Dog in Royal Court Theatre on QM2

[RJChatsworth]

I am told, so could be totally untrue, that in the US a ‘comfort’ dog certificate to confirm you need the dog can be purchased off the internet whereas in the UK only a vet can authorise such a certificate.

 

I am sure someone will put me right!

[RJChatsworth]

Sorry, I didn’t mean vet but doctor/GP!!!!

[3rdGenCunarder]

7 minutes ago, RJChatsworth said:

I am told, so could be totally untrue, that in the US a ‘comfort’ dog certificate to confirm you need the dog can be purchased off the internet whereas in the UK only a vet can authorise such a certificate.

 

I am sure someone will put me right!

 

Some people get certificates from dog trainers after they and the dog complete training, but it's sort of a diploma, not a legal document. In the US, those certificates have no legal standing and cannot be required. And yes, you can go online and buy certificates, vests, etc to "prove" your dog is a trained service or comfort dog. The people who do that should be ashamed of themselves. 

 

Although none of the dogs or cats I have owned was a service animal, I always considered my pet to be a comfort in my life. But just because I loved a pet didn't mean I should take it with me everywhere. 

[D&N]

49 minutes ago, RJChatsworth said:

Sorry, I didn’t mean vet but doctor/GP!!!!

I know which I'd prefer to treat me if I still lived in UK.

[RK-NC]

It is my opinion that a true working service dog would not need to be carried by the human it is working and serving. We spoke with the Administrative Manager of QM2 today and were told that it was our responsibility to avoid the dog. We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

[Winifred 22]

21 minutes ago, RK-NC said:

It is my opinion that a true working service dog would not need to be carried by the human it is working and serving. We spoke with the Administrative Manager of QM2 today and were told that it was our responsibility to avoid the dog. We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

I too have never heard of of seen true working dogs needed to be carried. Doesn’t seem a satisfactory response at all. They must have  got on in Southampton as I didn’t notice them last week myself. There was a working dog onboard QA in the summer and there used to be a note in the Daily Programme every day reminding people not to distract him. Saw them a couple of times round  the ship and he always had a jacket on. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

49 minutes ago, RK-NC said:

It is my opinion that a true working service dog would not need to be carried by the human it is working and serving. We spoke with the Administrative Manager of QM2 today and were told that it was our responsibility to avoid the dog. We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

 

Unless you have severe allergies, I think that is an overreaction. Unless the owner is constantly wandering around the ship, he/she and the dog will likely settle somewhere. If you enter an area and see the dog, just go somewhere else. I know it's annoying to have to limit use of some spaces, but it's better than shutting yourself up in one room the whole time. 

 

[Planning to cruise]

46 minutes ago, RK-NC said:

We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

I am so sorry RK-NC to read this.  In the circumstances I can understand your reaction.  I too am wary of dogs.  

No passenger should be disadvantaged like this because of the behaviour of another passenger whatever that is.  You have paid for the cruise.    

 

There seem to be several factors at issue.  1.  The dog is on board in the first place.  2.  It is taken into the theatre, a public place where it may be difficult for others to avoid it.  3.  In this instance there was disturbance to and reduction of enjoyment by others because of the jingling.  (Was the noise part of the comfort zone or an affectation?)

 

Although you have seen a manager I would take this even further up the food chain to senior management such as the Hotel Manager.  A letter to the Captain marked Personal will ensure the issue is appropriately delegated with an acknowledment reply from his secretary.  

 

I do hope this gets resolved for you.  

[Germancruiser]

Well I suppose the passenger I once met-- not on board a Cunarder- did it the safe way-  carried his teddybear - every evening differently dressed - all the time around - at the bar teddybear was put on an extra stool and got his own drink. I do NOT make that up. People stopped and wanted to get their picture taken with teddybear and owner- also chatted with the guy - which I found quite kind.

[S1971]

9 hours ago, RK-NC said:

It is my opinion that a true working service dog would not need to be carried by the human it is working and serving. We spoke with the Administrative Manager of QM2 today and were told that it was our responsibility to avoid the dog. We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

 

I'm of the same opinion, "working service dogs" are just that, they should be working not being carried around.

 

I admit, I've only seen guide dogs on a ship a couple of times and it's wonderful to see the freedom it gave their owners and I have no problem with that at all, similarly illness detection dogs, although I've not encountered them it fascinates me how they can detect an oncoming epileptic seizure and the like, these dogs are professionally certified and have trained so again no problem.

 

I do have a problem with so called "comfort dogs" for example alleged anxiety issues etc, if as I suspect it's boarded with some kind of online certificate it should be challenged by the cruiseline, not just accepted for fear of bad publicity, which is what they are doing.

 

At the very least it should not be allowed to impact on other guests enjoyment, which it obviously has.

 

Given the response you've had onboard, I'd also be dissapointed but do not confine yourselves to the cabin, just avoid the dog and make a serious complaint once you are home

 

 

[Megabear2]

Dogs trained to assist with autism and hearing often wear "jingles" and can be small breeds.

[S1971]

31 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Dogs trained to assist with autism and hearing often wear "jingles" and can be small breeds.

 

The problem being that the noise from those "jingles" is directly impacting on other peoples enjoyment.

 

That being the case, the dog owner should take into consideration that the noise is intrusive to others and go somewhere more suitable or alternatively the cruiseline should be telling them that.

 

My apologies if I sound harsh, but there has to be tighter restrictions to bringing "working animals" on board ships, such as no entry to restaurants, theatres, pools, sitting on furnishings etc.

 

If that can't be adhered too, harsh as it sounds, owners shouldn't book cruises knowing the limited available space onboard for their animals.

[lindylooellalouise]

13 hours ago, RK-NC said:

It is my opinion that a true working service dog would not need to be carried by the human it is working and serving. We spoke with the Administrative Manager of QM2 today and were told that it was our responsibility to avoid the dog. We have decided to stay in our stateroom as much as possible for the rest of the voyage. 

Oh I’m so sorry to read this how awful for you, we’re sailing on QM2 next year and have read that some dogs have been  staying in the cabins with the owners, for me that will cause great problems if the cabins are not fully fumigated as I have a very bad allergy to any kind of animal fur or hair, not sure if I should contact Cunard regarding this to check if our cabins have been used to accommodate animals.

[lindylooellalouise]

17 hours ago, RJChatsworth said:

When a dog stays in a cabin, who pays for fumigation, not the owners, but they should?

 

There was a long thread on here a year or two ago which I started about a large husky ‘comfort’ dog in the QG cabin on QM-2 next to our QG cabin on a transatlantic crossing.  The owners only once eat in the QG.  All their food was delivered, even the dog’s as it was partial to salmon.  The dog had to be restrained in the corridor as it was too large to pass comfily when it was on its daily walk.

 

When the youngish couple and dog disembarked it took two hours to clean the cabin properly.  I felt sorry for the new occupants.

 

This dog business is getting out of hand, in my opinion. This was not the first case we had come across.  Previously the small dog had been taken into the QG restaurant at meal times.

Hi we’re staying in 9009 and 9013 early next year are you able to tell me which cabin the dog was housed.

[S1971]

2 minutes ago, lindylooellalouise said:

Hi we’re staying in 9009 and 9013 early next year are you able to tell me which cabin the dog was housed.

 

I wouldn't overly worry at the moment as I suspect this is not commonplace, but it does seem to be increasing.

 

What would be interesting to know is whether there are certain cabins that are only allocated for animals and if not why not? 

 

 

[lindylooellalouise]

1 minute ago, S1971 said:

 

I wouldn't overly worry at the moment as I suspect this is not commonplace, but it does seem to be increasing.

 

What would be interesting to know is whether there are certain cabins that are only allocated for animals and if not why not? 

 

 

Yes maybe that’s the question for me to ask Cunard.

[S1971]

It would also be interesting to know how all this fits in with the Evac chair allocation, how do they deal with working animals for those with them in the event if an emergency?

[exlondoner]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

Dogs trained to assist with autism and hearing often wear "jingles" and can be small breeds.

That is strange. When we had some training on dealing with pupils with (mild) autism, one of the things we were told that upset them was persistent rustling and jingly noises.

[ace2542]

On 9/16/2024 at 9:30 AM, majortom10 said:

White Star Service is a laughable publicity comment that does not really happen.

Not any more and no in the afternoon tea where they no longer wear white gloves.

[Clewgarnet]

3 hours ago, S1971 said:

 

I'm of the same opinion, "working service dogs" are just that, they should be working not being carried around.

Diabetic, seizure and other medical alert dogs can work while being carried around.

 

If they're small enough to be a trip hazard in a crowded environment, I can definitely see the logic in picking them up.

[Poole Boy]

3 hours ago, S1971 said:

 

I'm of the same opinion, "working service dogs" are just that, they should be working not being carried around.

 

I admit, I've only seen guide dogs on a ship a couple of times and it's wonderful to see the freedom it gave their owners and I have no problem with that at all, similarly illness detection dogs, although I've not encountered them it fascinates me how they can detect an oncoming epileptic seizure and the like, these dogs are professionally certified and have trained so again no problem.

 

I do have a problem with so called "comfort dogs" for example alleged anxiety issues etc, if as I suspect it's boarded with some kind of online certificate it should be challenged by the cruiseline, not just accepted for fear of bad publicity, which is what they are doing.

 

At the very least it should not be allowed to impact on other guests enjoyment, which it obviously has.

 

Given the response you've had onboard, I'd also be dissapointed but do not confine yourselves to the cabin, just avoid the dog and make a serious complaint once you are home

 

 

Unfortunately, if some one presents a "certificate" for the animal it has to be accepted at face value, it is not for the cruise line or anyone else to question its validity, that is the job of the issueing authority.

[exlondoner]

16 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

Not any more and no in the afternoon tea where they no longer wear white gloves.

There are several recent photos of tea being served in gloves, for instance on the Alaska thread, so may be that was an aberration.

[ace2542]

Just a question. But from a legal standpoint in terms of compensation claim what would happen if a service dog bit another passenger? Just asking a question.

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, Poole Boy said:

Unfortunately, if some one presents a "certificate" for the animal it has to be accepted at face value, it is not for the cruise line or anyone else to question its validity, that is the job of the issueing authority.

That is not quite true. For instance, cruise lines are expected to assess the validity of your passports and visas on check in, even though they are not part of the border force.

[Megabear2]

There was some discussion earlier this year about a "yappy" dog onboard walking the decks and I recall HH posted a link to Cunard's terms.  I couldn't find that link but here are the current terms from the UK  website.  It does seem to require quite stringent proof of the dog.

 

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/accessibility/assistance-dogs