[nagdu] Retirement and Dog Sitter Access

[Julie J]

Nicole,

Puppy raisers have no access rights when taking puppies in training into 
public places.   The ADA is very clear that in order for a person to be able 
to take a service dog into public places the person must have a disability 
and the dog must be trained to mitigate that disability.  Generally puppy 
raisers are not disabled and puppies are puppies not trained to mitigate any 
disability.  BTW it is the person who has access rights not the dog.

There are some, maybe many?, states that do have laws that allow a trainer 
or raiser to take the puppy into public places for training purposes.  The 
particulars vary from state to state.  Pet dogs cannot be in places where 
there is food or in health care settings.   Any other place, hardware 
stores, beauty salons, banks etc.  it is up to the individual store owner 
whether or not to allow dogs.  Many will allow a dog in training in if you 
ask.

Okay now my thoughts on your question about retirement...I think once a dog 
is retired and placed in a different home with a non-disabled handler, the 
dog is no longer functioning as a service or guide dog.  It is the handler 
that has the access rights, not the dog.  since the handler  does not need 
the dog to mitigate a disability there are no rights to take the dog 
anywhere that pets are not normally allowed.

I see no reason why someone couldn't take the dog to work with them if their 
employer gave them permission to do so.   There are pet friendly work 
places, hotels, vacation resorts etc.  I think all the same rules as for pet 
dogs should apply to retired guides.

JMHO
Julie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 10:19 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Retirement and Dog Sitter Access


> All of this discussion about access with our dogs makes me think of a new
> question.  I know that the puppy raisers can take the dogs anywhere, but
> what is the policy and what do people think about during retirement and 
> when
> someone is dog sitting?  I raise this question because I feel that our 
> dogs
> come to need people more than the average dog.  Yes, when leaving your dog
> with someone, you should find someone who is home enough.  Same goes for
> retirement.  But what if that one person who would be perfect to take the
> dog, say one of your old teachers or your parents or someone else, has a 
> job
> that, although not necessarily allowing dogs, it would not be a problem 
> for
> them to take the dog with them if it were allowed?  I certainly would not
> expect a dog sitter or an owner to have all of the access rights
> (restaurants, stores, etc), but I would expect at least some, such as work
> and hotels.  Just food for thought.  Please excuse me if this is getting 
> off
> topic.
>
> Nicole
>
>
>
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