lots of floor space and that's where we sit.

BE PREPARED to answer lots and lots of questions and you'll be asked over and over again if they can "touch" him. They're not being rude....they're just in "awe" over Service Dogs, in general and have so much respect for the myriad of tasks that they can do.

Make sure that you or your TA is in contact with the "Special Needs" Department of RCCL and you have all the documentation that is required.

1. All vaccinations are current.

2. Agricultural Inspection Form is filled out by Vet. This will tell about Heartguard usage/flea & tick abatement, etc.

3. Rabies Titer Test is performed within 10 days of departure (make sure that copies of the test results are in your hands.) That way you can send to anyone and everyone that needs to see it. (You may not require this.) Be prepared just in case they ask for it.

4. Make (4) copies of everything. The embarkation pier will want one...When you board the ship the purser's desk will want one...You will want to keep one on you....And, one locked-up in your safe, in your cabin.

5. Have your Vet, chip your dog. Or, have it done wherever it's easiest for you.

6. We found that the cab drivers, in most foreign ports do not like to have dogs in their cabs. They don't have the ADA to adhere to and they really can refuse you. Either book your tours on buses or rent a car.

7. MOST IMPORTANTLY.....Foreign countries do not have the same laws we do when it comes to the LEASH LAW! There are dogs roaming streets everywhere and they're not afraid to approach you and your dog.

8. Make sure that your dog becomes used to going potty in a 4x4 box. Practice with one of your own.....fill it with wood shavings/turf or mulch. And, simply practice on it. Once he gets used to it, it will be second nature when you board the ship. And can alleviate a lot of stressful moments for your SD.

9. Make sure that you check with your steward or with the purser's desk to see where the "potty box" has been placed. (If you don't like where they put it, ask them to move it to a "crew closet" close to your cabin!)

10. The less stressed you are, the less stressed your dog will be about the movement of the ship; the closeness of other people; the wheelchairs and walkers that he'll be subjected to and the many times that he will be asked to "down/stay" in various venues. And, the times that he will be in an elevator surrounded by groping hands and moving feet!!!! :(

We find it's best to have one of us be the LOOK-OUT while we're in port. I also carry a "walking stick", when we're off the ship in foreign ports and I've used it on several occasions and it works quite well. I don't need it for walking and it does become a "conversation" piece but I also feel safer just in case a stray dog comes too close! You can board the plane and ship with it and no one will ask about it, except that it does need to be Xrayed at security.....no big deal!

HAVE FUN! I hope you love it as much as we do and do it over and over again.

My Service Dog "Brenda" thinks it's so much fun. She'll be on her 11th cruise in April.

Disney: Stay on you Vet and encourage him/her to work on the papers and all that is needed so that your trip is less stressful for you.

Have a Happy Holiday, just think of what fun you have to look forward to.

Sunnymommy: What's the matter isn't there enough "drama" in our world today? You need to add to it?

All kidding aside.....I'm glad that everything is working out for you and your family. Happy Holidays to all of you!

Oh! My! What a story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

I have goosebumps!!!! Of course you would not leave "Chewey", any more than you would leave one of your children.

Thank you for being so responsible....."Chewey" is very lucky to have you and you him!!!!!

Have a wonderful cruise!

You are so "ovethinking" this whole thing.

Do you have a Travel Agent? If not....go to Disney's "Special Needs" department and ask them to give you a complete list of what they need from you EXACTLY!!!!!!

No one will impound your dog.....You will not be allowed to even board the ship if your papers are not in order......You will be asked to pre-fax everything you have to Disney, prior to boarding and in lots of time to correct what you don't have. Once onboard you will be asked, again, to show your paperwork to the purser and they will show it to the immigration officials at each port. If immigration, for some reason, is not happy the worst that can happen is you will be asked to not leave the ship with your Service Dog!

1. Speak to your Vet about the Agricultural Form, etc. required and ask him/her what is required to travel to the Carribbean....your Vet is a great resource for this information. If they don't know call Disney, right now, and make sure you have clear answers.

2. What ever is required is so worth it......don't "overthink" this process.

3. When we traveled to the Carribbean with Brenda we had everything done within the 10 day period, my Vet forwarded the results for us and we had a copy to show to the purser.

Again, NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR DOG FROM YOU.....EVER!!!!!! Except the TSA who may walk her/him through the security process themselves. Then they're more than happy to return the dog to you!

It's definitely a PROCESS and takes pre-planning and some phone calls and leg work but, you'll see, it's worth it.

cj: I just looked at Brenda's raincoat (by: "Outward Hound") and it does have a slit in the neck area (allowing for a harness, leash)....It would be very easy to cut a "slit" if this were not sufficient. It also has a hood that can be snapped off and pockets on both sides for "potty bags."

Go online and check with their various products, they may have one with the area already open for your needs.

I have been very pleased with the quality of this raincoat. It has velcro closures at the neck, flank and rear, is of really good quality and she's worn it, when needed, for many years.

Nancy: Good luck with your "paper!" You're a good writer and should do very well in anything you attempt!

"Ethics in Business!" That is an interesting topic.....try "Ethics in Government!" I work for a non-profit and I observe most folks doing the "right thing!" How unusual is that? In today's climate, it's nice to see people doing good stuff for others!

We're now counting down the days until our April cruise.

Interestingly, my DH and I were wondering how much more cruising Brenda will be willing to do? And, will she eventually, "refuse" to board and not want to sail on the high seas? So far, she seems to be loving it and is so cooperative at the changes that she has to make while onboard!

We'll see!

I'm glad you got all the tags, etc. "Beauracacy" at its best!

Have a safe trip and, I'm sorry to say this....but, we are expecting it to rain this weekend and on and off next week too!

Poor Brenny! :cool:

Darcie: Thank you for the information and good luck with all that you're doing.

Our SD's are worth every effort that we put forth to keep them and us in the public.

We're getting some very interesting weather here in Southern California....And, Brenda the "Service Dog Extroidanaire" hates getting rained on.....she loves the sea and swimming pools but she hates :mad: the rain...go figure!

I have a rain coat for her and she appreciates it....but, will shake, shake, shake any drop, that falls on her, off like it were poison! funny girl! :D

Darcie: Are you sure? I contacted CCI (Canine Companions for Independence) and they told me that ALL dog training organizations who expect their dogs to have "Public Access" MUST receive this tag from the state of California.....and, of course, that means every county therin.

The "tag", worn on the dogs collar, is issued by the state and serves another form of public access identification.

Can you please tell me what Organization that trains Service Dogs for public access do not require this tag. I'm curious. And, so is CCI.

Molly: If you live in California (as your signature states), there is a special "Service Dog Tag" (it is brass, large and circular), it is given to ALL appropriately trained and certified Service Dogs by the State of California. No matter which organization trained your dog(s), in California, you should have received this tag. It's the law here! ;)

I ALWAYS send the "Special Needs" departments from every line, including NCL, a copy of this License Tag, along with all the other necessary documentation.

NCL was wonderful with Brenda (their litter box was the best of all the lines!) And, as you mentioned, (for your past cruising with them) their staff is very accommodating and helpful. I just don't care for their ships, as much as Princess.

Other than, they simply are having a problem believing your dog(s) are legitimate service dogs...NCL is very welcoming to them, as long as all your documentation is in order.

Dear All,

HAL always uses sod and it works great.

I spoke to Allison Muff, on Friday, December 5th; she is the "Special Needs" Coordinator for Princess lines. I told her how "awful" the pellets were, on our last cruise, in that they really hurt when the dogs stepped on them and especially when only a 1/2 inch is layed down in the box.

She said that Princess is working on a solution to the "litter" box and its contents.

I reminded her that we would be back onboard the Sapphire on April 18th and didn't want to face the same issues we had on November 15th. (Please do not use the pellets!)

She re-assured me that it is being worked on. ;)

For your information and if you want to follow-up with your own phone calls her number is:

Allison Muff: 661.284.4521 Fax: 661.284.4408.

Between you and I.....this is fairly new to Princess and all other cruiselines.....the influx of people using Service Dogs and being so visible in the public will become more and more in the future and that's a very good thing!!! :)

Darcie: I promise if you don't go to the purser's desk with all your information they will contact you before they reach the first port. ;) ( I always have a copy of everything, one to give to the folks at the debarkation terminal and one to give to the pursers desk.)

And, you won't need any of us to join you on your cruise you'll have and will make lots of new friends, with Bailey as your host! You'll also have some paparazzi who will want to take pictures....you star you!!!!! Again, it's not about you, it's all about that amazing 4-legged helper who accompanies you!

I realize now, that it just goes with the territory of going through life with a Service Dog! :)

Darcie: You may be the one to get through to Princess and make it so much better for all of us......Let us know how it goes and if I can help in any way.

It sounds like a simple thing but it's really not! And, really should be...they just complicate it! Anything that you can do to make it better for all of us would be so appreciated....again, I'll help in any way I can.

Keep us informed!!!!!! :)

First: I want to thank everyone who gave me the great suggestions about Benadryl....Brenda has been on it for 3 weeks and is doing amazingly well! Her eyes and ears are not red everyday and she's not scratching at her ears. She takes 25mg in the morning and 25mg at night. I tried giving her 50mg all at once and she was so sleepy....she looked and acted like she was drunk!

I drop a capsule into her kibble along with her Glucosamine/Chon. and I cover it all with 7 squirts of salmon oil and she gobbles it all up.

Amazing how the simplest solution was the best one.

Nancy: I buy the Benadryl at a Kaiser Pharmacy (you don't need a membership to do this) and, you can get a lot and it was cheaper than anywhere else.

FlSunny and Peter: Brenda is a double coated (looks like a teddy bear) black Lab. Her fur is thick/shiny and so pretty. I bathe her every two months and ALWAYS a day before we cruise. I brush her fur and teeth daily. Salmon oil has made a huge difference in her dander and shedding problems (and, it's good for their heart and joints.)

Peter, your "dead dog" stories are hysterical but so true. I get them all the time. And, you're so right about the "rock star" thing. I'm stopped EVERY SINGLE DAY, not to mention in the airport and on the cruise ship and asked a myriad of questions and told so many stories. I've learned to listen with an open heart....most of these people are wishing that they could have their furbabies with them, just like Brenny!

Sunshine, Linda & Darcie....I ALWAYS try to listen and be polite when I'm stopped by the public but it is difficult, when you're trying to get somewhere quickly or just want to be alone.....And, "Comfort/Emotional Dogs" do not have the same access ability as Service Dogs. However, that being said.....sometimes, after being questioned the 100th time about "what does your dog do or what is your problem", because you're not blind and your reason for the dog is not obvious.....the simpliest answer is the one that works best! :confused:

That maybe what the woman who said the dog was a "comfort dog" was trying to convey....Who wants to tell strangers that they have any disorder of any kind? Some folks can be pretty nosey!

Also, Mexico requires an Agricultural Inspection Form (which will have the Vet check/immunization record/HeartGuard usage/flea-tick abatement usage, on it).....along with the City License, Service Dog Tag (California Residence), copy of Organization Training card (if you have one).

I get all of this ONCE A YEAR. I go to the Vet get the form, make sure Brenda's current on all her Vaccines and I use this form for all 3 of my cruises within the year. Brenda's cruises to Mexico (all eight of them) have all been done the same way.....

I agree about the "litter" that is being used. It can vary and should be the same. NCL was the best at this (although, I don't care so much for their ships).....they use a "mulch", they filled it half-way, they lined the box with a heavy-duty plastic, the box was 4x4 and Brenda liked it the best!

Princess (this last time) used those damn "pellets" and anyone who owns or knows about Labs knows that their paws are webbed (for swimming) and they are very sensitive....those pellets "jab" into their paws (webbing) and, it hurts.... Brenda hates them.....because she had no choice, we used them.....but she would step, ever so lightly onto them and she would literally "jump" off!!!!!!! I used to bring mulch with me but stopped when Princess was using wood shavings. MISTAKE!

Have you ever seen a dog "hold it in!" She would only relieve herself once a day for "poop" (normal is twice) and would only "pee" twice.....(normal, 3 to 4!)

In the past they always used wood shavings and they worked very well! I always have to remind them to fill the box more because when a dog goes to the bathroom they use their hind legs for gripping and when their legs slip it's uncomfortable for them.......

Oh! Why is this so difficult to understand?.....Have they never seen a dog go to the bathroom??????? :o

A letter to Princess is forthcoming about our most recent experience with the "litter" and the best thing to do for our dogs and their needs. I will work on it!

If you didn't see my postings......Our cruise on November 15th, on the Sapphire was wonderful (inspite of the litterbox fiasco) and, we're looking forward to our next on April 18th, again on the Sapphire. :)

Yippeeeeeeee!!!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!! Squirting the cheese stuff on the pill.....so clever!!!

Reno, you're costing your mommy a bloody fortune.....but, I know how worth it you are.....And, I'd do exactly the same!!!!!!

Can you believe the issues with allergies these dogs have?

I feel that Benadryl will be the answer for Miss Brenny....at least I hope so!

She takes her first pill this evening.....I don't know how she'll react to it and I know that it makes me very drowsy. I hope works!!!!!!

Thanks again everyone......You are all a God-send to me, and I'm truly grateful for all of your advice! :)

We do benadryl as well. We do it before bed so he is not drowsy duing the day. We have also been told by the vet we can do claritan and tavist D as some meds work better for some dogs and people.

Good idea, nothing worse than a sleepy service dog!!! :rolleyes: Too bad you're in Florida or I'd ask who your vet is. :o

Which type do you use? The capsule or the caplet?

I'll have to check the dosage when I get home.

 

BTW...who's Peter??:confused:

OOPS!!!! I'm sorry....you're not Peter (you knew that!) I had been writing with Peter and I apologize for the error.....Peter is a lovely man with a beautiful family, who travels the world with his son's Service Dog, Werin.

Now I know who I'm writing to.......I spoke with my vets office and they recommended using the 50mg dosage (not to exceed 150mg per day.)

Great suggestion from you (why didn't they ever suggest it? Who knows!)

Wouldn't it be great if a simple thread on Cruise Critic helped me resolve Brenda's allergy issues, that have cost me a bloody fortune, over the past 6 years and a horrible reaction, which almost cost her her life (using Prednisone.)

I'll let you know how it goes.

Our older lab suffers from allergies too. Especially her ears. We started giving her one Benedryl a day. It's done wonders. Her ears are alot better and she doesn't shake her head or paw at her ears nearly as much as she used to. They also smell alot better.

Peter, you may have hit on something.....Are you giving a 25 or 50mg dose? I'm going to suggest this to the vet. (Sometimes the doctors need our help in the best and least invasive roads to the cure!)

Best wishes for a wonderful time away Roz and Brenda!

Thank you so much, Peter and his gang!

We've never been on the Sapphire (although she is the sister ship to the Diamond) and the Diamond has been my most favorite ship of all our cruises.....this should be one of our best!!!!!

Brenda goes to the beauty shop tomorrow. She was at the vet, yesterday (for the Agricultural form and a vet check) and he found redness in her ears and eyes (how do you avoid the grass; the winds; the trees; the smog, etc., etc.?)

CURE: Visine for the eyes and Otomax for the ears....Labs have an amazing leaning towards allergies and it seems she's innundated with them!!!!! The doctor said she'll probably do better on the ship and in Mexico (getting her away from her normal allergens, at home!)

I get so much more back from her than I'll ever put into keeping her allergy free!!!!! I just consider her a high maintenance kind of gal......:p;)

Don't you just love these dogs and their antics! :p

Brenny is a double-coated Lab who looks more like a "Teddy Bear!" I have to always explain that she is purebred (unusual for a Service Dog), they usually use cross's. Her fur lays on her in ripples and clumps.....it's so, so soft.

She's so huggable!!!!! But, it also sheds like crazy....I swear I could build another dog from her, within a week!

I feel like I should travel with a "dust buster" just to remove the hair that she leaves behind. Thank goodness it's not quite as bad in the winter.

To all who are leaving soon on their cruises....."Dog Voyage" ;)

Correct.....your dog MUST be healthy to travel....maintenance medication such as thyroid/glucosamine & chondroitin, vitamins and even Prednisone for allergies is perfectly acceptable.

***Please, just make sure that your dog has had her Heartguard and Advantix or Advantage before you leave or are within the monthly dosage. There are some very nasty bugs in some of these foreign ports and you want to make sure she's covered!!!!!!

Nancy: I so agree with you about the Glucosamine.....I give Brenny 2 tablets a day of the Triple Max and she's running like a pup! And, you are right Chewey is beautiful. ;)

Today, Brenda and I will be going to the doctor to get the "State of California Department of Food and Agricultural Certificate for Interstate or International Movement of Small Animals" form. :rolleyes:

(This is REQUIRED BY: MEXICO, CARIBBEAN, HAWAII, EUROPE AND OTHERS. I keep one (current), all the time.....Just in case I want to run away to far and distant lands.)

The Vet will have to check Brenda to certify that she is healthy to travel. He will check that she is on Flea & Tick abatement/current on all vaccinations/on Heartguard. And, he will check the condition of her eyes/ears/throat/heart and fur. He'll weigh her and take her temp. He'll fill out and sign and date the form. This document will be used for her next cruise or other International travel in April, 2009.

As long as she's current on vaccinations and is kept healthy, I will not need to acquire another form for travel , this year.

*This form, along with my Passport, Brenda's I.D. from CCI and the Los Angeles Animal License will all be copied about 5 times. One copy will be presented to the purser (upon arrival), one copy will be kept with my originals, in the safe, in the cabin and other copies will be kept in my fanny pack, that I take off the ship with me.

The ship will present all the documentation you give them at each port they enter...it will be examined by agents and the ship will be cleared to disembark. This is also true for coming home. If you're documentation is not complete the ship is "held", all passengers are "held" until your dog is cleared.

While you're in port, depending on the port and transportation available, be aware that not all cab drivers like having a dog aboard (and, their laws differ from ours they may balk at allowing her in); not all ports are careful about loose dogs (this could be a safety issue); the ground may be very, very hot if your walking over cobblestones or blacktopped streets. All of this and more must be taken into account when going off the ship, into a port. Some dogs hate the tenders that are used if you can't walk off the ship. (It took Brenda a while to get used to the movement of these small boats!)

Private rental cars are the best; personal tour guides are wonderful.

It can all be worked out. Sometimes, we take turns going off the ship; not leaving Brenda alone. ;)

It's all something to think about......:)