[nagdu] to notify or not

Sat Aug 29 22:28:31 UTC 2015

I agree with this 100%. I sympathize with the sentiments of those who
choose to notify drivers, etc., but I choose not to notify them. Most
of the people who freak out about the dog usually give in after I say
I'm disabled, or I have to be at work by such and such a time.

I will be visiting my puppy-raisers soon, and recently was advised by
them to notify Delta that I am flying with a dog because they called
the airline to ask some questions. Delta told them to have me call and
inform Delta that I will be flying with a service animal and his
weight. I just said okay, but I am not calling it in. They will find
out I have a dog when I show up, and will be able to seat me
appropriately. The extra weight excuse is nonsense, since I don't have
to report my own weight or the weight of my carry-on. The planes are
on a scale, so if any adjustments need to be made, the airline staff
will do an adequate job of that.

The sort of accommodations I need from an airline or driver are not
the kind anyone needs early notification about. I need some floor
space, and I've never boarded a plane, train, or driver's vehicle or
stayed in a hotel that didn't have that available.

While allergies are on the rise, I find it extremely hard to believe
that every other Uber driver and cabbie has dog allergies.
Furthermore, I should not be expected to extend any sort of courtesy
to the person who sees my dog and decides to pull off rather than
offering to wait till another driver shows up.
When I lived in Grand Rapids and told a cab company I had a service
dog, the dispatch just said, "Oh, that doesn't matter, honey." And I
don't think they told the drivers anyway. However, the people in that
city are more friendly toward the disabled population and are more
accepting and/or educated about accommodation laws.
-- 
Raven
Founder of 1AM Editing & Research
www.1am-editing.com

You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you
have or what you do.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 8/29/15, Michael Hingson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
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> www.michaelhingson.com
>
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>
> -----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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