[Nyagdu] dogs being passed off as service animals

[Margo and Elmo]

I agree, Tracy, that a well-behaved dog is the best dog, but, I also want 
some sort of balance because I don't want phony service animals around. 
Regardless of what we do, someone is going to try to pass off his or her dog 
as a service dog and one would hope the dog would be well-behaved.

margo and Elmo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
To: "New York Association of Guide Dog Users" <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Nyagdu] dogs being passed off as service animals


> Last time I flew, early July, there were at least 2 people with small dogs
> in carriers.
>
> I agree with what Ann Edie posted to NAGDU the other day. I care more that
> an animal is well-behaved than if it's a real service dog.  I've met
> snarly guide dogs, and they were more of a threat to my dog than a
> well-behaved beagle, say.
> Tracy
>
>> Cheryl, yeah, we've got a lot of folks these days trying to pass off
>> animals
>> as service animals.  You gave the correct information concerning what can
>> be
>> asked and what cannot be asked.
>>
>> the fact the people walked away to me signifies that these animals were
>> not
>> service dogs.
>>
>> Now, sometimes, hearing dogs for deaf persons can be small dogs.
>>
>> also, and I don't know if this is still fact but people used to be able 
>> to
>> carry a small dog in a carrier, but, of course, one isn't allowed as much
>> carry-on stuff, so, don't know about that one.
>>
>> margo andElmo
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>> To: "New York Association of Guide Dog Users" <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: "New York Association of Guide Dog Users" <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:38 AM
>> Subject: [Nyagdu] dogs being passed off as service animals
>>
>>
>>> On my way home from State Convention.  When we flew from Buffalo to
>>> Baltimore before traveling on to Long Island, very tired you might say,
>>> there was not but 2 people passing there dogs off as service animals,
>>> one
>>> was a small chuwawa sorry can't spell that and one was something my
>>> husband didn't even know what it was.  Anyway both dogs were in harness
>>> and off the people from the airport asked me a question at the baltimore
>>> airport who by the way lives near me and support the GDF foundation.  I
>>> think she knows that laws or what a service animal is and was annoyed
>>> that
>>> anyone these days pass off there dogs as service animals so there pet
>>> gets
>>> a free ride sitting with there owners on the plane. I can understand
>>> sometimes because below the plane the dogs can get sick and die, but
>>> then
>>> the passenger on some airlines are allowed to purchase a seat for the
>>> dog.
>>>
>>> But anyway, this lady that was talking to me asked me with all these new
>>> service dogs around and she know because she is a Nurse, said, I know we
>>> are not allowed to ask the disability of the person who used the animal
>>> but there are so many people out there with them know how does one go
>>> without pulling ones hair out of there head or not knowing, I said by
>>> law
>>> you cannot ask what the disability is but you can ask what function the
>>> dog does, meaning our dogs are our eyes they guide us. some other dogs
>>> are
>>> trained to do  other tasks.  Both these people got mad and walked away I
>>> guess these people were not service animal owners, and the people at the
>>> airport as well were very happy to hear this.
>>>
>>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>> Treasurer
>>> National Federation of the Blind
>>> Greater Long Island Chapter
>>>
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>>
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