[nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security

Susan Jones sblanjones11 at sbcglobal.net
Sun Jul 18 03:04:16 UTC 2010 

There are so many rules and regs to learn.
Sometimes they just need a reminder.
I like the idea of having it all printed out, ready for them to see if
needed.
 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie McGinnity
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 9:40 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide dogs and airport security

Thank you for this.  This is exactly what I needed to see.  My only question
is: Why don't the security people know the rules?

On 7/17/10, Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> According to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration, under 
> the Department of Homeland Security), " {The} belongings (collar, 
> harness, leash, backpack, vest, etc.)...
> will not be removed from your dog at any time..."
>
> I think it might be a good idea for each guide dog handler and person 
> with a visual impairment to print the relevant sections from the TSA 
> website. There is a good section for "Visual Impairment," as well as 
> the "Service Animal" section I have linked to below. Just look at the 
> bottom of the page for navigation to other sections about other 
> disabilities. This is truly a good resource and it is the federal 
> government, so it is a good credible source.
>
> Source: Homepage of the Transportation Security Administration, within 
> the guidelines for People with Disabilities, "Service Animals."
> <http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1056.sh
> tm>
>
> On 7/17/10, Pawpower Creations <pawpower at cox.net> wrote:
>> 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 products designed to relax the mind, cleanse the body, and 
>> soothe, calm and uplift your spirit.
>>
>> 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.
>>> I
>>> went through security the way I was taught.  They stopped me again 
>>> after the dog had gone through, and again, I expected them to just 
>>> pat her down so I could be on my way.  I was very late.  Instead 
>>> they took me to the side, said they were not going to pat her down.
>>> When I asked why they weren't just going to pat the dog down, the 
>>> lady didn't answer me.  I had to wait around 5 or 10 minutes, and 
>>> another lady came.  She basically looked at me and the dog and said 
>>> we could go.  I don't understand why, if they weren't going to pat 
>>> her down, they made us sit there and wait.  I heard them talking, 
>>> and it sounded like they didn't know what to do.  Isn't there 
>>> procedure for this?  We were taught to go through security this way 
>>> for a reason, because it works out that way.  Why are the security 
>>> people being so difficult?
>>> Of course it is entirely possible that there is something I don't 
>>> know or overlooked in the situation.  Just let me know what I should 
>>> do next time in this situation, or even if this situation is 
>>> something to think about.
>>> Sorry for the novel length email.  I wanted to tell this right.
>>>
>>> Julie and Brie
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie McG
>>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera 
>>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding 
>>> Eyes for the Blind
>>>
>>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that 
>>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal 
>>> life."
>>> John 3:16
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sblanjones11%
>>> 40sbcglo
>>> bal.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nagdu mailing list
>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for
>>> nagdu:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/pawpower%40co
>>> x.net
>>>
>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus 
>>> signature database 5287 (20100717) __________
>>>
>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>>>
>>> http://www.eset.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%
>> 40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/kaybaycar%40gma
> il.com
>


--
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for
the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
John 3:16

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/sblanjones11%40sbcglo
bal.net

More information about the NAGDU mailing list