Service Animals
Yoda Bear is becoming an ambassador of
Hearing/Service Dogs. I am asked a lot of questions about him:
Most people think of service dogs as guide dogs for the blind.
We are helping to educate people as we go about our day.
The American Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil
rights law not a dog law or a service animal law. The ADA provides civil rights
to people with disabilities. Those rights include being accompanied by a service
animal in public places. See: American
Disabilities Act's (ADA) commonly asked questions about Service Animals. A
service animal must be individually trained to do work and perform tasks that
are of benefit to a person with a disability and that mitigate the limitations
experienced by the person as a result of the disabling impairment. When I
refer to the ADA it will be in reference to this section.
When we first started our life together my concern on trips and shopping
was about Yoda Bear's rights to public access. I learned what the law said
but I have also learned through experience to be prepared, with paperwork in
hand, for the rejection and confutation that will happen when you least expect
it. More on this under "Troubles on the American Highways...."
I attend a lot of crowded functions and Yoda Bear needs
to move fast and stay with me. It was soon clear that I needed some
"extras" to make our outings comfortable for him and for my
convenience. Because he is small, easy to step on and so adorable that
people want to pet him, it is not practical to walk him in crowded places if I'm
in a hurry or changing locations frequently. I found a rolling cart that I
use for these outings and in restaurants. It looks like luggage and I can turn the back of the cart
to the public when I am seated. He is happy rolling along if I
have him in front or me or if I'm pulling him in
back
like a suitcase.
When the cart is folded flat it is smaller than airline
carry-on luggage and fits in the overhead compartment . It also comes
in a variety of sizes and colors. (Yoda Bear has the "large" to give him
more comfort since he is in it so often.) I can fully zip Yoda Bear inside,
keeping people from trying to handle him, or unzip the top as you see in this
photo. A bonus for me is that he
is very good about letting me put my "stuff" in with him so I don't have to
carry a lot.
I also purchased a "very terry" slip proof mat for the
bottom of the cart. This is not only for his comfort in his cart but I use
it on the 'child seat' of shopping carts. I also take the mat with me when
he will have to "sit/stay" on the floor for a long time. Yoda bear is
protected from dirt and germs and he respects the mat's "boundary" and does not
move from it. I purchased the cart through the inter-net. This brand
is no longer being made so you will have to shop around for one.
Some Common Sense Things
Your dog should be clean and well groomed at
all times. It must have good public manners, excellent obedience
training, be focused on you and what you are doing and you must be a responsible
owner and always clean up after your dog. Plastic bags and/or "Bags on
Board" are cheap and will keep you and your dog's reputation in good standing
with everyone.
Get your dog micro-chipped. You have spent
a lot of time, money, love and devotion on this animal. Protect them
anyway you can and make sure they get returned to you if they are ever lost or
stolen.
Don't hesitate to take your dog to the vet.
Like children, these animals need a doctor's care more often then we plan for.
I am a strong advocate of keeping my dog healthy so that he can not only work
for me but so that we
can enjoy our time together. Yoda Bear's health comes first.
Treat your animal's safety as you would a child's:
Yoda Bear is in the car every day and always wears a travel harness with a
seatbelt connection made for his size and weight. I recently purchased a
car with a computerized passenger air bag that only is activated at a certain
weight, but before that he always rode in the back seat away from airbags that
could instantly kill him.
I never allow Yoda Bear off leash when we are outside
the apartment. I also do not allow anyone to feed him outside our home or
work area unless it is an
occasional treat that I hand them from his 'goody bag.'
Trouble on the American Highways and
with the Airlines!
The American with Disabilities Act states you are not required to carry
paperwork pertaining to how your service animal was trained; the animal
is not required to wear special markings such as a vest or colored leash; and
your disability is not open for discussion nor does it need to be proven except to state the nature of your animal's job, i.e. "hearing dog."
Individual
states and
especially
airlines may have specific rules that apply to service animals wearing
vests while in public, the color
of the vest and leash etc. Legal? Not according the the
American Disability Act. However, Yoda Bear does wear
a blaze orange vest with the "Please Don't Pet Me I'm Working" and "Hearing Dog" patches and
I use a blaze orange leash with "Hearing Dog" embroidered
on it. Most merchants look for the vest as proof of his status
and it is easier for me to gain entry into public places with him when he
wears it.
On our first road trip Yoda Bear was denied access to motel rooms and
I was not prepared for it. He now carries "I'm A Service Dog" cards in his
vest. The card folds in half to the size of a business card and gives a
brief accounting of the American Disabilities Act in regards to what a
Service Dog is and what questions and actions can and can not be taken by a
place of business. (The service vests,
patches and
cards can be purchased at
several places on the inter net. I got Yoda Bear's at
SitStay.com.) I wrote letters to the
corporate office and mangers of the motels and got positive feedback,
including apologies, and a promise of better training.
Airlines are another matter: Make sure you know
the rules of the individual airline before you make your reservations with your
service dog. Some airlines will only allow 1 or 2 dogs in the cabin on each
flight and it will be first come first served, so don't just show up with
your service dog and expect to be put on board if they don't know it is coming
with you. (Bulk head seating and other "space" problems are
another issue. Research what you think you will need.)
Also keep
a copy of information about the ADA that pertains to service animals with you when you travel. Again,
should you have to do do this, no, but it will sometimes just make your
life easier.
The times we flew I found
airline personnel can be either very helpful and knowledgeable or very
rude and untrained regarding service animals.
He has been treated like a king with his own seat and he has also been banished to
share the floor with my feet and purse under the seat in very tight quarters, even when extra
seating and floor space is available. I found my comfort
and that of Yoda Bear's will depend on the individual stewardess once you
are on the plane, no matter what arrangements they made for you when you
purchased your ticket.
Service animals are
not required to have the "10 day" health certificate that
pets need
when traveling with airlines, unless they are going to certain locations
or out of the country. (Check with your airlines and the
law pertaining to your destination. Example: Hawaii requires
both extensive paperwork and up to a five day quarantine.) Yoda Bear
does carry a copy of his shot records and the name of his vet in his vest.
What all does Yoda Bear carry in his vest?
Remember: Many merchants, motel clerks, airline
employees, and the general public have not been educated pertaining to service
animals and are suspicious of the smaller service dogs for various reasons. They also
may not know that the ADA is a Federal Law that overrides the local "no pet
health laws." There are also those that just don't like dogs and don't want them
in their business or in their seating areas.
Finally: There are
those who will claim their pet is a service animal to gain entry into a
business or onto the cabin of airplanes. These pet owners are subject to
arrest and fines and should be reported to local law enforcement by the
merchants and/or airliner.
Do your homework and search the inter-net under every
category you can think of that applies to you and your service animal and
traveling. You will be amazed at what you will find!
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