Service Animals on Celebrity Ship?

[need2bespoiled]

Jenna,

 

This article made me so emotional. Rescue is a true gem! Thank you for sharing this.

 

Just curious, are you familiar with this organization, by any chance?

 

http://www.dogs4diabetics.com/about-us/

 

 

Dana

 

Hey Dana,

 

Are you through vacation withdrawl yet? These boards keep me somewhat sane as I dream about and plan my next trip. I have no end in sight with work until we depart in November for our next adventure.

 

I had not heard of Dogs for Diabetics, but maybe Dee has, I'll ask her.

 

Happy Sailing,

Jenna

[hihilo]

good to know CELEBRITY has lenient policies on comfort animals.

later this year, i'll be bringing my hyena, boa constrictors, and large

box of scorpions. ~~~i mean---- who would question whats COMFORT

to me? ~~~~

[upwarduk]

Was on this ship and saw the dog many times. It was not a service dog. It was an eccentric couple that felt they were more entitled than the rest of us.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Forums mobile app

 

It sounds like the dog that was on our Eclipse Southern Caribbean March '13 cruise.

It was pushed into the Select dining room in a child's 'stroller.' It also relieved itself on the grass many times. It sat on the man's lap at the back of the theatre and barked.

Edited April 25, 2014 by upwarduk

[gold1953]

It sounds like the dog that was on our Eclipse Southern Caribbean March '13 cruise.

It was pushed into the Select dining room in a child's 'stroller.' It also relieved itself on the grass many times. It sat on the man's lap at the back of the theatre and barked.

 

Jackie there are strollers made for dogs. They are very popular here. The reliving on the grass is just not acceptable, neither is the barking!!

[dkjretired]

I doubt that foreign flagged ships (i.e. Celebrity) have to adhere to the US' ADA laws, but assuming they do they CAN ask 1) Is this a trained service animal? and 2) What tasks is the animal trained for? If little "nutty" is just there to keep someone calm, he is not a service animal; he's an emotional support animal and those are not covered under the ADA.

 

 

 

I don't know of any law that requires them to accept emotional support animals, so I assume that when they say they have to allow them, it just means "we have to or someone will go to the media and/or a lawyer and say we discriminated and we'll get a lot of negative publicity and even though the person will have no legitimate basis for their complaint, we don't want the bad publicity."

 

Actually the cruise lines do follow the ADA rules for service animals. You are correct on the two questions they are permitted to ask. They are not allowed under federal law to ask what the person's disability is and they are also not allowed to require someone to show papers that the animal is a service animal.

 

After I retired I worked in a supermarket for awhile and a women came in all the time with a service parakeet. The story was that it helped her with balance.

[NLH Arizona]

good to know CELEBRITY has lenient policies on comfort animals.

later this year, i'll be bringing my hyena, boa constrictors, and large

box of scorpions. ~~~i mean---- who would question whats COMFORT

to me? ~~~~

If I didn't have such respect for service dogs, I would make my 3 year old, obnixous Old English Sheepdog a comfort dog and bring her on a cruise. One cruise with Sadie onboard, trying to be everyone's best friend, being that she can not control her licker, would stop Celebrity from allowing comfort dogs onboard.

[wendychloecruiser]

On the eclipse, Southern Caribbean march 22 voyage we had the pleasure of meeting "Valor." He is a 2 year old lab and a true service dog. I didn't get the name of the couple but they were very chatty and didn't mind me saying hello to Valor (without touching him). Valor had his own little area outside on deck, boxed off and with ballistrades and a note above it stating "Valor's private area." Apparently Valor is trained to not pee or poop while he has his jacket on. I just thought celebrity showed a great deal of respect for even it's four legged fans!

[insidecabin]

I wonder if the CDC were allerted and give a few hints on where they might like to do some testing.

 

A suprise visit and a sanitation markdown might get celebrity to sort themselves out.

[ghstudio]

I wonder if the CDC were allerted and give a few hints on where they might like to do some testing.

 

A suprise visit and a sanitation markdown might get celebrity to sort themselves out.

 

You can't fault celebrity...you have to fault the lawmakers who set up a system that is so easy to get around....and fault those folks who scam the system because they are "special" and there dog is so precious. No guide/service dog is afforded the right for a seat in a dining room...or allowed by law to annoy others with barking....and no trained service dog would ever bark unless trained to do so to attract attention.

[LewiLewi]

We are currently on the Equinox and there is a "service" dog on board. It is a small dog, probably a chihuahua that is seen everywhere, including the Oceanview Cafe and all over the ship. Our friends are also on this cruise and are a few cabins away from this dog. They hear it barking at night and have seen poop in the hallway near their cabin. Our friend is frightened of dogs and questioned the maitr'd in the cafe about it's presence there, sitting on top of a table. She was told that the woman paid full passage for this dog and it is allowed everywhere on the ship.

Most people understand the need for a seeing eye dog. We wonder whether this particular situation will become more prevalent on all cruise lines.

[mutzy]

I was on the 4/4 equinox cruise also. I did talk to the lady about the dog. I asked where the "bathroom box" was located and she told me that they used

puppy pads for the dog to his "business". well as most of us on the cruise

know he did his "business" where ever he wanted. that dog was not a

service dog and should not have been allowed on the cruise.

[Cruising89143]

You can't fault celebrity...you have to fault the lawmakers who set up a system that is so easy to get around....and fault those folks who scam the system because they are "special" and there dog is so precious. No guide/service dog is afforded the right for a seat in a dining room...or allowed by law to annoy others with barking....and no trained service dog would ever bark unless trained to do so to attract attention.

 

Agree. I have read if a ship sails, visits or debarks from a U.S port then they have to follow the law on service animals. There is a thread

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2004541&highlight=service+animal

over on the Oceania board about a guest who had his service animal refused by the cruise line because the ship was not leaving from a U.S port. Laws need to change to tighten up the loop holes on service animals.

Edited April 25, 2014 by cruisingator2

[NLH Arizona]

We are currently on the Equinox and there is a "service" dog on board. It is a small dog, probably a chihuahua that is seen everywhere, including the Oceanview Cafe and all over the ship. Our friends are also on this cruise and are a few cabins away from this dog. They hear it barking at night and have seen poop in the hallway near their cabin. Our friend is frightened of dogs and questioned the maitr'd in the cafe about it's presence there, sitting on top of a table. She was told that the woman paid full passage for this dog and it is allowed everywhere on the ship.

Most people understand the need for a seeing eye dog. We wonder whether this particular situation will become more prevalent on all cruise lines.

Your friend should have made a very, very loud stink about the dog sitting on a table, that is against every health code there is (even for a true service dog), same goes for the dog pooping anywhere but the designated place. If we don't speak up loudly while onboard and report these tissues to the CDC/Health Department, these idiots who don't want to leave little fluffy home, will continue to be able to bring them onboard, which in my estimation is an insult to the true service dog.

 

On another cruise line, a lady and her two dogs were banned because they pooped in public places and barked all the time while in the cabin.

 

Are you listening, Celebrity, dogs should not be allowed to sit on a table or poop in public places and your staff should advise the offender and if they don't comply after first notification, they should be kicked off the ship with their dog, because it is a health risk to the other passengers?

[Cruising89143]

We are currently on the Equinox and there is a "service" dog on board. It is a small dog, probably a chihuahua that is seen everywhere, including the Oceanview Cafe and all over the ship. Our friends are also on this cruise and are a few cabins away from this dog. They hear it barking at night and have seen poop in the hallway near their cabin. Our friend is frightened of dogs and questioned the maitr'd in the cafe about it's presence there, sitting on top of a table. She was told that the woman paid full passage for this dog and it is allowed everywhere on the ship.

Most people understand the need for a seeing eye dog. We wonder whether this particular situation will become more prevalent on all cruise lines.

 

That would really make me angry. I love animals but I don't want one on my dining table or near my food and I would have said something directly to the person with the animal. I understand that the cruise lines are in a difficult position here but there has to be some ground rules put into place and the guest should be made to follow those rules.

Edited April 25, 2014 by cruisingator2

[mpace58]

That little white shih tzu has quite the life. We have also seen it on the Solstice! Fortunately, for me and them, that I didn't see the dog do it's "business" on the ship or I would have raised hell.

[h20cruzer]

I truely believe in services dogs, the open up a whole world to those that need them.

However I have been on 2 cruises where a woman pushes her small dog around in a pink stroller. Now granted one cant always tell a disability be just looking at someone, but it makes you wonder if this is really a service dog or if she just wants to bring her pet.

Are some people just taking advantage of this so they can bring their pet? Maybe there should be stricker guidelines. With that being said some people will always find a way around it.

[GOLDENBONNY]

Hi all. We recently returned from the 4 April 2014 sailing of the Equinox. While in line one day at Guest Services, I overheard a man - with his shih tsu - asking if they would be able to take the dog ashore. I never saw the dog again, but people on my roll call saw the dog many times. The owners said that it was a service animal and had saved their life at one time. It did not wear a vest, as I have seen on most service animals in public. And it "relieved" itself in the casino, hallway and Oceanview Cafe. This is not the behavior of a true service animal. And the owners made no attempt to clean it up.

 

Wish I had asked Guest Services, but didn't think about it at the time. Any idea how they got the dog on the ship?

 

Susan

 

 

It's a new "fashion" now . People go to doctor get fake letter and thy never pay for dog shelter any more. :mad: I met one of those on MSC cruise :mad: They been talking to friends how they screw cruise lines now . Never saw dog after embarkation but if I would see dog "relieved" in casino I would make a nasty loud comment to owner ;)

[insidecabin]

Your friend should have made a very, very loud stink about the dog sitting on a table, that is against every health code there is (even for a true service dog), same goes for the dog pooping anywhere but the designated place. If we don't speak up loudly while onboard and report these tissues to the CDC/Health Department, these idiots who don't want to leave little fluffy home, will continue to be able to bring them onboard, which in my estimation is an insult to the true service dog.

 

On another cruise line, a lady and her two dogs were banned because they pooped in public places and barked all the time while in the cabin.

 

Are you listening, Celebrity, dogs should not be allowed to sit on a table or poop in public places and your staff should advise the offender and if they don't comply after first notification, they should be kicked off the ship with their dog, because it is a health risk to the other passengers?

 

As above Celebrity needs a kick up the....

 

It expects us to be confined to our cabins if we can't control our bums should be the same for the dogs.

 

Health laws should(and probably do) trump I am entitled laws.

[NLH Arizona]

I truely believe in services dogs, the open up a whole world to those that need them.

However I have been on 2 cruises where a woman pushes her small dog around in a pink stroller. Now granted one cant always tell a disability be just looking at someone, but it makes you wonder if this is really a service dog or if she just wants to bring her pet.

Are some people just taking advantage of this so they can bring their pet? Maybe there should be stricker guidelines. With that being said some people will always find a way around it.

Yes, it is a widespread problem. In that a company can not require that the owner of a service dog or those posing as one to provide proper documentation (other than shot and health records in some instances), those that either get a note from their doctor (where I live it is really easy to get), get service dog vests on line for $49.95 or just lie, can take their dog everywhere. I know that same avocates for true service dogs are trying to solve the problem, because they feel that if these badly behaved dogs continue, businesses will start getting upset and try to revoke the rights of the true service dogs and that is something that can't happen.

 

We can do a lot, we can complain to businesses of badly behaved dogs (sitting on tables, pooping in public places, constant barking, etc.), take pictures of poop in public places and forward them to the CDC and Health Department and write our representatives to try to stop these posers.

 

Sorry, but I'm really passionatw about this, because a real service dog is a blessing to those that need them and these other people, well I won't tell you what I would do to them. BTW, I'm a great animal lover (traveled all over the world looking for endangered animals) and have my 6th Old English Sheepdog, who I would do anything for, except let her sit on a table, at home or anywhere else, or poop anywhere other than outside.

 

And yes, insidecabin, health codes allow a service dog to be in any establishment, but draws the line about an animal being on a table in a restaurant where food is served...even a service dog sitting on someone's lap in a restaurant is streatching it.

Edited April 25, 2014 by NLH Arizona

[CruisinNole]

It sounds like the dog that was on our Eclipse Southern Caribbean March '13 cruise.

It was pushed into the Select dining room in a child's 'stroller.' It also relieved itself on the grass many times. It sat on the man's lap at the back of the theatre and barked.

 

I think we were on the same cruise. The dog was fed in the main dining room at the table. When I saw that I knew that the dog was not a true service animal. A service animal is taught to lay under the table and would have been fed before the owners ate. They are supposed to be on duty, not dining.

 

I complained about the dog urinating on the lawn in a letter when we returned and received a call back from Celebrity. Their response was that there was nothing they could do about the barking or eating in the dining room but would make sure that word got out that service dogs should use only approved places for relieving themselves. Obviously, word did not get out.

 

We so rarely have anything to complain about that we forget that we should go to Guest Relations and not wait to complain about something like this until after the cruise. It just dawned on us after the cruise that we saw people laying on the lawn on their beach towels -- right where the dog urinated!

[gdpups]

Just couldn't keep quiet! I have been raising puppies for a guide dog school for the past 20 years and the subject makes my blood boil. This has become a huge problem for those of us that need to socialize the puppies so they can become well behaved service dogs that are allowed in all public places.

 

For the last 10 or so years "fake" service dogs has become such a problem I've been asked to leave with my puppy because the stores can't tell which animals are legit! There are many kinds of service dogs, in fact Dogs for Diabetics was started by one of our schools leaders. One night his guide dog pup randomly alerted him when his blood sugar was low, so that person actually started the program and uses some of our career changed pups in his program. Career changed dogs from our school also go to dogs for the deaf programs and other service dog programs. Some use small shelter dogs and some people do train their own service dogs, so it's sometimes hard to tell which are true service dogs for someone with a real disability and which are pampered pets!

 

I've seen enough of those so called "service dogs" in strollers and report them to management when I can, trying to educate that you can indeed ask what the dog is trained to do.

 

Off my soap box, I have to return my current puppy tomorrow to start her training and hopefully she will become a well behaved, useful service dog!

[insidecabin]

And yes, insidecabin, health codes allow a service dog to be in any establishment, but draws the line about an animal being on a table in a restaurant where food is served...even a service dog sitting on someone's lap in a restaurant is streatching it.

 

I don't have a problem locations it's the behavour,

 

You create a health hazzard that trumps your rights to be there applies to us as well as the animals.

[Clydesmom7865]

I understand that the cruise lines are in a difficult position here but there has to be some ground rules put into place and the guest should be made to follow those rules.

 

That is just it: they are NOT in a difficult position. All they have to do is issue a simple one page set of clear cut rules for the animal on board and if the passenger and their animal cannot comply the the animal cannot go. The line is SO afraid of a lawsuit and negative publicity that they allow this bad behavior to the detriment of the health and safety of the other passengers.

 

Number one priority: the dog gets ONE accident and after that if it is found to be using any area other than their approved litter box for elimination you are OFF the boat. No ifs ands or buts.

 

The sad reality is there are too many spoiled and entitled people who believe they are above the rules and label their pet a "service animal" so that they can do what they want because conventional rules of society just don't apply to those who are narcissistic.

 

I personally see absolutely NOTHING wrong with having to prove that the dog was issued by a bona fide agency that trains service animals. No internet purchased vest and "card" saying service animal allowed or worse a letter from someone with a degree that they paid to write it. I love animals and have owned dogs in my life but as much as I loved them I recognized that they just can't go everywhere with me and it never occurred to me to lie to create a scenario where they could.

 

I GUARANTEE you that if I was on a cruise with some spoiled obnoxious bark bark urinating and defecating where ever it wanted to and sitting on tables in dining areas not only would Celebrity hear about it loud and long but so would the Health Department along with my pictures and video of the incidents. In fact if I were to witness the elimination episode you would be amazed at how LOUD I could be in screeching OMG! Your dog just POOPED/PEED on the casino carpet! Aren't you going to clean that up?!!!" Then loudly discussing it with any nearby staff that aren't service animals supposed to do their business in approved areas. And no I am not worried about someone thinking I am harassing someone who is handicapped because TRUE service animals do not do those things and their owners certainly don't behave that way either.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Clydesmom7865

[NLH Arizona]

I don't have a problem locations it's the behavour,

 

You create a health hazzard that trumps your rights to be there applies to us as well as the animals.

Report abuses to the health department, that is the only way these posers will be stopped. As I said, even having a dog sitting on a person's lap in a restaurant is streatching it, but having them on a table (think about how clean their butt and paws are) is disgusting and the health department would not look to kindly on it.

[GOLDENBONNY]

You can't fault celebrity...you have to fault the lawmakers who set up a system that is so easy to get around....and fault those folks who scam the system because they are "special" and there dog is so precious. No guide/service dog is afforded the right for a seat in a dining room...or allowed by law to annoy others with barking....and no trained service dog would ever bark unless trained to do so to attract attention.

 

 

Celebrity can make a rule- all this "comfort" dogs should not leave cabin and not allowed in any public places plus they should make it clear -if your "comfort" dog barking or **** ..ng all over ship you will be out of ship.