[nagdu] EXTERNAL:Re: Re Resolution concerning Dog Guides

Tue Jul 13 19:05:38 UTC 2010

Hmm, I'm wondering if "infection" will replace "liability" as a reason
to deny access? 
I mean, any of us can get sick and pass on infection. And I'd wager that
a bird could pick up some nasty stuff from the humans who wander around
too? 
Not sure I'm buying guys.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Tamara Smith-Kinney
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 3:06 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: EXTERNAL:Re: [nagdu] Re Resolution concerning Dog Guides

Lyn,

I bet that is a funny, funny video.  /lol/  Landon and the Lion...

I didn't know that about the infection passing, so I'm glad you're up on
it
and told us.  It never occurred to me to find out if our zoo has a
kennel.
It's on my list now of things to ask if a zoo trip comes up.

Im having a trauma imaging Mitzi in the aviary you described.  /lol/
She's
gotten used to the pigeons in the city, even though they apparently like
to
tease her to within and inch of her life.  /lol/  We will just not
discuss
what peacocks do to her self-control.  While giving her super powers of
leaping and pulling her handler skidding along the ground on her (the
handler's) heels.  I think there may have been smoke coming out from
under
my shoes until I finally just ended sitting all the way down and
bracing.
That was more than a year ago, but still!  How a 50 pound poodle can
come up
with that much strenght, I will never know.  /smile/  From my point of
view,
of course, it looked like she was going nuts over a brownish puff ball
followed by a brightly colored floating carpet of some sort.  Naturally,
we
saw the peacocks in question on a hiking outing, so I hadn't even
brought
the Halti along.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Linda Gwizdak
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 10:16 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Re Resolution concerning Dog Guides

Hi Elizabeth,
There is no risk of any infections being transmitted between your dog
and 
the zoo animals - that's just a bunch of hoohy.  If an animal is sick,
the 
zoo puts it either in the infirmery or in the animal's "bedroom" to 
recuperate.  If your dog is ill, you shouldn't bring it to the zoo.

Some dogs do well in the zoo envirnment and others don't do so well.
That's

a matter of you knowing your own dog.  All my dogs that I've brought to
the 
zoo did absolutely fine there.  The zoo animals may or may not react 
adversly.  If an animal seems to be getting really upset at your dog's 
presence, move on.  The one's I've seen being more upset are some of the
big

cats and some monkeys. Most animals show curiosity because the dog is 
something new to them. I think if more people brought their service dogs
to 
the zoo, the animals would get a bit more used to their presence as they
had

to get used to the human presence that come and gawk at them!

As far as "problem child" dogs, the zoo staff are all very aware when a 
service dog is on the premesis. If any dog gets out of control or is
causing

any problem, the zoo staff will ask them to leave.   When I go and take 
Landon, I have to check in at the customer service desk and sign a sheet

that I can't sue them is something happens.  they then radio the group
of 
staff that wander the grounds that a service dog is present and they
observe

from afar.  they just monitor the situation as they monitor the actions
of 
all visitors so that everyone has a nice time and the animals aren't
being 
harassed.

If your dog doesn't like the envirment, by all means, don't take your
dog. 
Many zoos now have a private kennel for service dogs if you want to do
that.

I have gone to the zoo and left my dog at home, used the kennel, or
broought

him along - all as I felt like doing at the time.  The last time I went
to 
our zoo, I left Landon in the kennel because I wanted to visit the
aviary 
where the dog isn't allowed. In the aviaries, the birds are all free and

they are on the ground walking, flying around or perched nearby.   they 
could land on you if they chose.  I think they could bring out the dog's

chase instinct - many more birds around than we generally find on our 
streets in the city.

So, see how your dog react and make your own decision on what you do.
Have 
fun.

Oh, a cute story:  One of the times I went to the zoo with my friend and
I 
had Landon with me, we stopped at a glass enclosure with a grooup of 
macaques.  the big male was besides himself with curiosity over this
strange

red hairy thing that didn't look like the kids that were all gawking at
them

at the time.  He was sooooo curious! My friend said he could see the
wheels 
turning in the animal's brain - WTF iis THAT!!!!   He walked around and
came

up close to the glass and made a funny lip smacking sound with his
mouth. 
Landon was probably wondering the same thing - what's THAT!! to the
macaque.

My friend used to work in the zoo so he knew that Landon's presence
wasn't 
upsetting the macaque it was just very curious.   this went on for
awhile 
and then the macaque grew bored and went off to do something else and we

moved on. I got all this on my video.

Anyway, have fun.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Rene" <emrene at earthlink.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:36 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Re Resolution concerning Dog Guides

> Does the ADA specifically require that service animals be admitted to 
> zoos?
>
> I have always been taught at guide dog school that it is potentially 
> traumatic to a guide dog to be taken inside a zoo, and potentially 
> distressing to the captive animals  there, too, because of pheromone
cues 
> not recognizable by humans, there being too many natural predators in
one 
> place.
>
> I don't know where the zoological or veterinary or humane association 
> communities  stand on this issue, but I'm surprised that guide dog
access 
> to zoos found its way into the statutory language of the ADA.
>
> Is denial of access to zoos specifically prohibited, or is denial of
zoo 
> access to service animals simply not exempted from the bar against 
> discrimination re public accommodations?
>
> Guide dog schools teach their graduates to use good judgment for the 
> protection of their dogs.  But who's to say what other service animal 
> training programs do, or whether every service dog handler gives
priority 
> to his or her dog's well-being?
>
> I support the scope and intent of the resolution, but I wouldn't want
to 
> see criminalized a reasonable restriction on service dog access
grounded 
> on a legitimate interest in the animal's safety.
>
> Elizabeth
>
>
>
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