[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Am I crazy or did you just contradict your original post???

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.

[Mr. Grampi II]

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.....

[justjim]

Originally Posted by Mr. Grampi II

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.....

You have made some good points!

[CFrance]

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...

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Monkei

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 now they are able to take the dog anywhere, slap his vest on and carry the certification papers wans walla. Flights, malls, dinners, etc.

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!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by jblum315

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

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!!

[ilovetv]

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.

[capecodbob]

Originally Posted by Roaddog53

Things that make you go..Hmmmmm. We didn't see ANY of that at Crispers. Maybe they need to be sent this link. Definitely not the hand sanitizer on the tables or can't recall signs. What we really didn't care for though is the smoking. I thought smoking was not allowed in any establishment whether indoors or on a patio. Thought they had to be so far from the general public areas. Could be wrong though for this state. Was just surprised and did not make a big deal of it. Just got up and left and asked the question. When we got an answer, we now know and won't eat in the outdoor area.

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.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

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.

So sorry perrjojo - crazy is as crazy does.

[simpkinp]

Originally Posted by capecodbob

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.

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!

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by simpkinp

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!

[travelguy]

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.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by travelguy

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.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by Mr. Grampi II

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

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

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by travelguy

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.

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.