Service Monkey at Epcot

[Spaceguy55]

diaper-wearing monkey in Epcot last weekend?
Is this news or just funny?
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...diaper-wearing-monkey-into-epcot-last-weekend
Many question about this...
I didn't know I could bring my miniature horse with me

 

[rteetz]

diaper-wearing monkey into Epcot last weekend?
Is this news or just funny?
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/...diaper-wearing-monkey-into-epcot-last-weekend

Well I know it really happened. Apparently it was a service animal but I thought Disney had a policy against exotic service animals.

 

[Spaceguy55]

 

[circus4u]

Well I know it really happened. Apparently it was a service animal but I thought Disney had a policy against exotic service animals.

Not sure if they can exclude any service animals. People bring everything from parrots on the shoulder to snakes into our Walmart. Prohibited from asking anything about it if they say it's a service animal. I would venture to say they are not. but ..... Most people say they are for "emotional support" here.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I didn't know I could bring my miniature horse with me

I believe the miniature horse is only in cases where it is acting as a seeing eye companion

 

[danikoski]

Not sure if they can exclude any service animals. People bring everything from parrots on the shoulder to snakes into our Walmart. Prohibited from asking anything about it if they say it's a service animal. I would venture to say they are not. but ..... Most people say they are for "emotional support" here.

I would be really concerned with a monkey and viruses. They can carry some that are exceptionally lethel to humans (Herpes B Virus). From a public safety stand point, I'd say no. And the ADA does not protect service animals if the public is put at risk (that is a common misnomer). So a service dog can't necessarily be in an operating room at a hospital, or if a service dog gets out of control, like biting or such, the owner and dog can be asked to leave. Also, monkeys are not considered pets or companion animals and are wild animals. The ADA only covers dogs and miniature horses, and people can be asked if the animal is needed for a disability and what task(s) the animal is trained to perform.

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

 

[jlundeen]

I would be really concerned with a monkey and viruses. They can carry some that are exceptionally lethel to humans (Herpes B Virus). From a public safety stand point, I'd say no. And the ADA does not protect service animals if the public is put at risk (that is a common misnomer). So a service dog can't necessarily be in an operating room at a hospital, or if a service dog gets out of control, like biting or such, the owner and dog can be asked to leave. Also, monkeys are not considered pets or companion animals and are wild animals. The ADA only covers dogs and miniature horses, and people can be asked if the animal is needed for a disability and what task(s) the animal is trained to perform.

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

Also, I believe that an animal that has had the training, receives some kind of certificate, don't they? Couldn't the owner be required to being the certificate as proof? Or is that also not allowed.

I was once on a flight with a small dog (not service dog - just paid the fee for carry-on) and a couple showed up with a large breed dog. They just walked on the plane, and the cabin attendents just watched. When that dog started crawling under the seat to get to my little (totally frantic) dog, I jumped up and asked to be moved. They accommodated me, and after the flight, my friend (a management type) who I told the story to, looked into it, and told me that those folks ended up having to pay full "human" fair for their dog.

I certainly can understand the ADA's rules of not having to divulge the reason someone has a service animal, but if there is a question on whether or not an animal has had the official training, can a business ask to see the certification?

 

[rteetz]

Also, I believe that an animal that has had the training, receives some kind of certificate, don't they? Couldn't the owner be required to being the certificate as proof? Or is that also not allowed.

I was once on a flight with a small dog (not service dog - just paid the fee for carry-on) and a couple showed up with a large breed dog. They just walked on the plane, and the cabin attendents just watched. When that dog started crawling under the seat to get to my little (totally frantic) dog, I jumped up and asked to be moved. They accommodated me, and after the flight, my friend (a management type) who I told the story to, looked into it, and told me that those folks ended up having to pay full "human" fair for their dog.

I certainly can understand the ADA's rules of not having to divulge the reason someone has a service animal, but if there is a question on whether or not an animal has had the official training, can a business ask to see the certification?

There was a large dog on my plane from Orlando to where I live and that was the first time I had ever seen something like that. I've seen plenty of small dogs like you have done but never a large dog like that. We had a full plane too. Luckily I never heard the dog once.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

There was a large dog on my plane from Orlando to where I live and that was the first time I had ever seen something like that. I've seen plenty of small dogs like you have done but never a large dog like that. We had a full plane too. Luckily I never heard the dog once.

My sister in law is training their dog to be a service dog (he has the special harness, etc.) - the dog is a ~125 lb Newfoundland

 

[danikoski]

Also, I believe that an animal that has had the training, receives some kind of certificate, don't they? Couldn't the owner be required to being the certificate as proof? Or is that also not allowed.

I was once on a flight with a small dog (not service dog - just paid the fee for carry-on) and a couple showed up with a large breed dog. They just walked on the plane, and the cabin attendents just watched. When that dog started crawling under the seat to get to my little (totally frantic) dog, I jumped up and asked to be moved. They accommodated me, and after the flight, my friend (a management type) who I told the story to, looked into it, and told me that those folks ended up having to pay full "human" fair for their dog.

I certainly can understand the ADA's rules of not having to divulge the reason someone has a service animal, but if there is a question on whether or not an animal has had the official training, can a business ask to see the certification?

Some organizations that train service dogs do give certificates and vests for the dogs. Service dogs are supposed to me identified in some fashion, usually with a vest. Same goes for service mini horses, usually.

As for dogs on planes, if the owner paid for the seat, the dog is under control, and it's within airline policy, you could very well have a 200 lbs mastiff sitting next to you

My experience is that usually big dogs are couch potatoes, and their most dangerous attribute is their drool.

 

[Gastonecrosse]

I have strong opinions on the "comfort animal" topics. Service animals I can understand but these "comfort animals" are a pile of crap. If I would have unknowingly (due to crowds) walked by that individual with the monkey and saw it while passing, I most likely would have freaked out and run, potentially unintentionally injuring someone, due to my very strong phobia of monkeys. This is where my issue lies: what is a "comfort" for someone can easily be the opposite for someone else, and in my case a "loose" monkey would be traumatic to me. I can't even go into primate areas of zoos without freaking out.

 

[skier_pete]

I have strong opinions on the "comfort animal" topics. Service animals I can understand but these "comfort animals" are a pile of crap. If I would have unknowingly (due to crowds) walked by that individual with the monkey and saw it while passing, I most likely would have freaked out and run, potentially unintentionally injuring someone, due to my very strong phobia of monkeys. This is where my issue lies: what is a "comfort" for someone can easily be the opposite for someone else, and in my case a "loose" monkey would be traumatic to me. I can't even go into primate areas of zoos without freaking out.

My wife feels similar - but even worse for her. You see these "comfort" dogs at airports and the like. My wife has a phobia of dogs, especially for strange dogs and larger dogs. If she sees a dog coming towards her on a sidewalk, even on a leash, she will often cross the street to avoid it. If she can't I try to position myself between her and it.

If she sees a "comfort" dog at the airport she either stiffens up in fear, or if she can goes across the airport to avoid it. So, one persons "comfort" is another persons "discomfort". But of course the handler has no consideration that someone might not find comfort with that animal. (I've learned that dog owners often act like EVERYONE loves dogs. It's also given me a new perspective of dog owners that let their dogs run loose and they run up to you and jump at you and then the owners come up and say "Oh - he's harmless, he just wants to play." Yes, your "harmless" dog just caused real terror in my wife, thanks. I really, really want to kick those people in the shins repeatedly and say "Oh - I just wanted to play. Is this OK?")

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Also, I believe that an animal that has had the training, receives some kind of certificate, don't they? Couldn't the owner be required to being the certificate as proof? Or is that also not allowed.

According to the ADA: "People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program."

The ADA also states: "Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry."

They also go on to state: "There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal." So a certificate provided by an owner may not actually mean much.

I was once on a flight with a small dog (not service dog - just paid the fee for carry-on) and a couple showed up with a large breed dog. They just walked on the plane, and the cabin attendents just watched. When that dog started crawling under the seat to get to my little (totally frantic) dog, I jumped up and asked to be moved. They accommodated me, and after the flight, my friend (a management type) who I told the story to, looked into it, and told me that those folks ended up having to pay full "human" fair for their dog.

While I can understand your concern for your dog and understand you wanting to move to a different seat the truth is smaller dogs cause injuries much more often than larger dogs the difference however is the times that larger dogs do cause damage the damage tends to be more extensive injuries than the smaller dogs have done.

I certainly can understand the ADA's rules of not having to divulge the reason someone has a service animal, but if there is a question on whether or not an animal has had the official training, can a business ask to see the certification?

See above information regarding the certificate issue.

It should be noted that cities and states also can have their own rules and not just for Service Animals but also for Emotional Support Animals.


---Not trying to go off all tangent here though with the above quote just providing a bit of info--

As for the monkey I wouldn't outright confront the woman but if I truly had concerns I would bring it up to Guest Relations. She was allowed entry into the parks so I'm going off of the assumption that the monkey was allowed. And in the event that the monkey truly wasn't and it was an error then at least Guest Relations has record of complaints to maybe help clarify the rules.

 

[SureAsLiz]

From what I've heard, this woman basically blew by cast members with the monkey in the stroller as if it was a child. Monkeys are also not classified as service animals, and are illegal in the state of Florida (excepting those with very hard to get permit).

She had the perfect storm of new CM's starting this past week, a very busy weekend at Epcot, and (probably) a knowledge of how to act to get the monkey into places where it shouldn't be

 

[LeeAndRobin]

the truth is smaller dogs cause injuries much more often than larger dogs

Absolutely, positively dead wrong. Rottweilers and Pit Bulls cause more injuries and deaths than most other breeds combined. Period.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Absolutely, positively dead wrong. Rottweilers and Pit Bulls cause more injuries and deaths than most other breeds combined. Period.

OK.......

I can't tell you how many insurance claims I saw just on small toy breeds. However, usually the pay out was around $1,000 or so. It wasn't nearly as common to see from larger breeds.

Chihuahuas are ones that bite a lot. In all honesty most of people get info from the media which can vary from real life and there is also a bias in reporting bites. Do you hear about the small dog that bites a person and broke the skin or do you hear more often from the larger dog (currently it's the pitbull but it was previously the german shepard) biting someone?

I didn't mention anything about deaths and in fact I did actually say larger breeds (that's a lot to do with their size, jaw muscle, etc) tend to cause more extensive damage soooo yeah think you misunderstood that point.

This thread isn't about breed specific stuff. I put that in there (meaning size aspect) because the poster seemed to have a gut reaction due to the size of the dog that was coming closer to their dog (which they also mentioned the size). If that small dog the poster had was a chihuahua or a lhasa apso or a jack russell terrier versus a big dog like an Old English Sheepdog or as someone mentioned upthread a Newfoundland I would be much more concerned with the chihuahua or lhasa apso or a jack russell terrier.

-Let's agree to disagree and move on to the actual topic of the thread-

 

[rteetz]

From what I've heard, this woman basically blew by cast members with the monkey in the stroller as if it was a child. Monkeys are also not classified as service animals, and are illegal in the state of Florida (excepting those with very hard to get permit).

She had the perfect storm of new CM's starting this past week, a very busy weekend at Epcot, and (probably) a knowledge of how to act to get the monkey into places where it shouldn't be

See I thought the Monkey wasn't supposed to be allowed.

 

[wilkeliza]

Monkeys are not legal as service animals. Not on the national level or FL level. This woman could have and should have been asked to leave. The only service animals are dogs and miniature horses. Anything else would fall under the local emotional support animal laws but those laws only pertain to housing not access to public accommodations.

Now that this has hit the news I hope Disney retrains front of line. The worst though is the fake service dogs. I have one friend whose dog is definitely a fake as she never takes him anywhere but Disney World and only when she thinks he deserves a visit. While he is a well behaved dog it pisses me off because it takes advantage of what a service dog is and makes people side eye and judge real service dogs.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

From what I've heard, this woman basically blew by cast members with the monkey in the stroller as if it was a child. Monkeys are also not classified as service animals, and are illegal in the state of Florida (excepting those with very hard to get permit).

She had the perfect storm of new CM's starting this past week, a very busy weekend at Epcot, and (probably) a knowledge of how to act to get the monkey into places where it shouldn't be

Ohh now that throws a wrench in. If it was new CMs and Epcot was busy enough to let some things get passed what normally wouldn't have I would think it would be a training opportunity for all though I suppose one could say it's not an occurance you would think would be all that often..at least I would hope. I honestly don't know but do they have any signage as to the definition of what is a service animal or just put the ADA rule or do they even have any signage? Just for my own curiousity.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The worst though is the fake service dogs. I have one friend whose dog is definitely a fake as she never takes him anywhere but Disney World and only when she thinks he deserves a visit. While he is a well behaved dog it pisses me off because it takes advantage of what a service dog is and makes people side eye and judge real service dogs.

I know that a lot of people who have service dogs don't appreciate those who take advantage of it. It makes it more difficult for them to use their service dog because of the skepticim people nowadays have.

One night at Cracker Barrel we had a nice chat with a blind gentleman who had his service dog with him. The service dog had on a vest and the handle he was using and a platisic attachment to the dog's vest said something to the effect of "on the job please don't touch". He said he gets push back a lot of times from people when he tells them not to interact with his dog as it distracts her from doing her job. To him she is not a pet but there are enough people out there that use what they call their service dogs but treat them like pets. Now it isn't to say that people still wouldn't want to touch the dog..I guess for most of us we see a dog and want to pet it.

I don't really judge people based on what they consider an emotional support animal (remember the turkey on that one flight?) but I think in general people who truly use them for that emotional assistance understand the rules surrounding their ability to have them with them and understand when they may be barred from bring them in with them.