Does anyone else use a service dog?

Hi everyone!! I will respond to each of you as soon as I can. I'm very much under the weather as of early this morning. I did not want anyone to think I was ignoring you all. I appreciate EACH comment. I am calling the ADA Information Line tomorrow, providing I feel better. I'll let you know what they tell me. I know I have the law on my side. The people at the venue are very sweet, but terribly misinformed. I think once educated, all will be well. Gaston, FH, and myself will marry there and hopefully have beautiful BAM pics to post. Again, my sincerest thanks to each if you. ❤💕

This is just plain sad! They are not allowed to do that and you will win in the end. It’s that simple. I’m sorry to hear you are having this problem. Is this the new venue you booked for your wedding? Did you make a new date? I want to hear more about your new plans. I’m excited you are back to planning :-)

View Quoted Comment Those health alert dogs, like seizure dogs, are trained to do something specific, varies by the dog and person. My sister's son has seizures from a head injury. He has several minutes of an aura period, sees lights and slightest noise seems loud. His dog, and son's carry all have loud buzzer buttons. He presses a paw against the carry all button , or one paw pushes his chest big button up and gives it a gentle bite, it is like a small rubber ball, sets off the same buzzer on carry all bag. He can pull the helmet out of the carry all if boy is standing, near stairs, in a desk chair. Not if in a beanbag or hammock. ND my nephew is usually aware enough to put the helmet on if put on his hands by the dog. People in his school, including peers as well as teachers, all help out. Keeps him in a regular classroom with all his peers academically, except sports and games. He has started becoming disoriented crossing driveways, or a street with others, and dog starts herding movement gently pushing him to walk to the side to be safe, while biting the button ball. So, actions not natural to dog, trained. Lots of emotional support dogs cuddle, nothing more. And many have no more training than a single obedience course for pets. And can help with anxiety. But with training, some can get the same effect with s fake fur beanbag they are taught in therapy to knead while self calming, as effective as, or more than, a dog. With a dog as a pet like everyone else.

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Hope you're feeling better soon sweetheart!

View Quoted Comment They can also apply pressure to a persons chest or body to bring them back to reality when a person is having a panic attack and not sure of where they are. I get that there are a lot of fake emotional support dogs. There is also real ones. Who can help a person when other devices do not. To sit here and say that all people with anxiety are helped the same way by the same device is not ok. Maybe needing a fake fur beanbag does not help someone.

View Quoted Comment I am all for fully trained emotional support dogs, that really can do things for a person. I get frustrated as heck by all the comfort animals sold at high prices, family told here is your certificate, trained, and here is his service vest, and he is registers with this society. And they do nothing to help the person. And they are trained no more than pets. And the families find, not legally called a service dog. Then they shell out more money for a therapist who may or may not find a more workable thing. And nothing happens with the animal, except it might be a nice oet. Yet people try forcing airlines and hotels and restaurants to take then, and create a lot of problems. Which means legitimate users of well trained animals are given a hard time. So many illegitimate users af animals in service vests have made the nees, that businesses tend to think all are fake except if a person is obviously totally blind. I support trained assistance animals, even when the disorder is a debilitating emotional one, it does not have to be physical. As with PTSD people with real trained service dogs, there are emotional needs that can be served by trained actions. But that is different from, feels emotional support because it is present. Has no special training.

Feel better soon! I hope this all gets sorted out in your favor. I am sorry you have run into so many difficulties with your wedding.

Hey Victorian Bride, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to message you a photo or leave it on your wall so I am going to post it here. This isn’t my bouquet, but my florist made it and it was one of the photos I sent her for inspiration for my bouquet. You can view more of her work on her website www.theroguerose.com or @theroguerose_dallas on instagram

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In order to have a dog qualify as a service animal in regards to mental illness, it must be documented that that mental illness is a disability for the person suffering from it. I have anxiety, but that doesn't automatically mean that I can get a service dog, as my anxiety is not severe enough to be classified as a disability. My fiance is a veteran, and his PTSD is classified as a disability, therefore his service dog is a qualified service dog (NOT and ESA) and therefore is subject to the ADA laws. If OP has a service dog, the venue cannot legally ask her to keep the dog in a kennel during her wedding as she clearly needs the dog near her at all times. The venue cannot legally ask the OP to show proof of disability, or ask what her disability is, but they can ask for proof that the animal is truly a service dog, and not an ESA. There are strict requirements that need to be met in order for a dog to be qualified as a service animal, therefore having the proper documentation should be enough for the venue to realize that they need to allow the dog with OP in order for the dog to do its job. If they still refuse, then I suggest OP threatening to have their lawyer contact the facility as they would not be in compliance with the ADA laws against discrimination.

View Quoted Comment Yes to above. And though the act with regard to service dogs as amended in 2010, posted above, is quite clear, a lot of families, and hospitality or restaurant industry are confused. Something they always bring up, when I have been involved, is that on the internet and in magazines, they now sell vests and certification documents saying an animal is a bona fide service dog. For a fee, you can get them for any dog on your say so. Which confuses everyone. It is like having tens of thousands of fake anything around, because people doubt any claim. Under the disabilities act you are not supposed to have to show any documentation, or medical letters or documents. Simply state, I have a disability, my dog is a service dog who is trained to do this, this, and this for me, and therefore need to be will me at all times, or with me whenever I leave my accommodations. No papers shown, per ADA. But in practice, without showing a disability letter, or something from SSecurity or other disability foundation, the fakes with all their papers look more real than the actual disabled person following the law. A lot of places do not mean to disobey the law , they are just confused by news stories and sales of service dog certification online for untrained animals.

View Quoted Comment Thank you. I appreciate the photo so much!! 💖 Website, too.

I've been very, very ill and am still under the weather. My apologies I've not answered each of you individually, as was my intent. Thank you to those who have sent speedy recovery wishes. 💕

I've spoken with the Department of Justice ( DOJ) ADA division. As has been mentioned, one does not need ANY type of certification for a service dog. NO certification is regulated by the government. That's why some people, definitely not all, are fake people trying to get a pet to pass as a service animal. Websites are readily available with vests, patches, and such. I just need to tell them he is my service animal and if they ask, what tasks he performs for me. Which the DOJ person asked and I readily answered. That's it. Two things are required. They are not allowed to ask for demonstrations, either.

If our venue continues to have questions ( I've not spoken to them since I've become ill and they have no internet due to a tornado. The person I've been communicating with was thoughtful enough to text me. Said they'd be in touch when service restored), and insists he be kenneled while in my room, they are to call the information line. It is against the law for them to require him to be kenneled, as we know. They just don't seem to understand, yet, that he can't do his job if he is kenneled.

I feel positive it will all work out and be well. We love our venue!! I feel this business has not understood the law concerning service animals. I also think they may have been taken advantage of by some people sneaking in pets as service dogs.

Im looking forward to a beautiful wedding. This inn will be virtually deserted during the holidays so I think our wedding and honeymoon will be simply perfect. I thank each of you, very sincerely, for your input.

View Quoted Comment As far as I've heard recently, they can't separate psychiatric service animals either, especially since there are physical acts they perform such as distracting self harmful behavior, blocking, and alerting to panic/anxiety/bipolar episodes. The rest are typically if not always ESAs.

I just came here to say 3 things

This is absurd!

I hope they learn the law very quickly so that you can have the magical wedding you have always planned.

I adore your dogs name!

View Quoted Comment Our December 23rd Wedding has been postponed due to a dire family illness ( so now I'm an impatient bride to be), but I have our venue on board. They were just uninformed.

Im from the New Orleans area and French is part of our culture. I think his name is precious, too. Thank you. ❤ " woof" from Gaston.