service dog not allowed on NJ boardwalk - Page 3

Vonissk,
Great idea about the educational program!! The more information out there, the more people will understand about service dogs and dogs in general. I'll never forget I had one manager at a grocery store tell me to remove my dog. When I said it was a service dog (He had his vest on and all that) he had no idea what it was!! I had to explain what a service dog was and the ADA guidelines. I called to complain at higher up management and they offered me a gift card. I wasn't interested in that, I told them I just wanted to be able to shop in the store like everyone else and not be harassed. Thanks again and good luck with the course! I think it would be a wonderful thing to start and I bet the kids would love it!

If only it happened once a week lol..... I return to places that are knowledgable and refuse to do business at places that are not. I have thought about compiling a nationsal list from service dog handlers of places they do repeat business with and feel comfortable and publishing it to other service dog owners. Win win as we would be treated properly at these places and they would be rewarded with more business for being knowledgable and safe for us to do business with.

Not to offend anyone, and I do not have a disability. A couple of things come to mind to me. I would not want to go where I was not welcome, and I would not eat where there were dogs. The thought of dog or cat hair in my food is over the top for me.
I like to take my dog most places I go and I park on the back side of the parking lot as to not scare as many people, but I do not have to have a dog with me, and it's my choice and they should not inflict others that do not like my dog.

Well, I cannot go without a dog. It means possible coma and death. I cannot drive without the dog and did not drive for years after my accident because I could never forgive myself if my want for independence caused someone injury or death. It is not a whim to have him with me. It sure would be easier without him with me. Service dogs must be impecably groomed at all times. 

Don't you mind dog hair in your vehicle, Paul?

Blitzen Most of the time my dog is in the bed of my truck. But I do not eat in my vehicle either.  The only vehicle my dogs go in are the beverage truck and that is for safety of those carrying  cash.

I do understand when it is a necessary you have to do what you have to do.

One the other side of the coin some have bad and even life threatening allergies to dogs, they have to be considered as well. Dogs shed all of the time no matter how clean they are or how often the are brushed.

GSDnewbie I feel for you it must be difficult. But on the bright side you get a lot of time with your dog.

Dogs in your vehichle equal dog hair and dog hair everywhere and working a dog gets it on you.... I do not see how you think there is not dog hair near your food, comes in with you into your home, on your clothes....... German shedders;) Does your dogs get bathed once a week for public use? get brushed before everytime you load them in vehichle and every morning get a force air blower over their coat to removed any hair becoming loose? Also my dog has very little coat for the show ring because of how much brushing, air blowing he gets doing his job. 

I do feel for those with allergies and try to help them as best as I can and if I see someone is truly afraid of my dog I also try to be respectful as much as I can and give them space. Dog is groomed with hypo allergenic shampoo weekly. As well as this is part of the Americans with disabilities act: Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example, in a school classroom or at a homeless shelter, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Honestly i though cat and dog hair was a condiment?!!!! 
I have never been offended by eating at a restaurant where a service dog was laying under the table. Minding it's manners, doing it's job.
On the other hand i have been very offended recently while having dinner with my father. A table next to us with several couples with kids (Ages 5 to 9 or 10) were running through the place, jumping on the back of my booth, crawling on the tables, screaming, crawling on the floor. I told them to get away from my table several times and gave their parents a lot of dirty looks. They ignored their awful children until one little one fell off a booth and knocked his head on the floor. Then they finally packed up and left. I told the waiter that my dog had better manners in public.
So no, i would never be offended by a service dog in a public place and my city recently passed an ordinance so some restaurants that have patios can offer diners a space with well mannered dogs.
Fry

Well, I have REALLY bad allergies to perfume, and I don't see places banning perfume wearers because I am sensitive. As a matter of fact, the clerks in the cosmetic section of many department stores spritz the air with perfume every morning, because they think it helps attract customers!  (I hold my breath as I'm passing through!  )

Most life-threatening allergies are to foods like peanuts and shellfish. Rarely are inhalant allergies life-threatening, unless the person is severely asthmatic. Most people with dog allergies can cope with limited exposure quite easily.

I react to the wind-blown pollen from grass and trees. These species are DESIGNED to distribute their pollen in the air, and there is no escaping it. Dogs, OTOH, generally don't put a lot of allergens into the air, and the allergic person is generally okay if they stay away from the dog and don't touch it.

I remember one of my students having a massive allergic reaction to a police horse. He had been petting the horse. He was fine after a male teacher took him into the washroom and had him shake out his clothing, and wash the parts of his body that had been exposed to the horse's dander.

Amen, Dragonfry.