Lol :1rotfl:

Perrjojo has been consistent throughout this thread. Maybe crazy is extreme. Perhaps you're having a senior moment.:1rotfl::1rotfl:

Absolutely true, basically if the dog is well behaved, the establishment cannot question the type of service therefore it will be with you for your dinner.

I think if I saw large dogs in a restaurant I would just quickly walk out. I have never seen a dog larger than a Yorkie inside a restaurant.

I have a friend who has "money". He recently took his Sheltie to Las Vegas and had him certified as a "service dog". It was merely a money transaction, the dog is in no way a service dog but know they are able to take the dog anywhere, slap his vest on and carry the certification papers wans walla. Flights, malls, dinners, etc.

Makes me wonder how many"service" dogs are fakes LOL

I just returned from a 14 day Caribbean cruise on Celebrity. There was one older lady who had a Maltese dog with her on the cruise. She had it on a leash and would walk throughout the ship. When we disembarked the ship, I saw that she had the dog in a stroller. That was the first time I have seen a dog on a cruise ship. No, the dog did not have any "service dog" vest; no, I do not know if the dog came into the dining rooms; no, I do not know where the dog went to the bathroom; no, it did not bother me at all.

Agree...a restaurant, indoors or outdoors should never be allowed to have pets unless it is a service dog....not a comfort dog. There are enough outdoor venues like ilovetv said to acclimate the dogs to these type surroundings. I would have gotten up and left the restaurant and asked to speak to the manager for clarification on why the dogs were there.

Some "beat" the System
 

And we all complain how folks on Various Government programs beat the system. People do somewhat the same with handicap placards. However, what goes around also usually comes around. :throwtomatoes:

We have been on 49 cruises. We have seen service dogs many times. We just came off the Independence Of The Seas. There was a woman who had a beautiful golden retriever service dog.

I guess you are crazy. Just kidding. I did not start this thread. The dog I saw was at Fiesta Grande, not City Fire as the OP stated.

service dogs versus comfort dogs
 

I have a brother with multiple sclerosis and he has a service dog that he received from an accredited agency- "Paws with a Cause" in Michigan, her name is Cookie . She was trained to help my brother remove his coat. There are pull straps in my brothers home and Cookie open doors, pick up the phone, opens the dryer and takes out clothes and drops them in the laundry basket. When my brother is alone and falls, she is trained to crawl under him and help him up. Without her, he can not maintain the basics functions of life and more importantly keep his dignity.

Cookie is like any other black lab, she is rambunctious and the "life of the party" until she puts on her service vest and then goes to work. It is like kryptonite to her normal personality, she is at attention, almost like a soldier. When she is in "work" mode there is no way you would see her as a regular dog. She goes into restaurants she is pretty much invisible and better behaved than some adults and children.

There is a big easily, recognizable difference between accredited service dogs and self styled, self appointed "comfort dogs", the Yorkie on someones lap because it is comforting to them.

You do not need "money" to accredit a regular dog as a service dog, the internet is full of places that will sell you a vest , tags, paperwork etc.

Here is were I get flamed.... I do not think the self styled comfort dogs belongs inside restaurants, bars, stores, etc.

To me this is no different than the able bodied person driving grandmothers car to the store and parking in a handicapped spot because grandmother (who is not in the car) has a handicapped tag. The real handicapped person that comes along may be denied a parking spot.

I love, love, love to play golf and I find some comfort holding a golf club in my hand. I do not bring it to bed at night.

I think we need a way to identify and weed out those folks trying to beat the system with self styled comfort dogs. We need to reserve these privileges for those the ADA intended them for and truly in need.

BTW: We have dogs and cats and love animals and spend lot of money to take care of them.

Let the flames begin.....

Good points
 

You have made some good points! :ho:

I don't think you'll get flamed, Mr. Grampi II. You've made very good points. It would be interesting to know what those dogs' actual identities were--service dogs or comfort dogs. I for one wouldn't take a comfort dog into a restaurant simply because they are not as well trained as a service dog like your brother has. I know and have contributed to Paws For a Cause in MI and have a neighbor in Muskegon who uses one. I am familiar with their level of training. Not every dog makes the cut.

As for another poster stating that there are plenty of public places in the squares to train a service dog without taking him into a restaurant, that simply isn't true. In order to train the dog how to behave in a restaurant, it needs to go into a restaurant. If your brother's dog hadn't had indoor training in a restaurant, your brother might not be able to go to a restaurant.

Part of the reason for the ADA law is to protect the disabled from people who don't care to see these animals in places where dogs are not normally allowed.

However, I suspect these were not service dogs, and the women pulled one over on City Fire. It's too bad a few bad apples...

And this fake certification would seem to make the dog a tax deduction

Guide Dog or Other Service Animal—
You can include in medical expenses the costs of buying, training, and maintaining a guide dog or other service animal to assist a visually impaired or hearing-impaired person, or a person with other physical disabilities. This includes any costs, such as food, grooming, and veterinary care, incurred in maintaining the health and vitality of the service animal so that it may perform its duties.

Maybe they even deducted the cost of the trip to Las Vegas as part of the expense of buying, training, and maintaining. A quick Google search for service dog certification in Las Vegas landed me on a site for LV Service Dogs offering "the premier provider in Las Vegas, NV of service dog certification, service dog certificate, assistance dog certification, assistance dog certificate" and you've got to love their website (not working) bringyourdoganywhere.com. Sure sounds like their business model fits the poster's allegation. And an online discussion of this crooked business is at Licking the tears of a disabled nation | ohmidog!

Well, if you see a golden retriever in a service vest wagging its tail ferociously and parking its head on its owner's lap or greeting everyone who walks by inside a restaurant, it's a pretty good bet it's a fake!!

I still think that as the o.p. said there were three big dogs that blocked the walkway as they waited and the servers could not get near the table, this is a bunch of crap to assume that they were true service dogs. And as some say maybe they were "in training".....well, there is no need to have three big ones together inside.

This sounds like people who simply want to do whatever they damn well please.

If you read the FL Business and Professional licensing website on dogs indoors at restaurants, it says they are not allowed unless a local ordinance is in place for that, and with the restrictions (like hand sanitizer gel on every table) that a previous poster quoted.

They smoke in the outside area at Cody's in LSL. I don't make big deal of it, I just look for a restaurant that doesn't allow the smoking outside and patronize them.

So sorry perrjojo - crazy is as crazy does.

What restaurants don't allow smoking outside, other than Evans Prarie and Bonifay? I love to go to City Fire and Red Sauce, but the smoke is overwhelming at times. I would appreciate the info. thanks!

Those (the no smoking allowed) would be the ones I would patronize!

am so tired of dogs being everywhere. and now in restaurants also? it is bad enough all over the squares, on the sidewalks all over the place, walking and urinating and pooping wherever their owners think they can be. i have seen several businesses put up signs that discourage customers from bringing their dogs on the property.
Dog owners...please respect that not all of us love having your pets around us.

Why would you move to an openly dog friendly community if you don't want to be around dogs??? It's no secret here. If a community has dog parks (as sorry as they maybe) you can probably figure there are a lot of dogs here.

What would a service dog assisting a veteran suffering from PTSD look like?

And I am tired of people crabbing about not wanting dogs in places where the law allows them to be. And I'm also tired of them accusing the majority of dog owners of not picking up after their pets, when this is absolutely not true in TV.

I will take my dog wherever he is legally allowed, if I deem it appropriate for my dog, safe for my dog , and a place my dog will enjoy. I will never take him anywhere he isn't allowed, ever. If a person doesn't like to have dogs around him, he should frequent places where dogs are not allowed. Or else work to change the laws.

I don't mind at all following the laws. But I reserve the right to engage in activities that the laws allow for my dog if I choose.

Work to change or stay away.

Your post created what you wanted. You love stirring the pot. So....do you dislike old people too?

Um, I think your picker was off when you chose to live here.

:shocked::shocked: Amen to this post. If someone dislikes dogs, there are PLENTY of retirement areas to live where they don't allow PETS, Ckeck one out.:ho::ho:

These are the two post that stand out to me.

I would like to know how many people in TV have cats walking on there counter or tables or dogs laying in the floor in the kitchen while they cook and eat.
I have a dog that lives WITH us as ONE OF US.
It really is not that big of a deal.
Someone always has something that bothers them and I don't see this as an epidemic.


I think it is really crystallized in TV.

EB

Are service dogs really service dogs??
 

I was married to an optician, she would not allow her lab to be put in the dog area on a plane, so she went on the internet and got a service dog vest. She was an optician so got thick lenses that would reverse her vision to normal, but looking at her you would think she was blind. She was not, just wanted to get her dog up in business class on the plane. You are starting to see a lot of people with service dogs . But you cant go up them and say are you really blind, etc... There are a few people out there getting carried away with this issue, I dont have to worry anymore. I divorced her, now she is still flying first class somewhere with her (service dog).

I love this post. We travel a lot and we bring our dog. He is small enough that he can be put in a carrier under the seat and most of the time no one even knows he is there. Yes, you do pay a fee if this is not a service dog and they cannot be accommodated if they weigh over 20 pounds. I decided I wanted the freedom to take him anywhere when we traveled so I went online, bought a service vest and the cards you present if anyone challenges you. Seemed like a good idea at the time. The first time I took him out in his service vest I felt like a total Schmuck! That was 9 years ago and he has never worn that vest since. I can't imagine a person who "cheats the system" like this. I just couldn't do it. You are lucky that this deceitful person is your X. :mademyday:

I think you're missing the point. Most of us love animals but we're getting annoyed with irresponsible animal owners.
Letting your animal relieve themselves in a public area like Spanish Springs, is totally inconsiderate of others and of the health of the rest of us. If you own an animal then you have certain responsibilities that go with that ownership. Unfortunately we are seeing more and more of those that are not being responsible, and as an animal owner, I don't appreciate that!

No, I think you may be missing the point. The person in question regarding negative posts about dogs has made it very clear his feelings about dogs. What he and maybe you are missing is that it is a very small percentage of folks who let their dogs relieve themselves where they should not. The majority of dog owners in TV are very responsible. There are always those few that don't think the rules apply to them. Don't blame all pet owners.

If buyers don't like seeing pets in public places in TV where they are permitted, why do they choose to live in a pet friendly community where two dogs per household are allowed? Why do people complain when people take their pets to the Town Squares where they are permitted? Why do people complain about dogs on restaurant patios when they are permitted to be there?

Most people in TV love animals. If they have pets, they clean up after them and are respectful of others property.

It's like moving to The Villages and complaining that there are too many golf courses.

Only Cody's has a permit
 

The responsive official from the Sumter (no p) County Government answered my email asking if any restaurants had permits for non-service dogs to be allowed in the outdoor dining areas. Only Cody's in LSL has such a permit. Here is his email:

Presently, Cody’s Road House in Lake Sumter Landings in The Villages is the only restaurant in Sumter County permitted under Section 13-735 of the Land Development Code. If you have observed dogs being allowed into outdoor dining areas in unpermitted restaurants, please advise me and I will contact the restaurant to advise them of the permit requirements. If you have visited Cody’s Road House and believe they are not complying with the requirements of their permit, please also let me know and I will assign an inspector to review their compliance.

If you have any additional questions, please contact me.
Karl E. Holley, AICP
Director of Development Services
Sumter County Board of Commissioners
7375 Powell Road
Wildwood, Florida 34785
(352) 689-4463
Sumter County, FL - Official Website


So for those who are unhappy with dogs, or possible lack of compliance with all the sanitary rules, you have your contact information.

Cody's is now my new favorite place, even if I don't have dogs with me.

Thanks for letting us know that the deck at Codys is pet friendly. :thumbup:

Hot button issue!

Enjoy your worm !!!!!!

Fumar,......:thumbup:

I would like to see a list of restaurants in St. Louis, Tampa, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Seattle, Phoenix, Kansas City, Omaha, Dallas, Chicago, Napierville, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Hilton Head SC.......ANYWHERE....

.....where dog owners on this board who are pooh-poohing this situation would insist on taking dogs that are not true service dogs.

Just because you're in The Villages does not mean you can suddenly ignore norms of decency and respect for other people. There are many people who do NOT like and do not allow animals in their house. There are also many who are deathly AFRAID of any dog, for good reason--like having been attacked and bitten!!!!

Why is it that the supposed disabled person gets all this empathy and a pass, but the same people here have NO regard for people who are not accustomed to animals in a dining area next to them, and NO regard for those who are obviously traumatized by real experience with a dog attacking and/or biting them????

You sit here and pamper and empathize with a supposed person in need of a "comfort dog" because THEY have had some kind of problem with anxiety, but you care NOTHING for those who are AFRAID OF DOGS or do not pay to eat with animals next to them.