[nagdu] Re Resolution concerning Dog Guides

[Linda Gwizdak]

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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