Dogs on board???

[smeesme]

I've read posts on CC for a long time but have never posted, however, I feel I need to make one comment on this thread from another perspective.

 

I have a daughter who was attacked by a rottweiller and required going to the hospital. She is physically fine now but is very distrusting of dogs now. We are reintroducing her to dogs, in fact she has made friends with some but it's a long road. She has been around trained service dogs and has no problems with them as they are so well behaved and do not approach her. My concern with these dogs that are brought on board for emotional support are not fully trained and in fact, would cause considerable emotional problems for my family.

 

I think the problem is well trained service dogs that are actually working (which I think should always be welcomed aboard) versus these dogs that have no real training and really seem to be there because "master" cannot spend 5 minutes away from them.

 

I was raised with dogs and I love them even though we do not have one (we have a cat who would never share our house with any other animal.) But if we did have one, I would never submit them to such a change in environment. Also, what does the animal do when in port? Most countries would not allow an animal in without a lot of paperwork. If left on board, I would not like to deal with hearing them bark and bark. Please, note, I have no problem with the service dogs, they go everywhere their handler goes.

 

Anyway, just my two cents from another perpective.

[twinmom38]

All excellant points... a trained service dog will not approach.. will not " pee".. will not chase a cat or a ball..will not even be know to be there unless it is visually seen. we as puppy walkers / raisers work dilligently to assure that...we take our "job" seriously and are proud beyond compare at the finished guide dog that is awarded to a deserving person. you are correct... without proper certification and training i also believe that they shouldn't be allowed.. my mothers husband ( the psychologist) tells me that the woman who brings her little ****-zu ( for emotional support) has no documnetation for the dog, and they do not "press" the issue for fear of being sued for discrimination... so i guess people think they can get away with things like that. sad .. but to the others of you who have posted about your puppies... i say a big thank you... i do know how hard it is to let them go...i cry for weeks afterwards.. till the next puppy comes to me....

[cruisecastle]

Ripping Carnival:confused: You are hilarious!!! How about every now and then you come out of your naive little shell of a world you live in and say something nice:p:D

 

I have nothing nice to say to whiners that blame others for their own shortfalls and mistakes.

[woodey]

I've read posts on CC for a long time but have never posted, however, I feel I need to make one comment on this thread from another perspective.

 

I have a daughter who was attacked by a rottweiller and required going to the hospital. She is physically fine now but is very distrusting of dogs now. We are reintroducing her to dogs, in fact she has made friends with some but it's a long road. She has been around trained service dogs and has no problems with them as they are so well behaved and do not approach her. My concern with these dogs that are brought on board for emotional support are not fully trained and in fact, would cause considerable emotional problems for my family.

 

I think the problem is well trained service dogs that are actually working (which I think should always be welcomed aboard) versus these dogs that have no real training and really seem to be there because "master" cannot spend 5 minutes away from them.

 

I was raised with dogs and I love them even though we do not have one (we have a cat who would never share our house with any other animal.) But if we did have one, I would never submit them to such a change in environment. Also, what does the animal do when in port? Most countries would not allow an animal in without a lot of paperwork. If left on board, I would not like to deal with hearing them bark and bark. Please, note, I have no problem with the service dogs, they go everywhere their handler goes.

 

Anyway, just my two cents from another perpective.

Some very good points here! i know if i stayed on the ship while everyone else went in port and wanted to take a nap and a dog was barking in the next room........I dont think i would be a happy camper...

[cathalane]

Its nice to actually have a new topic to talk about, I've been enjoying reading the debates :D

 

I never even heard about "emotional support" service animals - actually, I never realized there were so many different jobs for service animals...

[Kurbanfan]

I have nothing nice to say to whiners that blame others for their own shortfalls and mistakes.

 

ROFLMAO!!!! Ya just can't do it huh? That's ok I know for some and it can be a little challenging:D

[funone2]

.....I was on the ship with Briarwood (who happened to be on my roll call) and can attest to the fact of the canine on board.

 

On my first miracle cruise, August 2007, I met a blind gentleman named Johnny. He had brought his SERVICE DOG Barkley with him. I totally enjoyed my time spent with them. Both of them had great attitudes, it was refreshing being with them.

 

But this woman and man who brought their dog on the ship, I was completely appalled by it. I saw the litter box roped off on the front of the deck and couldn't believe it.

 

A letter to Carnival has been sent by myself. Another person on my cruise also sent a letter to Carnival saying they must have been mistaken about the whole thing. Let's see what happens when they read my letter.

 

What the heck is wrong with this picture?

 

:confused:

 

wasiii

 

 

 

I was also on the cruise with Wasiii and Briarwood and did indeed see the dog. I had approached the woman who was holding the dog and asked about it and she indicated that it was a service dog. I'm not sure for who but it was a little dog (she was carrying it).

 

Anyway, when we docked in St Kitts, I had been on shore and had to make a mad dash back to my cabin to get my credit card for a purchase. When I came up the stairs and around the corner onto the Riviera Deck, I encountered several little 'poops' on the carpet. Yes, I know what they were!

 

I went back to my cabin, got my card, and ran back off the ship. About 2 hours later, I got back on the ship and went right to the pursers desk to let them know what I had witnessed. They wanted to know exactly where the 'deposit' was and my name and cabin number.

 

The next evening after dinner, I went back to my cabin and there was an envelope with a letter from the supervisor apologizing for the 'situation'. I was hoping for some other compensation ... but the letter was it.

 

After that day, I never saw the dog again. I'm sure they contacted the lady and maybe she was asked to keep the dog in her cabin.

 

Sorry no pictures ... but I do still have the letter to prove!:p

[Drew B]

I have a daughter who was attacked by a rottweiller and required going to the hospital. She is physically fine now but is very distrusting of dogs now. We are reintroducing her to dogs, in fact she has made friends with some but it's a long road. She has been around trained service dogs and has no problems with them as they are so well behaved and do not approach her. My concern with these dogs that are brought on board for emotional support are not fully trained and in fact, would cause considerable emotional problems for my family.

 

I'm so sorry that your daughter was attacked. That must be very difficult for you and your family. However, with all due respect, I'd like to ask you a question. If, God forbid, your daughter had suffered an attack by a MAN and was consequently (and understandably) uncomfortable around strange men as a result, would you then come on here and say that you don't believe that men should be allowed aboard ships because of the emotional problems that having men around might cause your family? I don't believe that any DOG brought aboard for emotional support, with or without extensive training, is any more likely to attack your daughter than any MAN who happens to come aboard. Yes, there are dangerous dogs the same as there are dangerous people, but you can't assume that all dogs are dangerous just because a few of them are (any more than you can assume that all men are dangerous just because a few of them are).

 

If your daughter's sensitivity, understandable and reasonable as it may be given her history, causes her to fear dogs to a greater extent than is reasonable, then I have to say unfortunately that that is her problem. It will be up to her to keep herself out of the vicinity of dogs rather than up to dog owners to necessarily keep their dogs out of the vicinity of her. Yes, the dog owners are responsible for ensuring that their dogs are under control and don't do any harm to people nearby. However, if the dog is doing nothing wrong and it is only the person's fear that they MIGHT do something wrong, then that is not the dog owner's fault...

[smeesme]

To Drew B:

Of course if a strange man attacked her, we would not expect men to be banned from the ship. However, I don't expect a strange man to come up to her and jump up, kiss her, etc. things that dogs do. The emotional support dogs may be perfectly trained but this is not assured if they do not go through vigorous training like regular service dogs. I don't know, maybe they are well-trained, however from the issues with defacating wherever they feel like, that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

I know you say this is her problem, to an extent I would agree, however, trained service dogs do not approach people. We expect that on the ship that we would not have to worry about a dog going up to her. We are doing a lot to try to erase this fear, as I stated before by reintroducing her to dogs and to have her pet them but it's at her initiative.

 

As stated in my post, I have no problem with well trained service dogs who are really needed on board ship. But if they are defacating wherever they want, they are not well trained and my opinion is that they should not be allowed on for a variety of reasons, including the one I stated. YOu have your opinion of any type of dog should be allowed if the person feels justified, I have my opinion. There is no reason to give such a ridiculous comparison.

[Drew B]

Actually, I think that ANY owner (whether of a service animal or a pet) is responsible for their dog, and there is no excuse for a dog in public to be jumping up on and/or kissing people unless they invite it. That is true of a pet as well as of a service animal. If a dog were to jump up on your daughter, I would completely support your belief that that dog does not belong on a ship. However, simply the fear that a dog MIGHT jump up on your daughter is not enough reason to ban it, IMO.

 

YOu have your opinion of any type of dog should be allowed if the person feels justified, I have my opinion.

 

You are misrepresenting my position. I don't care about the person's (passenger's) justifications. I care about Carnival's acceptance of that justification. If a person wants to bring a dog and Carnival says "no", then I feel that person has no right to bring that dog. If a person wants to bring a dog and it meets whatever Carnival's criteria are and Carnival says "yes", then I think that person has every right to bring that dog. I don't think it really matters what other passengers think - myself included. They aren't in charge and their opinions don't matter.

[Almost Packed]

there are many pets that can be service animals...they call them "emotional support animals" honestly i think it's a way to get around rules and to bring your dogs onboard planes and into stores....but there is a medical excuse for them....

most of the emotional support dogs are in fact, little tiny lap dogs that are pets. i work in aviation, and see it all the time.

so if you want to bring your pet on your cruise, go to your dr. and tell them you are depressed. while your at it, tell him you need a handicapped parking permit too so you can have free parking at the pier, and up close parking everywhere else you go.....

[mjl1960]

I think the liberal use of the term "service dog" is a joke, and if they cannot show some kind of paperwork stating it is trained for a specific purpose, along with documentation of medical necessity, then the dog should not be allowed. If they are in such need of a dog, then they should prove it, otherwise find something else to do. I am totally against people getting to bring "pets" on board, especially if they are going to take dumps or piddle where they shouldn't - especially around areas where there is food.

[Scootch]

Last year when on Carnival Freedom, we experience several service dogs. I inquired where they go to the BR and was told that special boxes were set up on the balconies for these dogs.

 

For the first time, I saw a poodle as a service dog. Usually they are labs or golden retrievers.

 

When their owners got off the ship they were escorted by a Carnival Representative and the dogs stayed in the rooms.

 

The one service dog was on her 10th cruise!! I think it is really cool!!

[home_sea_home]

The one service dog was on her 10th cruise!! I think it is really cool!!

 

What kind of perks does the dog get for being Platinum?? Free doggy bags? Discount on a "pet"icure in the spa? VIP (Very Important Puppy) boarding? :D

[Nicole721]

We just got off this same cruise and didn't see or encounter any dogs, anyone with a dog, or any dog waste.

 

I didn't read this entire thread, and I'm not saying it didn't happen, but as a group of four who were fairly active all around the boat, we didn't see or encounter any of this.

 

I saw a lot of other questionable behavior by some of the other guests (lack of sanitary manners...ie covering their mouths when coughing...which contributed to a massive overload of coughing and loogies all throughout the ship) which bothered me more than a little dog would have.

[Drew B]

I think the liberal use of the term "service dog" is a joke, and if they cannot show some kind of paperwork stating it is trained for a specific purpose, along with documentation of medical necessity, then the dog should not be allowed. If they are in such need of a dog, then they should prove it, otherwise find something else to do. I am totally against people getting to bring "pets" on board, especially if they are going to take dumps or piddle where they shouldn't - especially around areas where there is food.

 

Is there any reason to believe that each and every person who has ever brought a dog aboard a cruise ship hasn't provided such documentation? I'm fairly sure that no cruise line allows you to bring a dog aboard just because you say you need it. You MUST provide appropriate documentation to satisfy their rules.

 

For the first time, I saw a poodle as a service dog. Usually they are labs or golden retrievers.

 

Poodles are hypoallergenic, so they can be the only option for a person with a disability who also suffers from allergies. Just last week, I went to dinner with a friend who is training a standard poodle to be a guide dog. We went out for Ethiopian food, and the proprieters of the restaurant definitely found it strange that we walked in with a poodle... He was wearing his service animal outfit (I don't know what to call that doggie garment), so they allowed it...

[Rowan555]

You wanted COMPENSATION because you witnessed dog poop? You didn't slip in it, or end up with it on your body - you SAW IT.

 

I think I've heard/read it ALL now...

 

When Carnival makes a stricter policy regarding service dogs, I hope they also devise a strict policy against allowing chronic melodramatic complainers on board.

 

I was also on the cruise with Wasiii and Briarwood and did indeed see the dog. I had approached the woman who was holding the dog and asked about it and she indicated that it was a service dog. I'm not sure for who but it was a little dog (she was carrying it).

 

Anyway, when we docked in St Kitts, I had been on shore and had to make a mad dash back to my cabin to get my credit card for a purchase. When I came up the stairs and around the corner onto the Riviera Deck, I encountered several little 'poops' on the carpet. Yes, I know what they were!

 

I went back to my cabin, got my card, and ran back off the ship. About 2 hours later, I got back on the ship and went right to the pursers desk to let them know what I had witnessed. They wanted to know exactly where the 'deposit' was and my name and cabin number.

 

The next evening after dinner, I went back to my cabin and there was an envelope with a letter from the supervisor apologizing for the 'situation'. I was hoping for some other compensation ... but the letter was it.

 

After that day, I never saw the dog again. I'm sure they contacted the lady and maybe she was asked to keep the dog in her cabin.

 

Sorry no pictures ... but I do still have the letter to prove!:p

[Nicole721]

You wanted COMPENSATION because you witnessed dog poop? You didn't slip in it, or end up with it on your body - you SAW IT.

 

I think I've heard/read it ALL now...

 

When Carnival makes a stricter policy regarding service dogs, I hope they also devise a strict policy against allowing chronic melodramatic complainers on board.

 

You said it....

 

I looked up from my bed one day and noticed a big, smashed bug up on the ceiling...complete with a smear of red blood on the ceiling. Maybe I should have asked for dinner for four up at Nick and Nora's for witnessing a dead bug above my bed.

 

;)

[Thirsty Cruiser]

You wanted COMPENSATION because you witnessed dog poop? You didn't slip in it, or end up with it on your body - you SAW IT.

 

I think I've heard/read it ALL now...

 

When Carnival makes a stricter policy regarding service dogs, I hope they also devise a strict policy against allowing chronic melodramatic complainers on board.

And also against people that post their response above the quoted text, lol.

 

Seriously, the presence of dog crap (or worse yet, human) on a public area of a cruise ship is reason for concern. I hope you would agree with that. I take a cruise to get away from the every day BS. The last thing I wanna see is ANY form of it on the lido deck. ;) :D

[Rowan555]

And also against people that post their response above the quoted text, lol.

 

Seriously, the presence of dog crap (or worse yet, human) on a public area of a cruise ship is reason for concern. I hope you would agree with that. I take a cruise to get away from the every day BS. The last thing I wanna see is ANY form of it on the lido deck. ;) :D

 

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree it's gross, disturbing, and unacceptable, and I hope Carnival decides to revise its policy on what sort of animals are actually acceptable on their ships. I wouldn't want to see dog poop on my cruise, nor would I want to hear a barking dog or anything else of that nature.

 

That being said, I've SLIPPED in vomit in the corridor on the way to my cabin, I've seen HUMAN poop clear out a pool and close it down for the WHOLE DAY, and I've had other experiences on past cruises which similarly disturbed me. While those incidents gave me pause (and the pool closure incident really ticked me off b/c it was the ONLY day of that cruise where the weather allowed the pool to even be OPEN), I didn't let it ruin my day, much less my cruise, and I certainly didn't expect compensation.

 

A strongly worded letter to Carnival can be very helpful in improving these situations for future cruisers - and I have written my fair share - but a letter written in the hopes of compensation for issues such as these is silly and selfish, as is complaining about such things while on board and expecting to get something free for 2 minutes of your day being "ruined."

[BullDogChief]

Is there any reason to believe that each and every person who has ever brought a dog aboard a cruise ship hasn't provided such documentation? I'm fairly sure that no cruise line allows you to bring a dog aboard just because you say you need it. You MUST provide appropriate documentation to satisfy their rules.

 

I would have to agree with you, Drew, it makes sense because it would be almost impossible to smuggle a dog onboard...we all go through metal detectors adn our bags all go throuh x-rays...a dog would obviously be found and turned away in that situation because most likely the human did not have documentation.

 

I am fairly certain one must notify special needs when booking in order to get clearance for their dog...at that time it is common sense CCL or any other line would require certification papers...which meet the requirements and voila one has their dog onboard.

 

Right or wrong the only way to get an animal onboard is to have it certified as a service dog. Whether the individual actually "needs" it is another story but, as you have pointed out and I agree, other passengers need not concern themselves with it...now, if the dog piddles or poops in a public area it should certainly be brought to the attention of the Purser so appropriate action may be taken.

 

Poodles are hypoallergenic, so they can be the only option for a person with a disability who also suffers from allergies. Just last week, I went to dinner with a friend who is training a standard poodle to be a guide dog. We went out for Ethiopian food, and the proprieters of the restaurant definitely found it strange that we walked in with a poodle... He was wearing his service animal outfit (I don't know what to call that doggie garment), so they allowed it...

 

Another salient point, my friend, I trained three dogs as service dogs; one was a mutt, one was a Lab/German Shepherd mix and the third was an Alaskan Malamute...all three were to be hearing assistance dogs...if they are wearing their service vest they are on the job, so to speak, and the vest will have a notice saying something to the general public like, "I am a Service Animal, please do not try to pet or touch me." Some don't wear a vest because they are "support" dogs, not "service" dogs and therefore are not trained to the same extent as a service dog, but in the eyes of CCL are perfectly legal if they have the proper papers.

[mjl1960]

I didn't even think about them leaving the dog in the cabin while they went ashore...can you imagine being in a room next door and wanting to take a quiet nap while everyone is ashore while there is a dog barking next door? That would really send me over the edge!!

 

If someone is blind, I can see having a service dog. But for those people that need a dog for a "calming effect"...stay at home if you are that nervous, because your dog is going to make me very nervous. :( If your going to have a dog, then have it with you ALL the time...and take care of it. I don't want to see poop in public areas, or a dog taking a leak next to the buffet. And I don't want a cabin that had a dog crapping in the corner because it don't know what the litter box out on the deck was supposed to be for!!

 

Okay...let the flaming begin!! :)

[cathalane]

there are many pets that can be service animals...they call them "emotional support animals" honestly i think it's a way to get around rules and to bring your dogs onboard planes and into stores....but there is a medical excuse for them....

most of the emotional support dogs are in fact, little tiny lap dogs that are pets. i work in aviation, and see it all the time.

so if you want to bring your pet on your cruise, go to your dr. and tell them you are depressed. while your at it, tell him you need a handicapped parking permit too so you can have free parking at the pier, and up close parking everywhere else you go.....

 

You can get free parking at the pier with a handicap permit?????

[FLACRUISER99]

Read this http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm Enough said

[woodey]

You can get free parking at the pier with a handicap permit?????

Nope! not generaly I am sure there might be some out there but i have not seen or heard of one....You will still need to pay you just get to park closer