dogs on board

[GinLovesToCruise]

Colo Cruiser, I'm glad I'm not the only one! Lol

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[notentirelynormal]

I had a weird experience at the Seattle airport. I end up talking to this lady (I had been escorted because of my recent surgery and they place me next to her). I get talking to the lady and OMG and I mean OMG. The abuse this woman lived through, her "cutting", just her whole life. I didn't even notice she had a "dog" snuggled beneath her clothes. Her dog that kept her centered. OMG. This woman's life was incredible. She was changing her life and moving to Alaska. She had been beaten beyond belief, etc etc. This little dog that I never noticed in the hour I spent with her. For her, it saved her life.

 

I have NO respect for the abusers. I was once in a bank where this preppy little thing had a goat. I asked the clerk about it and was told she owned a petting zoo but the girl insisted it was a service animal. Ya, sure, okay. I don't think so.

 

My daughter is training their dog to be a service animal to my granddaughter. She has autism and is prone to be too trusting and never checking when crossing the road. It is a training in progress.

Edited March 7, 2014 by notentirelynormal

[alexspepa]

I know a girl (I call her a girl but she is probably in her early 20's), who is autistic. She has a "comfort/service" monkey. A very small capuchin monkey. I don't know if they take it into restaurants, but I know they take it everywhere else.

 

But to my knowledge the almost never travel.

 

I don't have anything against monkeys, but I would rather have a dog.... Monkeys kinda freak me out and scare me a little. Especially the little ones, but that's my own issue! Lol.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

my friend is a flight attendant...one time there was a passenger with a service monkey on the plane. The passenger fell asleep and the monkey was dipping his fingers in his owners glass and flicking the liquid on the other passengers around him.

[GinLovesToCruise]

Hmmmmmm...... Yep, Sounds like a monkey!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Thumper69]

OMG. for the record REAL trained service animals DO NOT defend their territory, growl, snarl, bark, bare teeth, dip or flip. They SERVICE their owners, period. Dogs that do this should be removed from the ship like passengers that are disorderly. Done. No discussion.

[shastatroy]

On March 15, 2011, the Department of Justice implemented laws stating only dogs will be recognized as service animals under title II and III of the ADA.

 

So, no monkeys will be on cruise ships or anywhere else for that matter.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Just got done laughing myself to tears reading about the monkey comments..:p

[sportsphotos]

It's a companion dog we had one on our cruise and asked about it. The dog was to keep the passenger calm! This dog was very nice and well behaved.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Musky Ike]

Still not sure if this dog was a real service dog but without knowing all the facts I guess nothing should be assumed. Hopefully innocent people with real need won't be victims of those who abuse this by bringing pets on board labelled as service dogs..that would be sad indeed!

 

Camelia

 

Sad but true

 

Any right/privilege/policy that has little enforcement or violation penalties will be abused. In this case, add that it is so hard to tell real from fake, it is little wonder cruise lines error on the side of allowing. The bad PR from denying a legitimate owner would not be good.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Musky Ike

[Colo Cruiser]

it is little wonder cruise lines error on the side of allowing.

 

 

They do not have that choice.

[hllwdcruiser]

This is a subject that is close to home for me. I have been training our dog for the past six months to pass the tests to become a legitimate service/therapy dog. My main objective is to take him in to our local children's hospital so that he can bring some comfort and joy.

 

We have almost everything down pat, but because he is still young, it is hard to contain his exuberance when he is near children. He will still sometimes jump up in excitement - this is our last hurdle to overcome. It is not an easy test to pass and dogs have to be over one year old before they are even allowed to take it.

 

Yet I see abuses every day - all you need is a letter from a licensed therapist and you can declare your dog a therapy or emotional support dog. People are bypassing HOA and condo doc bylaws, getting free airplane rides for their pets, entering food and retail establishments and most, when asked, admit to the fraud.

 

On our last Ruby cruise, I came across a woman walking her dog in the hallway. She said she got the therapy dog designation for her pet when she was battling cancer several years ago. She admitted that she had been cancer free for years but still used the designation to be able to take her pet everywhere with her.

 

Karma's a b**** - I just hope that those who abuse the system won't ever need a service dog for real....:mad:

[hllwdcruiser]

They do not have that choice.

 

Very true - they had a seminar on this very subject at the Police Department that my husband worked for. He was told that if they are informed that a dog is a service dog they are not even allowed to ask for proof. The dog doesn't have to wear a vest and are not even required to have a special tag.

 

I am on the board of our HOA that has a size restriction for dogs. We are allowed to ask for proof, but have to accept a letter from any licensed therapist. The dogs do not need any certification beyond that.

[sailorgirl]

The only thing that holds us back from lengthy cruises is having to leave our German Shepherd at home. If I could bring my well behaved dog with me, I'd do a lot more cruising. LOL!

[Anubi]

I am asking this because I am curious, not judging. Where are the animals while their owners are in the dining room? :confused::confused::confused:

[timetravler]

The service dog I know sleeps under the table when in a dinning room. You would never know she was there. BTW yes she is a legit service dog with many months of training. She never acts out and does NOT eat in public. Very highly trained.

[marjosagb]

It was a little white dog (not more than a foot long) that had on a sweater labelled "service dog"

 

So what is the dress code for service/companion dogs in the MDR on formal night?

 

Is the sweater okay?

 

Should we start another thread?

 

;)

[Jim Avery]

Hmmmmmm...... Yep, Sounds like a monkey!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

and lots of monkeys bite!:eek:

[Jim Avery]

The only thing that holds us back from lengthy cruises is having to leave our German Shepherd at home. If I could bring my well behaved dog with me, I'd do a lot more cruising. LOL!

 

Us too. Hate to leave our 17lbs of Terrier attitude.:D

[PrincessLuver]

This is a subject that is close to home for me. I have been training our dog for the past six months to pass the tests to become a legitimate service/therapy dog. My main objective is to take him in to our local children's hospital so that he can bring some comfort and joy.

 

We have almost everything down pat, but because he is still young, it is hard to contain his exuberance when he is near children. He will still sometimes jump up in excitement - this is our last hurdle to overcome. It is not an easy test to pass and dogs have to be over one year old before they are even allowed to take it.

 

Yet I see abuses every day - all you need is a letter from a licensed therapist and you can declare your dog a therapy or emotional support dog. People are bypassing HOA and condo doc bylaws, getting free airplane rides for their pets, entering food and retail establishments and most, when asked, admit to the fraud.

 

On our last Ruby cruise, I came across a woman walking her dog in the hallway. She said she got the therapy dog designation for her pet when she was battling cancer several years ago. She admitted that she had been cancer free for years but still used the designation to be able to take her pet everywhere with her.

 

Karma's a b**** - I just hope that those who abuse the system won't ever need a service dog for real....:mad:

 

You are so right....most ESA's (Emotional Support Animals) versus Service Animals I have seen on cruise ships appear to be fakes....I believe the problem stems from the law and I know some states are passing laws now to treat fake service animals as a crime....basically....according to the ADA, only a dog can be a service animal, the owner must have a documented disability, the dog is trained to perform a task to alleviate that disability, and the dog’s presence does not alter the environment for others.

 

This is not the case under other federal or state laws under which any animal can qualify as a service animal. The ADA doesn’t, however, set forth what types of disabilities qualify for use of a service animal, nor does it set forth any government certification or standards for service animals.

 

Owners aren’t required to carry any proof of a dog’s training. Obtaining collars, vets, tags and other accouterments imprinted with the moniker “service dog” is as easy as going online. For those working in an otherwise dog free environment they cannot ask for proof of a disability or for proof that dog has been trained as a service animal.

 

The result of this lack of federal guidelines coupled with the inability to inquire has, according to some, created the opportunity for abuse of the ADA when those without disabilities are outfitting their pets as service animals simply to gain access to forbidden locations.

 

While on its face there might not appear to be much harm done by this kind of service animal fraud, there is the larger picture of undermining the intent of the ADA and creating an environment where legitimate service animals and their owners are viewed with suspicion.

[Off2China]

I am asking this because I am curious, not judging. Where are the animals while their owners are in the dining room? :confused::confused::confused:

 

The ones I've seen are on the floor at their owners feet.

[caribill]

Unfortunately, it is very easy to get a "service dog" vest and papers.

 

Such as

http://www.servicedogtags.com/index.htm?gclid=COOQpfKzgb0CFS9p7Aodr2gAHQ

[hobo1937]

I wonder what is going to happen when one of these so called "service dogs" that bark and snarl bite someone!

[cruiseryyc]

I wonder what is going to happen when one of these so called "service dogs" that bark and snarl bite someone!

 

'DOG OVERBOARD"

 

Proper service dogs do not bark or snarl; they don't even pay attention to anyone except their master and no one should approach them or speak to them without first getting permission from the owner (actually that last part applies to all dogs).

[hllwdcruiser]

You are so right....most ESA's (Emotional Support Animals) versus Service Animals I have seen on cruise ships appear to be fakes....I believe the problem stems from the law and I know some states are passing laws now to treat fake service animals as a crime....basically....according to the ADA, only a dog can be a service animal, the owner must have a documented disability, the dog is trained to perform a task to alleviate that disability, and the dog’s presence does not alter the environment for others.

 

This is not the case under other federal or state laws under which any animal can qualify as a service animal. The ADA doesn’t, however, set forth what types of disabilities qualify for use of a service animal, nor does it set forth any government certification or standards for service animals.

 

Owners aren’t required to carry any proof of a dog’s training. Obtaining collars, vets, tags and other accouterments imprinted with the moniker “service dog” is as easy as going online. For those working in an otherwise dog free environment they cannot ask for proof of a disability or for proof that dog has been trained as a service animal.

 

The result of this lack of federal guidelines coupled with the inability to inquire has, according to some, created the opportunity for abuse of the ADA when those without disabilities are outfitting their pets as service animals simply to gain access to forbidden locations.

 

While on its face there might not appear to be much harm done by this kind of service animal fraud, there is the larger picture of undermining the intent of the ADA and creating an environment where legitimate service animals and their owners are viewed with suspicion.

 

Very well said.

[AE_Collector]

I am asking this because I am curious, not judging. Where are the animals while their owners are in the dining room? :confused::confused::confused:

 

On the owners lap through dinner in the MDR on my last cruise. Lots of room for argument I am sure but assuming it wasn't a fake service dog, did the lady really have to go to the MDR for dinner? If it was a fake service dog, all I can say is what an inconsiderate moron.

 

Terry