Did anyone get a picture of the pink - and I do mean PINK - poodle in the park on Saturday? I saw it while it was standing in a Q in Fantasyland. Supposedly, it was an authorized service dog, however, I'd like to see the procedure DLR goes through to admit service dogs to the park. Now that the dog in the newest TV commercial seems to be having such a good time, is there anything that would prevent a person from bringing their animal into the park claiming that the animal is a service animal?

Now that the dog in the newest TV commercial seems to be having such a good time, is there anything that would prevent a person from bringing their animal into the park claiming that the animal is a service animal?

I'm certain others will have the specifics on how the DLR checks up on service dogs.

I cannot imagine wanting to take my beagle to any amusement park. What would there be for a dog, besides the old popcorn and churros that make their way to the pavement?

I did ask a CM, although not a manager, and was told that there is no paperwork involved to prove the animal is a service animal, and it is not required for the animal to wear anything specifying it as a service animal. So I'm curious as to if that CM was correct. If so, there may be some loopholes in the program :D

We saw this on Saturday as well and were rather surprised to see it in the park. Our first guess was that the owners had somehow smuggled the dog into the park in a backpack or some other sort of bag. It certainly was small enough to do so and they could easily get past the bag-check by saying they were going to the kennels.

If no paperwork or other proof is required, I guess that just saying the dog was a service animal was an easier way to do so. I find it hard to believe that dog really was a service animal, though. For one thing, when we saw it the dog was being carried by the owner...

-Jeff

I know that service animals have a wide variety of duties. Some are able to warn their companions of impending siezures, some are considered psychological companions, etc. Still wondering what the process is DLR goes through though.

I'm not sure of the DLR process but I was told that no place is allowed to discriminate against someone with a service animal and someone I know had a friend who wanted to get his dog a service dog registration so he could take his dog on a shuttle van who had previously refused his dog but has been seen taking other dogs. not right i know, but those people could have had their dog certified in some cursory way and it didn't have a function, or perhaps it was a companion animal like muckamowie points out

jt

I know that service animals have a wide variety of duties. Some are able to warn their companions of impending siezures, some are considered psychological companions, etc. Still wondering what the process is DLR goes through though.

Yes, I think this is kind of like what they say about people with handicap stickers-- just because you don't see a disability, doesn't mean there isn't one.

Service dogs are also used for things like bringing phones to owners, giving money to store clerks, turning on lights and the like (as well as the aforementioned seizure dogs). So who knows.

This kind of reminds me of when we were at WDW a couple of years ago and a family went in front of everyone else to meet Snow White. Someone asked the CM why they got to go in front of everyone. The CM replied that one of the members of the family was disabled. The guy snidely said, "nobody looks disabled to me." The CM said, "Not all disabilities are visible, sir." The guy kind of turned red and shut up pretty quickly.