[nagdu] dogs with transportation

Sun Jul 31 20:24:06 UTC 2011

Cindy,

With experience comes attitude? /grin/ I used to be very diligent about
"educating" by patiently explaining the law and this and that when
people questioned our right to access. I finally got my spiel refined
and shortened up to include the major details, then it started getting
shorter... Not that long ago, I did for the first time hear myself say
definitively, "yes, she can," to the "Your dog can't come in here"
greeting. Being much too lazy to want to go into the extended replay of
the thing, I hastily put on my 'tude and fixed whoever it was with The
Look... So that actually worked. Once I was securely inside the door, I
did scold myself into giving a brief recap of the reasons why my dog
could, too come in there. I don't even have to think about it anymore,
but I do get bored with hearing it... /lol/

Reading through this thread and thinking about the matter of
pre-notification again from a newer perspective, I do realize how
spoiled I was with my old cab company here in Portland, the most
ridiculously dog friendly place ever. Teehee! Peole take cabs with their
pets all the time anyway, so when I was really working with Mitzi on
four-on-the-floor, I had a heck of a time because the cabby would
cheerfully insist that she could ride in the seat, no problem. /lol/
That, along with my being in an area they had cabbies roaming about all
the time anyway meant that I could mention my guide as a point of
information to be courteous without repercussion, especially as more
cabbies got to know her. So in that specific case, it really was in my
best interest to do that. I'd also been using them for awhile as a cane
user, so they knew me before I had the dog, which never hurts.

This discussion is good for me at this time, because I can think it
through as I read of others' experiences and their philosophical reasons
for their belief on the issue. So next time I'm making a reservation or
calling for a cab, I've pretty much decided to make it my policy to let
them findout  about the dog when they get here. /sile/ Or when we get
there, if I'm making hotel reservations or something.  So that's
cool. /smile/

Wayne, I'm glad someone else can give themselves the opportunity to
explain about how the dog is a guide but just not in harness at the
moment because you didn't get around to putting it on. /lol/ I've gotten
pretty good at just putting the harness ont he dog in the truck, or as
soon as we get out for where we're going.  And sometimes when we dash
out for a quick errand, I just grab the dog and leave the harness home
or in the truck. Even if I'm mostly keeping her on heel and using the
cane for primary navigation and obstacle location, she's always ready to
move out in front and leash guide or to give me a clue when I get
confused about where things are, so she is technically doing work she
has been trained to do. Which doesn't matter according to the law, as
I've had it explained to me. But the lack of harness or some special
vest or something does sometimes confuse others. So I get to hear myself
going through that spiel. /lol/ 

Tami

Tami

On Sat, 2011-07-30 at 10:12 -0500, Cindy Ray wrote: 
> Well, I think I might have just said yes she can. LOL. Spare the info and then maybe you don't have the trouble. But it is true. There is more room if the dog can slide under the seat in front of you.
> 
> Not criticizing in the least. I wasn't there. I didn't eve get to go to Orlando because I went to Indianapolis right before.
> Cindy
> 
> On Jul 30, 2011, at 9:45 AM, Wayne Merritt wrote:
> 
> > I was on a full flight coming back from the Orlando convention, and
> > one of the flight attendants was asking me if my 65 pound German
> > Sheperd could curl up in a ball. I told her probably not. I could tell
> > that she didn't want to move me from the bulkhead but she also knew
> > that she was going to have to do something since the flight was nearly
> > full. I'm not sure that the attendant was thinking totally clearly
> > though, since she asked if I could strech my legs out in the bulkhead.
> > I'm a tall guy with long legs, and I pointed this out to her, saying
> > that between my long legs and my dog's long legs, no can do. She asked
> > the same thing again, trying to rephrase it, and I then said, "Look,
> > there's a wall in front of me," which I tapped with one foot a couple
> > of times. I offered several times to sit somewhere else, insisting
> > that the dog could slide under the seat in front of me. When asked if
> > the dog would mind or could do that, I said, "Well, she doesn't like
> > it but she can lay on her side and fit under there." She was reluctant
> > so I said, "Let's try it and see." Still she was reluctant, so I
> > finally said, "Okay, let's get a ruler and measure. Let's see just how
> > much space there is for her at the bulkhead and under a regular seat."
> > This seemed to put it in perspective for her. truth be told, once I
> > got settled and once my designer dog (named Gucci for the new
> > subscribers) was settled, both of us quickly fell asleep. So I'm not
> > sure that the arrangement bothered Gucci all that much, :)
> > 
> > Wayne and gucci, the designer dog
> > 
> > On 7/30/11, Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> They think the bulkhead has the most room. These little planes with the one
> >> seat on the left side (as facing ahead) are the pits, too. I never tell them
> >> I have a dog; when I get to the airport they want to change to the bulkhead.
> >> Mostly I am able to keep them from it.
> >> Cindy
> >> 
> >> On Jul 30, 2011, at 8:39 AM, Sam Hogle wrote:
> >> 
> >>> Good point. I've noticed when traveling with Mason that not only does this
> >>> apply with cabs, but with any mode of public transit. I've learned the
> >>> hard way when you tell an air line about a service dog that you can get in
> >>> some heated discussions on why you don't want to ride in the bulk head. I
> >>> still haven't figured out what makes people think that area is more
> >>> spacious and safe when in reality, it's the most unsafe area on a plane
> >>> for a dog to ride.
> >>> Sam and Seeing Eye Dog Mason
> >>> On 7/30/2011 12:06 AM, Michael Hingson wrote:
> >>>> Hi,
> >>>> 
> >>>> I am not sure why space has anything to do with it.  Even in smaller
> >>>> vehicles there is room for a guide dog unless you have several
> >>>> passengers.
> >>>> Front seats move forward and since most all vehicles have bucket seats or
> >>>> a
> >>>> split bench the dog could sit on the floor on the side where the seat
> >>>> could
> >>>> be moved forward the most.
> >>>> 
> >>>> Also Larry, you help make the point about why not to disclose the
> >>>> presence
> >>>> of a guide dog since it can and does lead to needless arguments.  We need
> >>>> to
> >>>> be and are about change in attitudes.  If we don't give people time to
> >>>> make
> >>>> up rules and excuses we have a better chance of being role models in the
> >>>> eyes of most drivers and travel oriented companies.
> >>>> 
> >>>> By the way, I say "transportation oriented companies" because the same
> >>>> principles apply to airlines, hotels etc.  I have tried many experiments
> >>>> over the years where I decide to indicate that a guide dog will be
> >>>> accompanying me just to see what happens.  I find often that I encounter
> >>>> much more difficulty with advanced disclosure than when I do not say I
> >>>> use a
> >>>> service animal.
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> Mike Hingson
> >>>> 
> >>>> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
> >>>> “Speaking with Vision”
> >>>> Michael Hingson, President
> >>>> (415) 827-4084
> >>>> info at michaelhingson.com
> >>>> To learn more about my upcoming book, speaking topics and speaking
> >>>> availability please visit www.michaelhingson.com
> >>>> Thunder Dog is now available for early ordering on Amazon!!!
> >>>> http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Dog-Blind-Triumph-Ground/dp/140020304X/ref=sr_
> >>>> 1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1289090352&sr=1-3
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
> >>>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >>>> Behalf
> >>>> Of Larry D. Keeler
> >>>> Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 8:08 PM
> >>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> >>>> Subject: [nagdu] Dogs and Taxis
> >>>> 
> >>>> I tell folks at the cab company or others out of consideration for space.
> >>>> If they refuse Then I get ugly!  I also have the advantage of living
> >>>> about
> >>>> 100 yards from our major cab company, well I can just go down there and
> >>>> complain!  Or maybe put some Holly presents on there doorstep!  Most
> >>>> folks,
> >>>> when they see how well Holly behaves they love picking us up!  I do have
> >>>> a
> >>>> probblem with the way dispatchers put out the call about transporting a
> >>>> dog!
> >>>> It sort of depersonalizes us.  Also, sence I have had to transport my
> >>>> pet,
> >>>> who does behave but not as well as Holly, I imagine that some confussion
> >>>> could arise about whether the call involves pet or service dogs.  I
> >>>> usually
> >>>> don't tell restraunts, hospitals or anyone else though.  I figure unlike
> >>>> me,
> >>>> most folks are not blind and can see Holly doing her work.  They can
> >>>> obviously see how well she is traind as well.  Any questions and I also
> >>>> have
> >>>> her ID which I carry right along with my own.
> >>>> Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>> 
> >>>> 
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> >>> 
> >>> 
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> >> 
> >> 
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> > 
> > 
> > -- 
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> > www.twitter.com/wcmerritt
> > My websites:
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> > www.whitecaneday.org
> > 
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