[nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security

[Dawn Jenkins]

-----Original Message-----
From: Chasity Jackson <chasityvanda at charter.net>
Sent: Saturday, 17 July, 2010 21:36
To: NAGDU Mailing List,	the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security

In the event that we get a security member who insists that we remove the 
dog's gear, how can we affectively argue the point. Perhaps saying, "The 
regulations don't require me to do that," wouldn't be enough...And you know 
how people can sometimes be, if you ask for their supervisor, they are 
conveniently not available, so the staff member claims.

I live in St. Louis and have never had a problem with airport security, but 
was just wondering what is the most affective way to handle it in the event 
it arises.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Charlene Ota" <caota at hawaii.rr.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security


> That is really asking too much and putting you at risk for your dog 
> running
> off!
>
> As for the pouch with the poop bags and the like, well, my boy gets a bit
> agitated when they start digging in that pouch, I  think he'd probably get
> rather upset if they actually removed that pouch from his harness and 
> tried
> to confiscate it. I'd probably definitely know about it if that happened!
> (smile!) Wonder what they'd even want with a pouch with poop bags anyway.
> Never know about these security types, do you.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Pawpower Creations
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 1:28 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security
>
> This is very true.  By law they can not ask you to remove the dogs gear.
> Both Rox and I have experienced this, and we refused to remove either the
> harness or cape.  We have had some interesting experiences in security, 
> but
> so far they have not tried to force us to remove the gear.  Asking you to
> remove the leash and collar is totally wrong.  In fact I would contact the
> person in charge of airport security and report the incident and explain 
> the
> law.  If some one else on this list has information on how the law reads
> that would be good.  I would be interested in knowing, and I will do some
> research and try and find out as well.
>
>
> Best wishes from the Pawpower pack!
> Bristol, Mill'E, Rudy, and Laveau
>
> Pawpower Creations, Products designed with you and your Canine in mind Bob
> Blackner/Rox'E Homstad
> 504-312-2609
> pawpower at cox.net
> www.pawpowercreations.com
> Custom made guide dog harnesses, leashes, collars, and relieving 
> harnesses.
> Pawpower Creations is constantly growing and expanding as we strive to
> provide quality products for you and your canine companions. Soon we will 
> be
> offering herb classes taught by a certified Herbalist, dog training 
> classes,
> a training tips section, and other useful information for a nominal 
> charge.
>
> We will also be selling hand crafted soaps, bath salts, and other fragrant
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> and
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>
> With eye upraised his master's look to scan, The joy, the solace, and the
> aid of man:
> The rich man's guardian and the poor man's friend, The only creature
> faithful to the end.
>
> George Crabbe
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Susan Jones" <sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'"
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 5:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security
>
>
>> Julie and listers,
>> You should never even take your dog's harness off.
>> What if you were traveling alone, and your dog decided to make a run for
>> it,
>> have an adventure?
>>
>> I know there are people on this list who can verify that the regulations
>> do
>> not require removal of the harness, let alone leash and collar.
>>
>> I had no difficulty on either end going to National Convention.
>> Though I have had variances, such as people asking that we go through
>> together, and they pat us both down, this is what I usually do:
>> Have my dog sit at the door, make a long leash, go through first, and 
>> then
>> call her.
>> They will then call a guard to pat the dog down.  I have never been asked
>> to
>> remove the harness.
>> The worst thing that happened is that once, they confiscated the little
>> poop
>> patrol container that had plastic bags inside for pickup.  I didn't
>> realize
>> it until we were on the plane.  Not worth bothering about.
>>
>> Susan & Rhoda
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Julie McGinnity
>> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:17 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security
>>
>> Hi everyone.  I hope you are having a nice weekend.
>>
>> I just got back from a week long trip to Philadelphia this morning.
>> At the airport both going there and coming back something weird happened
>> in
>> airport security.  I am wondering if there are some policies I don't know
>> about, or if the people were really doing something wrong.
>>
>> Last Sunday I traveled from St. Louis to Philadelphia.  When we got to
>> airport security, I took the dog's harness off and put it with my purse
>> and
>> everything on the conveyerbelt.  I made her sit and stay while I went
>> through and then called her after I was out.  She came right to me, and 
>> of
>> course she made the thing beep because of her leash and collar.  I just
>> waited at this point because this is what always happens, and someone
>> always
>> comes to pat the dog down.  The last 2 times I have traveled it happened
>> this way.  Instead of coming over to pat the dog down, they asked me if I
>> could take her leash and collar off and make her go back through.  I said
>> that I would really prefer not to do that, and I said that I don't mind 
>> if
>> they need to pat her down because that's what usually happens.  They then
>> asked me again to take off the leash and collar.  I didn't know how to
>> argue
>> with them further, so I just did what they said.  I took off the leash 
>> and
>> collar and let my mother call her back through.  Thankfully, she was very
>> good.  I think she thought the whole thing was a game.  She went through
>> without her stuff on, and it didn't go off, and she came right to me.  It
>> was very hard to get a handle on her though without her stuff, and the
>> security people had taken her leash and collar, so it wasn't like I could
>> just put it back on her.  I had to wait for them to scan it, which meant 
>> I
>> had to hold on to her awkwardly and walk to where the stuff was going to
>> come out.  Brie was very good, but the whole process annoyed me.  I don't
>> understand why they couldn't just pat the dog down.  That's what happened
>> when I flew to and from Dallas.  It seemed to work fine.  I know how to
>> take
>> my dog through security.  They tought us at guide dog school.
>>
>> When I flew back to St. Louis this morning I experienced a similar thing