Service Dog Blog

Traveling with Service Dogs - Service Dogs in Hotels

Spot — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:13:02 +0000

I recently asked my subscribers which airlines they and their service dog had flown on using service dog tags and if they had incidents. You can see the article and responses here Flying with Service Dogs. Many also commented about their experiences with hotels.

I thought it would be useful to hear about the experiences service animal owners had had when staying in a hotel with their service dog. If you’ve had a good or bad experience with a hotel and would like to share your experience with others, leave a comment in the box below and let us know if they treated you right.

Flying with Service Dogs - Good or Bad Experience?

Spot — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:01:30 +0000

I recently sent an email to my customers who purchased Service Dog ID Tags and asked which airlines they and their service dog had flown on and if they had incidents when they presented their Service Dog ID. The overwhelming results where that they had no problems what-so-ever. I was surprised by how many people said that they use jetBlue and the airline made it easy. The few responses I did receive about issues were scattered and no incidents where they and their service dog were not allowed to fly. Issues that did arise seamed to be caused by the attendant and not the airline. Many readers stated that they also took papers from their doctor just as back-up.

The airlines that people said they had flown on were: Southwest Airlines,Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, jetBlue, American Airlines, US Airways, America West, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air France, KLM, Iberia and Spirit.

One reader responded that the issues she had had were not with the airlines but with Greyhound and Amtrak. Others responded that they had issues with airport security and not the airlines themselves.

I decided to put the feedback I got here and give those that wish to share their experiences with everyone. You can leave your comment right below.

Disabled vet who inspired Franken sues McDonald’s for $10 million

Spot — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:41:33 +0000

By KEVIN DIAZ, Star Tribune

Last update: November 24, 2009 - 5:59 AM

A disabled veteran who inspired Sen. Al Franken’s first legislative victory — a service dog program for disabled veterans — is suing McDonald’s for $10 million after allegedly being harassed, beaten, and told that he couldn’t take his service dog inside a fast food restaurant in New York City.

Luis Carlos Montalvan, a former Army captain who was wounded in Iraq, said he was confronted by restaurant workers on two separate visits, and beaten with garbage can lids on a third when he returned with a camera in hand.

Read the rest of the story here

Inspiring Almost-Service Dog Video

Spot — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:45:22 +0000

Get a Degree in Service Dogs…

Spot — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:09 +0000

Well you can’t get a degree in service dogs but you can take classes in topics like

Human-Dog Psycholog

Pup-Child Development

History of Emerging Dog-Human Culture

and a complete curriculum of classes from Bergin University of Canine Studies, home of The Assistance Dog Institute. Also be sure and check out the publications they have available for viewing online. Who would have ever guessed there was a university for both people and dogs.

Fake Service Dogs - Unethical or Responsible Pet Care? - TheBark

Spot — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:10:27 +0000

I thought my readers would be interested in this article posted at TheBark

Playing service dog to travel first class.

JoAnna Lou | 29 Oct 2009

The legitimacy and training of service dogs has come up a lot recently, and many of the cases do not have clear solutions. But what about when someone is consciously taking advantage of the privileges granted to service dogs?

With the USDAA Cynosport World Games coming up in Scottsdale, Ariz., I’ve been talking to many of the local competitors about how they’re traveling with their dogs. Some are caravanning in their RVs and others are reluctantly putting their pups in cargo.

One of the more seasoned competitors mentioned that while she dutifully puts her dogs in cargo, she always sees fellow competitors passing their pups off as service dogs on the plane.

You can read the rest of the post here

Dog Detects Diabetes - Central Illinois Proud

Spot — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:32:59 +0000

Judy Jurgens made Riker, her border collie of seven years, a service dog. Jurgens says Riker can sense a drop in sugar levels by picking up a change in her scent.

Original post:
Dog Detects Diabetes - Central Illinois Proud

Service dog killed in hit-and-run - abc11.com

Spot — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:25:45 +0000

A woman in Fayetteville is upset her service dog was killed by a hit and run driver.

Read more from the original source:
Service dog killed in hit-and-run - abc11.com

It took a lot of work to become a service dog - Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Spot — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:09:25 +0000

Being a Service Dog written from the dog’s point of view

See the original post here:
It took a lot of work to become a service dog - Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Training of dogs transforms prison - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Spot — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:46:21 +0000

Dogs are about love and trust, and those are in short supply in prison. To live with and train a dog is a great privilege, and the women who live in the housing unit with the dogs are careful not to lose that privilege.

Continued here:
Training of dogs transforms prison - St. Louis Post-Dispatch