Not really a bus topic but interesting

[luvrbus]

Been doing a little shopping and eating out some, the ? is has anyone ever noticed how many of the 50 to $100,000.00 service dogs people own lol 1 person had a service cat she told the waitress, I only saw 1 true service dog out of 25 IMO,the cat was a joke it was climbing the walls and on the table like some of the owners kids were

[DoubleEagle]

Well, I could see justification for a service animal to relieve the emotional stress of having a bus conversion, but a lot of the other claims for their need are inflated. Maybe it's a west coast thing, about all I see around here is people taking their dog into Petsmart, and some other stores that allow it.

[luvrbus]

Well, I could see justification for a service animal to relieve the emotional stress of having a bus conversion, but a lot of the other claims for their need are inflated. Maybe it's a west coast thing, about all I see around here is people taking their dog into Petsmart, and some other stores that allow it.

The ADA act make any business allow service animals, most places in Scottsdale make a owner show the paper work on one now it gotten so bad. I know 2 people with service dogs they carry liability and life insurance on the dogs, I know Carl paid over a 100 grand for his seeing eye dog since Carl was going blind 

[Dave5Cs]

The ones we have been seeing are the people who say they are service dogs but they have no sign on them or service vest and that is a requirement to actually be one. If you call them on it they get all offensive and say you can not question me on that according to the law. I said what law and she didn't know about the ADA rules.

It is like disabled placards. Seems like everyone has one now and the funny thing is the grand-kids use grandma's blue sign when they go out to the malls and shopping but didn't bring her with them, LOL

[Utahclaimjumper]

 In our state the handicap placard is issued for a max of three to six months and the expiration date is bold on the placard,,( I have one and use it wife or not.) >>>Dan

[luvrbus]

In our state the handicap placard is issued for a max of three to six months and the expiration date is bold on the placard,,( I have one and use it wife or not.) >>>Dan

Here in AZ they issue a temporary or non- expiring placard, Sonja's placard had expired about 3 years back the doctor gave me some paper work and it said send $1.95 for postage so I did. In week I got the permeant placard 2 days after I received permeant plates for her car so we have both now.

The service animal, owners know a tiny poddle with ribbons and in a tote is not a service dog .People buy the vest for those from Amazon,Ebay or Walmart and call it a service animal .I took Buddy to PetsMart for grooming and he has a chip and they not would groom him because I didn't have the ID card for his chip with me

[Nova Eona]

The sad truth is that like most social programs, there will always be a few people out there abusing the system to their own ends, but the question is how much harder do you want to make life for the people who are actually in need?

Requiring papers-in-hand for service dogs sounds like a great idea, until you're a blind person who now has one more thing to worry about every time they go out in public.  Same with placards; the people who truly need them don't always look like they do.

I figure it's better to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume their needs are genuine.  I'd rather act the fool to someone behaving poorly than be a jerk to someone in actual need.

[luvrbus]

Seeing eye dogs have special collars and all the tags and information is in braille,they are easy to identify hosts just look at those and know it is not fake

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Well, I could see justification for a service animal to relieve the emotional stress of having a bus conversion, but a lot of the other claims for their need are inflated. Maybe it's a west coast thing, about all I see around here is people taking their dog into Petsmart, and some other stores that allow it.

What are you talking about?  Owning a bus in itself IS a Stress Reliever.  It allows you to get out into the backcountry where there are no people and buses being maintenance free, is a very relaxing thought don't you know? 

[Van]

What are you talking about?  Owning a bus in itself IS a Stress Reliever.  It allows you to get out into the backcountry where there are no people and buses being maintenance free, is a very relaxing thought don't you know? 

 So is taking a good dump after a great meal, when no one is around of course.

[Busted Knuckle]

Clifford while I agree 100% there are MANY people abusing the service animal thing, there are MANY service animals out there that are in fact service animals but for many other uses than a seeing eye dog. My 2 labs were service animals and the handicap group we carried to the MO Special Olympics got them registered as such for me. They didn't have any professional training just LOTS of time by yours truly. They picked up on and sought out the individuals in the group that needed something to comfort or calm them. They were especially great with a couple of Autistic patients in the group.
My female was especially great for me, on her own she learned when I was having trouble with my breathing while sleeping and would wake me, so that I could readjust or put my cpap back on. If she couldn't wake me she'd jump the gate into my sister's room and wake my sister and pester her until she came and checked on me.
We had service animal vests and harnesses, as well as certification cards for them. But we were also told that we were NOT required to provide such identification cards to anyone we didn't want too, as it is technically illegal to ask for it! (what we were told by the MO. Special Olympics officials that gave us our certifications)
Our dogs were "comfort" animals that helped with anxiety issues with the clients we worked with. But there are a lot of other types of service animals than seeing eye dogs, & comfort dogs.

I agree I see people with wild unruly animals all the time taking them in restaurants and other public places claiming them to be "service animals" and I agree they are NOT service animals.
Even though our dogs had no professional training they were very well mannered and followed commands 100%!
And they rode on the BUS everytime we drove for the Special Olympics group we carried, so that does make this thread BUS related!
  BK     

[luvrbus]

The system gets abused there is a ton of difference between a service dog and a support dog, most support dogs are just peoples pets with a vest on from Amazon without the hours of training and money invested. I have seen highly trained support dogs that were smarter than their owners lol Bush senior had one

[Busted Knuckle]

Clifford you are 100% correct!
As I said my Labs were registered as service animals thru the MO Special Olympics, but they were not professionally trained. But they were better trained than some of the professional ones that I have been around.
I spent lots of hours working with them both together and separately and they were very impressive to everyone that met them.

As far as presidents go here is my current hat!

[Boomer]

Slow day at the goat farm if we are kicking dogs around, lol.  Hey Cliff I need to know if you are gonna be home next month, we coming down.  Left a voice mail, but no answer.  Please call me.