Tinwoman

MINISTRY DOGS

We train these specialized dogs as service dogs. These dogs know skills such as retrieving things that are dropped, opening doors or cabinets, turning on and off light switches and more. They are placed with a minister in a church setting or as a chaplain in an institutional setting. The dog accompanies the minister in his or her duties including visiting those in hospitals, nursing homes or private residences, conducting worship services, greeting parishioners, meetings and day to day activities through the community. They also accompany the minister on pastoral calls, are present during worship, help with children’s’ stories, and provide comfort to those who are distressed. This dog has been specifically trained to help ease ministerial counseling and promote congregational harmony. The presence of a friendly, soft, engaging animal often puts people at ease. Ministers who have worked in teams with service dogs have noted that the dog is often recognized and approached first and people’s affect then seems much more relaxed. Children especially seem to find comfort in the presence of a friendly dog.

Oh wow sweet, are they allow to go on cruises too?

fee of an assistance dog is $9,500; $1,000 to be received by NEADS before you are matched with a dog; $1,000 to be received by NEADS before you begin training and the balance of $7,500 to be received by NEADS within one year of getting the dog. We will help you with this if you need to raise the money. This amount covers the cost of the dog and all associated equipment that you will bring home with your dog following your training here. This amount, $7,500, may be paid in full or you can arrange a time-payment schedule with us.

An organization that charges for a so called assistance dog is a business, handicap persons are not required to pay for service animals.

That is great that you keep in touch. Of the many puppies we raised, only Cactus' person kept in touch with us. You are so sweet to do that.

 

My Abby, died in April. I was so grief stricken I swore I would not get another. But when breeders heard about her passing they started to email me about a litter or potential puppy. No, No, No, I would say, I am not ready. My husband was encouraging me to find another dog too. I just couldn't. Then, a breeder sent me pictures of her new puppies. Totally UNFAIR. I said I could come look at them and temperment test.

I feel in love. We brought Bailey home at 10 weeks and started working with her immediately. She was amazing. (like the black labs you saw). By 8 months she passed her CGC. She of course went everywhere with us that a service dog in training was allowed. In July she passed her evaluation and is now my service dog. Since she is still very young, 18 months, she still has a lot to learn. This last week she has decided that she only will pick up the things she wants (teen age years). I guess it was 4 months from the time Abby died to when we got Bailey. But then she was just a puppy so it has really been more like 2 years since I had a SD. I still miss Abby so much. She literally saved my life and I will never forget her. Sorry, probably too much rambling.:o

I am curious who did the evaluation?

That is great that you keep in touch. Of the many puppies we raised, only Cactus' person kept in touch with us. You are so sweet to do that.

 

My Abby, died in April. I was so grief stricken I swore I would not get another. But when breeders heard about her passing they started to email me about a litter or potential puppy. No, No, No, I would say, I am not ready. My husband was encouraging me to find another dog too. I just couldn't. Then, a breeder sent me pictures of her new puppies. Totally UNFAIR. I said I could come look at them and temperment test.

I feel in love. We brought Bailey home at 10 weeks and started working with her immediately. She was amazing. (like the black labs you saw). By 8 months she passed her CGC. She of course went everywhere with us that a service dog in training was allowed. In July she passed her evaluation and is now my service dog. Since she is still very young, 18 months, she still has a lot to learn. This last week she has decided that she only will pick up the things she wants (teen age years). I guess it was 4 months from the time Abby died to when we got Bailey. But then she was just a puppy so it has really been more like 2 years since I had a SD. I still miss Abby so much. She literally saved my life and I will never forget her. Sorry, probably too much rambling.:o

Wow you trained your own service dog how interesting.

The federal American Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require mandatory or voluntary certification of service animals.

http://affluent.net/sara/sara4.htm

Missouri attorney general sues provider of service dogs

By JASON NOBLE

The Kansas City Star

Heaven Scent Paws, based in St. Elizabeth, Mo., provides service dogs and training sessions to teach them to recognize diabetic episodes.

But according to a lawsuit filed Monday by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office, the nonprofit organization has provided unsuitable dogs, failed to adequately train them, and created an unfair payment structure.

“We’ve heard from families across the country who paid thousands of dollars to this Missouri business to have a trained dog to help their diabetic children,” said Scott Holste, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office. “Heaven Scent Paws took advantage of those families.”

An attorney for Heaven Scent Paws, David Bandre, said any problems with dogs trained by the business rested with the families who purchased them.

“There’s a big difference between people who don’t like the results they get as a result of their own actions and being able to place blame on a company,” Bandre said.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to force compliance with consumer- protection laws, plus restitution payments and civil penalties.

It names several families that filed complaints after contracting with Heaven Scent Paws to receive and train a dog that could accompany diabetic children and notify caregivers of high or low blood sugar episodes.

One family reported that its dog, Eggo, had never alerted family members of a possible diabetic episode and has exhibited fear, aggression and “the capacity to bite if cornered.”

According to the suit, an expert determined that Eggo and other dogs were not properly trained in scent detection and not temperamentally fit to be service dogs.

Dogs can be trained to detect hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, although “it takes quite a bit of effort,” said Ed Eames, president of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, an advocacy group for owners of service dogs.

The suit also alleges that Heaven Scent Paws inappropriately cites the association on its documentation to legitimize its services.

To receive a dog, families were required to give Heaven Scent Paws at least $6,000 and complete a three-week training session with their dogs in Jefferson City.

After the money was paid, the suit alleges, Heaven Scent Paws would require families to sign a contract allowing the organization to dismiss them from training without a refund. The contract also stipulated that Heaven Scent Paws retained ownership of dogs for a year after families took possession of them.

Complaints have come from families in several states, including California, Texas and Virginia, Holste said. No Missouri families have lodged complaints.

As of Tuesday, Heaven Scent Paws’ Web site still operated, and showed sold-out training sessions scheduled for July, October and January.

All this because there is no regulation for service dogs, nobody certifies them on a yearly basis.

Anybody can get a service dog it is only regulated by the IRS under tax rules.

All you need is a doctors statement that you need a dog to emotionally support you, and a vet to say they are healthy.

I keep on posting about this because the trashy companies making a profit off of the disabled are making those whom are ligament look bad, there needs to be government regulation for service animals. People whom really rely on a truly trained service animal should have them, but people who claim a dog helps them is just wanting their pet to be able to go anywhere and that is a true disservice to ligament animals out there.

A ligament organization will not charge for their animals, and business whom charges for a service animal is only ripping off the disabled.

Hi All, Just a quick story... Last weekend we went to the 10th anniversary of the prison pup program at a prison near us. It was a wonderful event, about 200 people showed up. The prisoners are doing an amazing job with the dogs. There are 10 dogs currently training at this prison. All of them did a demonstration for us. Two standouts were these 5 month old black labs, they were amazing!!! 5 months old and so so smart. One had the dog walking beside a wheelchair. The other turning the light switch on and off. There was a Iraq vet there that had gotten a dog in June. As soon as the prisoner that trained him came in the room, the dog went nuts! It was incredibly touching. They had a few guest speakers and one girl was especially touching. I had tears coming down my face thinking of my beloved Rangeley. I don't know how I am going to make it through Joe's graduation in April without looking like a blubbering idiot. I can't believe how fast this is coming, John will be going to training next weekend the 10th for 2 weeks. John is feeling wierd and nervous and so am I. I will be alone for 2 weeks but John is hoping that he will be able to come home on the weekends since he has already had a dog before. For some stupid reason they have changed some of the commands so we will have to learn new ones after giving the same ones for 10yrs. But we can't complain, this organization is great!! Check it out at www.neads.org

 

 

I do have one question, does anyone have a problem with the water on the ship for their dog? Cari gives her dog some cranberry stuff a day before she cruises.

 

Thanks, Cindy

I would like to ask you a question, who is the provider of these dogs, and what agency supervises the training and testing of them? Is it a state agency, city agency or federal agency?

Thank you in advance for your reply

Pets are allowed to enter Mexico, so a service dog certification isn't required. Mexico doesn't have service dog laws. And certification isn't required for the US.

Oh, Roz, I really do envy you, but I'm glad for you at the same time.:cool: If I could take my sweet "Ruby" with me everywhere I most certainly would! I'm so very attached to her and not just because she intuitively knows what to do when I need help. But my DH, who is even more dear to me, pointed out that not only would we have to deal with shipboard hassles and the many unknowns at ports of call if we took her along, but we also wouldn't be able to go on any of the shore excursions we are hoping to enjoy. It's just the two of us -- who would watch after Ruby while we snorkel or cave tube? If I was single, I would simply skip the shore excursions altogether and stay onboard for the entire cruise, enjoying the amenities, the change of scenery, my fellow passengers and being with my beloved Ruby. That would be more than enough vacation for me.:) As things are, however, I've resigned myself to having to leave her behind when we cruise, just as I do whenever we go to Disney World.

All the best,

Deb K.

Another person who cares about the comfort of their animal, above themselves.

After reading all this, I'm happier with my decision to leave my service dog at home when I cruise for the first time this fall. The potential problems on the ship are one thing (and I've already trained my SD to relieve herself on command,) but the hassles when going ashore are a greater unknown. Each country must have its own regulations about bringing animals ashore. And then there are the stray dogs, particularly in the Caribbean. Although I'll miss my SD for many reasons, at least I was able to find a safe and comfortable place for her to stay while I'm away on the cruise.

Now you are a wise and unselfish person.

For now I am done here, I don't wish to make people angry, I know being handicapped is hard.

I was shot in the back and still have a bullet fragment lodged in my spine, the pain is exhausting, my service pet lays against my back and relieves the pain. Hairless chi.s put out incredible heat to help with pain.

I had a stroke a while back and I am still having trouble with thought processes and may not make my point as well as I once could.

Service monkeys are important for quadriplegics, as they can do many things that dogs simply cannot do because they have paws. Guide horses are a good choice for some blind/visually impaired people because they have such a long life-span and can work well

Monkeys are wild animals, not domesticated like dogs and therefore not reliable as SA

 

 

Yes, too many ppl are illegally passing off their pets as service animals, which you apparently helped them do when you were a police officer.

I did what my department regulated.

 

 

 

Emotional Support Animals are not service animals. They are pets that have been prescribed by a doctor/therapist for a person who has a mental disability. They do not do tasks like service animals do, but are owned so that their presence affects the mood of their owner. They cannot be taken into no-pets-allowed public places like restaurants, stores, hotels, beaches, parks, etc. With a doctor's letter, they can accompany their person in an airplane cabin and live with their person in no-pets housing.

 

No emotional support animals have the exact rights as any other service animal. They can go any where as the person who has it may have a panic attack any where they go and the animal is suppose to stop this. It is the law, check it out for your self, our department attorneys thoroughly researched this as it was such a problem in our area.

 

 

Like somebody else said, a vet has nothing to do with whether a dog is a service dog or not. And sites like the one you pointed out are scams and cause people to commit crimes and fraud. As a police officer, you should have steered far away from such companies. Paperwork does not make a dog an SD nor does it make a person disabled.

You can go here and have basically any dog certified as a service dog for $50.00.

http://www.registeredservicedogs.com/

Getting Started is Easy:

We simply require that a Service Dog is registered. Our company requires that you supply:

* A doctor's request that this individual has a medical need for a “Service Dog”.

* A Veterinarian's signed statement that your service dog is not considered to be vicious or in any way a threat to the general public.

* Proof of the shots and vaccinations, etc. that are required to keep the dog in good health.

Simply click on the link below, follow the prompts, and submit the completed forms to us with your payment of $49.95 + 1.50 S/H. Your custom created ID Card Package will be sent out within three (3) business days.

While there may be a few dogs who shouldn't have been trained as SDs, the VAST majority of SDs are incredibly happy to do their jobs and to be out around everywhere. An SD can also have a bad day every now and again just like we can, not to mention that dogs don't express their feelings the way we do. If the dog's head is hung low and its tail between its leg and it is whining and all, yeah, that dog doesn't want to be there. But simply having no emotion showing (i.e. head normal, tail normal not wagging, etc.) means nothing. I don't know about you, but I don't smile all day long even if I'm doing swell or am happy - and most ppl are the same way.

This is attaching human emotion to an animal, who have different rules. A dog with head hung low, and or a tail between its legs is a very unhappy dog.

 

 

 

That is sad, but that's not the dog's fault; that's the girl's fault. You would shut down, too, if you got hurt on the job that many times, even if you really loved your job. The girl obviously either wasn't mature enough for an SD (if a child/teen - not sure if you meant kid or not by saying "girl") or wasn't careful enough. Most SD users are very careful and care for their dogs VERY well. We put our SD's needs first.

 

Here I meant that the girl young woman had a muscular disorder, while made her movements jerky and so driving the wheelchair, using this unsure movement made the chair sway around a lot.

 

 

That's simply not true. There are tens of thousands (or more) of happy and happily working SD teams across the world. Sometimes the dog and human don't mesh well and it isn't a match - if a program dog, the program will take the dog back and match him with another, matching the human with another dog. If an owner-trained dog, a responsible owner will retire or re-home the dog and get another to be their SD.

 

But who regulates these agencies? The government? The ADA?

I once tried to report a lady who had German shepherd that was a guide dog the dog was beautiful at first, I was teaching a college class at the time but over the semester it got skinner and skinner until you could see its hip bones, spine every thing, I asked the girl who she got the guide dog from and she told me some agency out of Texas, when I tried to contact them I was told the business had shut down, then talking to some people in the area who said that anybody can start a service dog business because there is no government regulations controlling them.

 

 

First of all, many disabled ppl travel solo. Others travel with the same ppl they have at home (i.e. spouse and kids).

 

Secondly, not every disability can be mitigated by a human. No human can detect seizures before they happen, for instance. Most humans make terrible sighted guides for blind/visually impaired ppl. A human isn't going to be able to be the mobility aid for somebody all or perhaps even part of the time. And many other situations like those.

 

SDs are often off-duty at home and get to play - sometimes with their owner, sometimes with their owner's family/friends, sometimes with other dogs/animals, etc. They get plenty of time to refresh when they're not working.

 

Dogs by nature love to work. Dogs need a job. If they don't have one, they will find one - that's why so many pet owners come home to chewed-up shoes, sofas, etc.

 

Dogs are also pack animals. They do not like being separated from their pack. When a human goes to work and leaves their pet dog at home, the dog is not happy. SDs are happier and better off than pets in this regard.

 

 

 

True, but the majority of SD handlers take as good or better care of their dogs than pet people do.

I hope this is true

Roz: You know that comment struck me as odd also, but I guess I filed it away. Its as if they are saying the SD is for your convenience as long as they don't interfer. Then why would one need a SD? Rethorical question. I know you would never leave Brenny home, she is with you for a reason.

 

When we travel in our motorhome, Reno goes with us. He cannot get down the steps, and probably can't get up them anymore. I have to take his ramp with us and ramp him out of the motorhome everytime he wants out. It would be easier to leave him with the babysitter, but he is part of the family and I will just have to compromise some of my time for him.

 

To the others Reno is not a SD. Just our big ole furbaby. He now has a sister kitty. She hasn't been in the motorhome yet, but can't see any reason why she wouldn't go. She is strictly an indoor kitty anyway. A little inconvenience to us is a life time of furbaby love and kisses.

I hate to come off sounding like a jacka** on this subject, but I do want people to understand that I love animals, I have two dogs, one a service animal, and two cats. I am a wild life rehabilitation officer and have fostered 100's of animals from owls, hawks, to groundhogs and wolfs until they were well enough to turn free.

I guess one of my pet peeves on this subject is now there are service monkeys, horses, etc. and I think the idea of service animals are being abused by some.

When I was a police officer we constantly had to go on calls where apartment neighbors where assaulting one another because a tenant had a service animal that was for emotional support.

Then a fight would ensue because other people weren't allow to have animals.

We would just tell them to go to one of the sites such as I listed above and get your own service animal certified.

Its easy, a note from your vet and you are good to go.

You can go here and have basically any dog certified as a service dog for $50.00.

http://www.registeredservicedogs.com/

Getting Started is Easy:

We simply require that a Service Dog is registered. Our company requires that you supply:

* A doctor's request that this individual has a medical need for a “Service Dog”.

* A Veterinarian's signed statement that your service dog is not considered to be vicious or in any way a threat to the general public.

* Proof of the shots and vaccinations, etc. that are required to keep the dog in good health.

Simply click on the link below, follow the prompts, and submit the completed forms to us with your payment of $49.95 + 1.50 S/H. Your custom created ID Card Package will be sent out within three (3) business days.

Cindy: I'm glad it's over and we've been back to the restaurant a few more times and, as usual, we were greeted very nicely and even treated to a dinner by the new manager! All's well! (The story of your cousin is awful....another moron in this world!) Sorry!

 

Joe will be ready to go cruising, just like you wanted! Again, don't be afraid of the "potty box", the dogs think nothing of using them and get quite comfortable with them. Brenda is so talented at making her "circles" in that little space!

 

Princess uses a "cardboard" box, with sawdust. I make sure there's lots of the sawdust in the box otherwise her paws slip on the bottom!

 

To all of you who are cruising to the Carribean or Mexico....the Agricultural Inspection Form/recent Immunizations signed by your Vet./Chip or Tattoo, along with the Dogs current City License/Tag and a copy of your Passport is really all that you should need for these countries or Islands. It's all we needed. I gave copies to the Purser, they were examined by the authorities and we were done.

 

Make lots of copies for them and you.

 

Rangeley: Bring all your documentation and your good to go! Carry copies on you, when you're on the Islands and just in case you're asked to show them.

 

Tinwoman: The reason a person makes the commitment to have a Service Dog in their lives is to enhance that life. Most of us would not be able to travel [well], if it weren't for these amazing dogs. To leave the dog at home would defeat the sole purpose of having one!

 

To comment that leaving the dog at home is a "final voice of sanity", is really insulting to the rest of us!

You know I will just say having been around service dogs for years,. I just am not impressed by them, I think it is a very, very hard life for them. They always seem so depressed being drug around everywhere. A girl I knew in a wheel chair had a golden who's toes had been accidentally run over so many times that she just shut down, and had to be retired at 4 years of age it was so sad. JMHO.

It is a noble idea, that just very rarely, is a perfect match. Be aware that you are quoting me quoting another poster with service dog, I just think the animal needs a little time away to refresh, and while on vacation family members are present, that may not be when at home to help out.

Also just like unhandicapped people, some handicapped people are not so kind to their dogs.

After reading all this, I'm happier with my decision to leave my service dog at home when I cruise for the first time this fall. The potential problems on the ship are one thing (and I've already trained my SD to relieve herself on command,) but the hassles when going ashore are a greater unknown. Each country must have its own regulations about bringing animals ashore. And then there are the stray dogs, particularly in the Caribbean. Although I'll miss my SD for many reasons, at least I was able to find a safe and comfortable place for her to stay while I'm away on the cruise.

Finally a voice of sanity. I think our dogs need a nice little break too.

Well I guess I will just have to tough it out. :p Poor Me. LOL

I am so looking forward to vacation!!!:D

Perhaps a nice drive in the country is more to your liking, Shirley.

Look what happened to Tinman when he got wet.

Well the tinman keeps me well "oiled" so to speak, so no worries. ;)

We just got back from an 8 day Mexican Riviera cruise on NCL Star, and one of our ports of call was P.V. We went to the Krystal so I could have a massage, (highly recommended) and mean while my husband and kids went to the beach. The water was so rough that my 10 yr old son lost his snorkel and a flipper and my husband was trying to find it. He thought he had something in his hand and when he pulled it out of the water it was a black snake! They quickly retreated to the pool after that and I am glad I was getting my massage and not there with them as I would have freaked! The kids thought it was funny though!:)

OMG:eek::eek::eek:

The pool sounds nice.

If you saw a 'snake' in the water, it probably was a Tiger Snake Eel. The name sounds scary but it is really an eel that is harmless to humans. They go after tiny fish and burry themselves in the sand or mud away from shore.

I understand your fear of snakes but you should not worry about them in PV. Now, if you go hiking in the Arizona desert, that would be a different story.

Do they have a flat looking tail, it looked like that one did.

We see a lot of snakes, I live in the country, but geeze when they are in the water I just freak. How embarrassing.:eek:

I wouldn't worry about seeing snakes. I have been several times and thank goodness, never saw one, now geckos, that is another story:D

Kris

Lizards really don't bother me, or any other of the "crawlies", bugs and stuff.

Rationally I know they belong in the environment, and should be left alone.

But I have never been able to shake my fear of especially small squiggly snakes.

Seeing a pic of one in the water totally creeped me out.

Hey not that it would ever keep me from going lol :D

It would just be a bonus NOT to see any.:)

Do tourists see a lot of snakes in and around the resorts.

Somebody sent me a picture they took of a black looking snake in the water near a beach, EEK! I am totally afraid of them.:eek:

Oh our dogs did more than one thing lol.:)

We also would take them into the schools and teach kids about the dangers of illegal and abusing legal drugs.

I have prob taught over 500 programs.

One of the fave tricks the kids liked my dogs to do was I would give the command to sit and stay, I would then tell the kids to call the dog when I left the room. You could hear the kids yelling all down the halls, and I never had a dog break his/her command one time. :D

They were also taught to lay down during gun fire which can be daunting for any dog.

I could go on and on, but all in all I would say they functioned at a 5 year old level other than vocally.:)

 

 

I love walking her, on deck. And seeing her face when the ship rolls out to sea. She loves the smell of the salt air. We play ball on deck and the attention she gets from the crew and other passengers is always welcome! I can't imagine a cruise without her! :p

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I like to be informed.

Is your handicap visual? For some reason I thought it was but then you were talking about seeing her face so I am confused.:confused: Maybe you have partial vision.

I trained drug detection k-9's for years and thats why this thread go my attention. Because the training for the dogs is so detailed and in depth.