[CFrance]

Originally Posted by tomwed

What we had been seeing was the general public.

Isn't the general public the same people who live in other little NJ neighborhoods including mine?
"The Census Bureau has defined the Northeast region as comprising nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania." Besides, Pittsburg, PA is in a Northeast State." You really never left the region.

In terms of crowding, we really did. Also, Western PA is more closely associated with the eastern part of the mid-west. Strangers did not walk down the street in Morristown or Lincoln Park and strike up a conversation for no good reason. (Isn't this a beautiful day, love your dog, etc.) I once commented on how cute a baby was in a stroller in pathmark, and the mom rushed off immediately as if I might kidnap it.

I came to appreciate the directness of the east coasters and even some of it became ingrained eventually--like know what you want before asking a question, esp. in small stores, be succinct, don't hold up lines.

[tomwed]

If I was stuck in a house, didn't have any friends to speak of, didn't have a ton of activities and clubs waiting for when I can't golf anymore, nothing to shovel in the winter, AC wherever I go in the summer, I would agree with you.

I got nothing to be cranky about down here. I'm not being a pollyanna either. If we found this place when my folks were alive, they would have moved here too.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by tomwed

If I was stuck in a house, didn't have any friends to speak of, didn't have a ton of activities and clubs waiting for when I can't golf anymore, nothing to shovel in the winter, AC wherever I go in the summer, I would agree with you.

I got nothing to be cranky about down here. I'm not being a pollyanna either. If we found this place when my folks were alive, they would have moved here too.

To whom are you speaking? If you,re talking to me, I think you misinterpreted my comments. I love it down here.

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by tomwed

What we had been seeing was the general public.

Isn't the general public the same people who live in other little NJ neighborhoods including mine?
"The Census Bureau has defined the Northeast region as comprising nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania." Besides, Pittsburg, PA is in a Northeast State." You really never left the region.

Like CFrance, I was born and raised in the western part of PA and as a young adult I moved to southeastern PA. There really is a significant difference between the people of the 2 regions. I always said the dividing line between the Northeast and the Midwest is really somewhere in the middle of PA because of this. I'll never forget the first time my husband, who is from southeastern PA, went with me to my hometown to meet my family. We were walking down the street and random people passing by kept saying "hello". He asked me if I knew all of these people and when I responded no, he wondered why they were saying "hello" to us. I really didn't know how to explain it to him except to say that's just the way it is around here. To me that was just normal - not so to him. And that's when I first realized the difference between eastern PA and western PA.

[Wing-nut2]

If you need a dog for emotional support, I hope the same person who issued the dogs ID as a "Comfort Dog", put her in the system so they cannot buy a firearm. If you need a dog to lean on you sure don't need a gun. If they have guns in the house, they should be turned in.

[Stitcher girl]

I love dogs and have never been without one by my side. But that does not give me the right to impose my love of the canines on other folks. Never take them to the square, for their safety really. Too crowded and just not a place for them to enjoy. As for restaurants.....only outside cafes that allow pooches.
She was pushing the envelope and got away with it....this time!

[tomwed]

Originally Posted by CFrance

To whom are you speaking? If you,re talking to me, I think you misinterpreted my comments. I love it down here.

No, I wasn't talking to anyone in particular..

[Chatbrat]

The dog owner is a scammer, nothing less, tell the manager if he doesn't do his job--the word will go out & he might lose his job--call the gendarmes & see what they say

[Wing-nut2]

We, at Delta Society, have been receiving an increase in inquiries from people with psychiatric concerns whose doctors have prescribed they keep a pet with them to calm anxiety or provide needed emotional support. They call when they are denied access to public places and don’t understand why this happens since they have a ‘Psychiatric or Comfort Service Animal’. Based upon how the law is currently written, the vast majority of these animals do not qualify as a service animal.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, (ADA), defines service animal as: “any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” The ADA defines a disability as: “a mental or physical condition which substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.”

PictureTo be considered a service animal, the animal must be trained to perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability. “Comforting” or “giving love”, although clinically proven to be beneficial for people, is not acknowledged as a trained “task” by the Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA.

Some examples of trained tasks performed by psychiatric service animals include:
* bringing medication to alleviate symptoms,
* bringing a beverage so their person can swallow medication,
* bringing a phone to their person in an emergency,
* answering the door bell, or
* calling 911 or summoning help in an emergency.

Hope this helps.

[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2

We, at Delta Society, have been receiving an increase in inquiries from people with psychiatric concerns whose doctors have prescribed they keep a pet with them to calm anxiety or provide needed emotional support. They call when they are denied access to public places and don’t understand why this happens since they have a ‘Psychiatric or Comfort Service Animal’. Based upon how the law is currently written, the vast majority of these animals do not qualify as a service animal.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, (ADA), defines service animal as: “any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” The ADA defines a disability as: “a mental or physical condition which substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.”

PictureTo be considered a service animal, the animal must be trained to perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability. “Comforting” or “giving love”, although clinically proven to be beneficial for people, is not acknowledged as a trained “task” by the Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA.

Some examples of trained tasks performed by psychiatric service animals include:
* bringing medication to alleviate symptoms,
* bringing a beverage so their person can swallow medication,
* bringing a phone to their person in an emergency,
* answering the door bell, or
* calling 911 or summoning help in an emergency.

Hope this helps.

So if I am understanding this correctly, these people coming into our restaurants with cutesy dogs in or out of the strollers, are a fraud??? And the managers of the restaurants lack the knowledge to interpret the law, thus are intimidated?

[Wing-nut2]

Sure looks that way. Restaurants, air planes and so on. They need a "SERVICE DOG".

[Bitsee]

I think its safe to assume that the person(s) issuing these on-line bogus certificates to dog owners are ingenious to say the least. Wow, what a scam ! It ranks right up there with people passing off the Golden Doodles as an actual dog breed ?! What person in their right mind would pay $ 1000.00 plus for an every day, ordinary M-U-T-T, as millions of beautiful, distinguished dogs die each year in shelters across the country...

[Wing-nut2]

I am not really a dog person. I'v had dogs (Irish Setters) and at this time of my life I just don't want the responsibility. But, I do agree with Bitsee, there are many good dogs in shelters.

[ronsroni]

Wow. I'm saddened that this small white dog with a vest on indicating that he was a Comfort Dog was really masquerading as a TRUE service dog.
Mother-of-Pearl! That means he is a fake!#*%
A sham! A get-over-artist!
But, WAIT!
How does ANYONE know with absolute certainty that he is truly not a service dog and not just opined to be a fake?
Typically, Toojay's is diligent where dog papers are concerned. Unfortunately, some people absolutely have fake papers.
These would be the liars. They are similar to the to the other; oft times lazy liars who have fake Handicapped Parking passe so they don't have to walk.
I just cannot say that a Comfort Dog is not a TRUE service dog.
I have a dear friend who brings Brutus EVERYWHERE she goes. She needs him. He is valid in his vest. Brutus knows he's legit. I KNOW he's legit. That's true.
Isn't it also true that, if you have never met him before, you absolutely do not know if he is a fake? You cannot possibly know. So, who knew?
iHmmmm. Innocent until proven Guilty.
As Barefoot so eloquently said, " A few inconsiderate people give the rest of us a bad name." Who knows??? Not I, and, I STILL don't know.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND**********

"The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 2010 Regulations define a service animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition." C.F.R. § 35.104 and § 36.104 (2010).

If they meet this definition, dogs are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government."
IF THEY DON'T KNOW, NO ONE DOES.
NOW, WE ALL KNOW!!!

[jnieman]

I was in Walgreens at Colony the other day and a guy was carrying around a small dog getting lots of attention from others wanting to pet the dog. He would then tell them that his dad had puppies of all breeds to sell and how to get to his place of residence by handing out business cards. I thought of the guy advertising on here and wondered if it was him. He did not have a comfort dog vest or anything on it.