[nagdu] to notify or not

Sat Aug 29 17:14:00 UTC 2015

All,

Here is something to consider. As most of you know I travel quite a lot
speaking and educating. Over the past two years I have experimented with
telling airlines that I will be traveling with a guide dog. Sometimes I tell
them and sometimes I do not say a word in advance.

When I give notice I get an obnoxious phone call near the time I am to fly
inquiring about my dog's weight. The excuses include "we need to know in
order to balance the aircraft". Also, "we need to know in order to know if
your dog is too large to fit into a normal seat row instead of the bulkhead
row". My favorite, "we need to know to make sure that someone is available
to help you".

Now, concerning the first two, BUNK. Even on a small aircraft advanced
notice of my dogs weight is unnecessary. No person, no matter their weight,
is required to give advanced notice of travel. Adding the 50 pounds of
Africa to my weight makes no more difference than another person weighing
our combined 240 pounds, (yes now you can figure out what I weigh, 'grin'),
and I will tell you that the weight is still going down. NOT ONCE has
advanced notice of travel on my part EVER made a difference where I sit on
an aircraft. I always sit in an aisle seat in a non-bulkhead row. (Cindy,
the rule is that our dogs cannot block a main aisle, not space within a seat
row. Also, I put my dog under the seat in front of me so there is no more
blockage of the row than anyone's feat.) When possible I also like to sit
near the front of the aircraft. Again, this has not been a problem.

Let's get to the third excuse. NOT ONCE has anyone ever been available to
"help" when I arrive at the airport. Counter agents have wanted me to wait
up to fifteen minutes for a "helper" or attendant to come to provide
assistance.

So what does this have to do with providing advance notice to taxis or ride
sharing programs? Only this, advance notice is both unnecessary and
potentially a problem for you the passenger as company personnel often make
up rules as fast when you give notice as when you do not. It is a matter of
choice as to whether you want to provide advance notice or not. For my part
I find it unnecessary. ALL transportation companies are required to ferry us
just like the rest of the public. They need to learn this. That really is
all there is to it. 

Best Regards,

Michael Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
"Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
Please help us empower blind people and their families with your support at
www.gofundme.com/michaelhingson
To order Michael Hingson's new book, Running With Roselle, and check on
Michael Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
www.michaelhingson.com

To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost
animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of larry d keeler
via nagdu
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2015 5:35 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: larry d keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies

Cindy, My point exactly. Well sort of. It is our choice to decide under what
conditions we choose to use or disclose our dogs. I don't always disclose my
dog always. I usually call the cab company and tell them that I'm not
bringing her so that they can book other people in our shared ride program.
Interestingly enough, I get more comments when I leave her at home. When you
come right down to it everyone does things a little differently and that's
what makes us interesting. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
nagdu
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 11:19 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Cc: Cindy Ray
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies

Folks, why are we worried about the drivers who claim allergies? When they
are hired, they have to know they are going to be required to take people in
their cabs with dogs. People will often have  dander on them even if they
never bring a dog into the cab, so why should we pay the price. It is the
dander that is causing the allergy. Really, if they have that serious an
allergy, they should probably try for a different career because they never
know when they will be subjected to dander. And I'm thinking those who are
allergic are mostly not going to have you and the dog that long in their
cab. I can see the rationale of disclosing yet I wonder if it is really
accomplishing what you want.
As for disclosing to the airlines so that you won't get an aisle seat, they
should change you to a window seat anyway when you show up with the dog
because dogs aren't supposed to be in the aisle where they are endangered. I
believe I read that in a policy once, though I can sure be corrected if I am
wrong. If you don't disclose and you get there, they will change your seat
if it is an aisle seat. I've done it many times. If you don't want to sit in
the bulkhead, then your best shot at not sitting there is to keep still
about the dog until you get to the airport. I can't see being apologetic
about it.
And then there is my personal issue. My daughter doesn't want me to bring my
dog to her place when I go there in November. It's her right to have me not
bring him, but the reason is she will already have three dogs. It may be a
moot point by then, but right now it is not. I guess we all do whatever we
have to do to protect ourselves from feelings of discomfort, emotions,
whatever. That's not meant as a criticism, it's just the way of it, and I
guess we all have to determine if we are able to do some of these things in
spite of what consequences they might bring. It is hard sometimes, and
sometimes you get inconvenienced.
Cindy Lou Ray
cindyray at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of larry d keeler
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 9:45 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: larry d keeler <lkeeler at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies

I'm so used to telling the cab company about my wifes chair and my dog that
it really doesn't matter much to me. I usually get timely rides. I also
don't want to have a guy show up and refuse to take me on the basis of
having a dog and have to go and wait some more. I like keepping us on record
in case something messes up. For example, one time when my wife briefly had
to be in a nursing home, I called a cab home. I have Holly on the standing
orders. Well, he picked me up and complained that he had to carry a dog the
whole way. He wasn't allergic but just didn't like dogs! Holly behaved
perfectly. I asked him why he picked me up. I also asked him if he saw the
order and the fact that I had a service dog with me. He said he did and it
said service animal. He didn't know what kind of animal though. He said for
all he knew it was a service snake! Well, I replied that it could have been
a service cobra and what would he have done then! Anyway, I explained that
if he knew that a service animal was listed, he could have bid on another
ride so, what was he complaining about! I had put her on the order and he
didn't seem to care when he bid on it so, I figured he had to live with it!
I knew that many drivers would have taken that run because it was a rather
long one. I could have gotten many a driver who knew me. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
via nagdu
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 9:51 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users;
nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Debby Phillips
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Trying to understand: denial of access bad allergies

Hi Louise, but then people would have to tell the dispatch person that they
have a service dog, which I personally don't have a problem with.  You know
folks, if you are calling a cab to go somewhere, it's true the law is on our
side, they're supposed to take us.  And many of you think it's a terrible
thing to disclose that you have a dog.  But wouldn't it be fairer to the cab
company to let them know so that they can send someone who does not have
allergies, or the driver is so terrified of our dog that he or she can
hardly drive for fear of the dog getting too close? 
Sometimes we need to use some common sense.  It's true I have the right not
to disclose.  But if the cab arrives and the driver is truly allergic to
dogs, I have wasted his or her time, and am wasting mine as the cab company
has to send someone else.  Or Uber, or Lyft.

I once had a doctor who had severe allergies to dogs.  The first time I saw
her, I had my dog with me.  She opened the door, saw him, and it was the one
and only time she acted in an unprofessional manner.  She rushed out
shouting, "Why is there a dog in my room?" She apologized and said that she
had to ask me not to bring the dog into her exam room again.  Having gone
through dog allergies myself, I totally understood where she was coming
from, and either left my dog home, or left him in the waiting room with my
husband or a friend for the remainder of the time she was my primary care
physician.  We have rights, but we also have a responsibility, in my
opinion, to care about other people.  Many of you don't know what it's like
to have your throat be scratchy all the time, nose running, not able to
breathe well because of an allergy to dog.  And some allergy relief meds
make people sleepy.  So maybe when calling a cab, telling them isn't such a
bad idea.  Just my opinion.

It's a different matter when you're hailing a taxi on the city street.  I do
think it's rude and inconsiderate for a taxi to just pull away.  I
personally think if they can't or won't pick someone up, they should at
least have the courtesy to pull up and 

tell the person that they're calling another cab.     Debby and 
Nova

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