[Nyagdu] dogs being passed off as service animals

Wed Nov 5 00:30:20 UTC 2008

Hi All,

I apologize for not being at the convention, but wish to weigh in on this 
subject.  Let's not forget the pot bellied pig incident on an airline a few 
years back.  That was certainly not a well behaved service animal, and I'm 
still wondering how this was passed off as a service animal.  We have fought 
for our rights too long and too hard for this not to be of great importance 
and priority to us.

It is my hope that NYAGDU will do well under current administration, and we 
can work together giving what talents, time, and abilities we all have.  Let 
me say here that it was a privilege and an honor to work with Lucy, and it 
will continue to be an honor to work with current officers to the best of my 
ability and from my rather isolated geographic location.  here's to the best 
for NYAGDU's future and success.

Shelly And Ginny

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margo and Elmo" <margo.downey at verizon.net>
To: "New York Association of Guide Dog Users" <nyagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Nyagdu] dogs being passed off as service animals

>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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>>
>>
>>
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