[Cobh521]

I do not dislike dogs. In fact I had a dog for the past 18 years that recently passed. I was in City Fire in Brownwood and three women had three very very large dogs with them. They insisted that they needed to eat inside. The waiter could not get near the table since the dogs were sitting there. These dogs had comfort tags on them but I do not believe this is the same as a service dog. While these women were waiting for a seat they had the whole entrance blocked by the dogs. I do not feel that these large dogs, who could eat off the tables standing ip, should be in a dining establishment. I am also allergic to these breeds. (I had a toy poodle). I would like some opinions on this matter as I felt if I complained I would be causing a ruckus of ADA

[gomoho]

What kind of dogs were they? and were they threatening in any way other than their size? Worked with a REALTOR that had a large dog with her at all times for protection -she was kidnapped at a showing. So you just never know why they had these dogs.

[Cobh521]

They were three different breeds and were not vey responsive to their owners commands. I believe service trained dogs are very responsive to owners commands.

[gerryann]

What are "comfort tags"?....and what were these dogs doing IN a resturant?

[graciegirl]

I only have this to offer. We have lived here for six years and have never experienced seeing any dog in a restaurant. I think I remember that I saw one or two outside of a restaurant.

I am just thinking it was a very unusual occurance.

[tkret]

Therapy dogs are not service or assistance dogs. Service dogs directly assist humans and have a legal right to accompany their owners in most areas. In the United States, service dogs are legally protected at the federal level by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Therapy dogs do not provide direct assistance and are not mentioned in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Brief Information Resource on Assistance Animals for the Disabled
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[pooh]

I do believe Comfort dogs are a type of therapy dog. These Comfort/therapy dogs were available when students arrived back to school, Sandy Hook Elementry.

Probably wasn't the best idea to bring three large dogs into the restaurant, but since they are therapy dogs, they probably can go in and be with their handlers.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by Cobh521

They were three different breeds and were not vey responsive to their owners commands. I believe service trained dogs are very responsive to owners commands.

It's pretty much impossible to visually determine if a dog is a service dog. Tags are not required nor is documentation. The establishment is even prohibited from asking the nature of the disability of the owner of the service dog. The ADA is very specific about this.

[CFrance]

From Service and Therapy Dogs - ADA and State Rights

"It is very important to remember that Therapy Dogs do not have the same rights as handlers of Service Dogs. Handlers of Service Dogs are protected under the ADA because of the disability the handler experiences. The distinction is highly-important, and there should be no misunderstanding that it is the Person with a Disability who is the handler of the Service Dog that has rights under the ADA; not the dog. The Service Dog is allowed access based upon the rights of the person with a disability."

I don't know what a comfort tag is, but I imagine these dogs were not service dogs and therefore had no rights under ADA to be inside the restaurant. Not to mention it wasn't a very good idea to bring three large dogs inside.

[renielarson]

Here's an explanation of a "comfort" dog.

Is a ‘Comfort Dog’ a Service Dog? | Delta Society – Animals Helping People - seattlepi.com

[perrjojo]

Funny that this post came up tonight. We just had dinner at Fiesta Grande at Colony and we sat next to a lab with a service vest. The handlers had no visible disability but that doesn't mean they did not have one. Another poster mentioned that you may NOT ask questions to the nature of a service dog and that is correct. I also know that anyone may buy a service vest for their dog. The dog at our restaurant was well behaved and unobtrusive.

[John_W]

The most unusual round of golf I ever had was in 2009 on a course outside Baltimore just off I-95. I went in the pro shop about 1pm as a single and was paying when a man entered with two chocolate brown Labrador Retrievers. The employee said 'no dogs allowed'. The man with the dogs said they are my service dogs and I can show you papers that will allow me to bring the dogs in here and with me on the course.

I ended being paired with this golfer. He had been in Myrtle Beach earlier on sales calls and was on his way home to Westchester, NY. The interstate was backed up, so he checked his GPS for a golf course and found The Wetlands. The dogs were trained to alert the man prior to having a seizure. They would somehow know when this was going to happen and would alert the man.

The dogs rode in the golf cart with the fellow. One on the seat and the other on the floor, they were big dogs, probably 75 pounds. They never presented any problems and the round of golf went like many others. Sometimes they would leave the cart and walk around. Once they went into the woods, he said they probably smelled an animal. Anyway, he yelled something and they ran right back to the cart. We finished the round and the man jumped into his car and went on to finish his drive to New York.


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[CFrance]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

It's pretty much impossible to visually determine if a dog is a service dog. Tags are not required nor is documentation. The establishment is even prohibited from asking the nature of the disability of the owner of the service dog. The ADA is very specific about this.

True. Plus, you can go online and buy a service dog coat, photo i.d. and service badge without providing any proof of disability or dog training. I checked this out because we took our dog overseas and, having no car, wanted to be able to take him on the metro. I chickened out (not much of a rule breaker). We walked him everywhere instead.

[Roaddog53]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I only have this to offer. We have lived here for six years and have never experienced seeing any dog in a restaurant. I think I remember that I saw one or two outside of a restaurant.

I am just thinking it was a very unusual occurance.

I have not seen any in a restaurant until recently. We also didn't know they are allowed on a restaurant patio. We were at Crispers this past week and a couple came in with a pug and a bowl of water for him. They sat by our table with the dog and the man than lit up a cigarette and started smoking. We were almost done and since it was strong and my wife is allergic to smoke, we got up and left. The couple near them turned and moved further away with their lunch. I asked on our way out and the server said dogs are allowed on the patio and so is smoking. Guess we don't eat outside at Crispers now.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by CFrance

From Service and Therapy Dogs - ADA and State Rights

"It is very important to remember that Therapy Dogs do not have the same rights as handlers of Service Dogs. Handlers of Service Dogs are protected under the ADA because of the disability the handler experiences. The distinction is highly-important, and there should be no misunderstanding that it is the Person with a Disability who is the handler of the Service Dog that has rights under the ADA; not the dog. The Service Dog is allowed access based upon the rights of the person with a disability."

I don't know what a comfort tag is, but I imagine these dogs were not service dogs and therefore had no rights under ADA to be inside the restaurant. Not to mention it wasn't a very good idea to bring three large dogs inside.

Service animals are not limited to dogs, although they are the most common such animals, by far. There are monkeys, cats, pigs and small horses, as incredible as that may sound.