Emotional support animals

[geist1223]

Two of my 'Pet" Peeves are entitled people that believe they should be allowed to take their pets anywhere anytime. The other is GM's and Staff that do not enforce the Rules and are not trained in what they can do/ask.

I have had GM'S get mad at me for raising the issue.

We currently have 2 pets. We travel a lot. We hire a House/Pet Sitter that moves into our House to take care of our House and our Pets.

My former DIL was highly allergic to cats and dogs. She always carried several Epi Pens. One time they were checking into WM Seaside. Within minutes she was having a severe reaction. They went back down to the Front Desk. The Resort Records did not show that a pet had ever been declared in that Unit. Even though it was a busy Friday the Staff was able to find them another Unit.

Once at Seaside a Unit down the Hall had a Dog that barked a lot. The folks left their 'trained' service animal alone for hours. Obviously not a trained service animal. Complaining to the Front Deak did no good. Patti decided next time this happened we were going to call 911. A trained service animal will only bark like that if there is a true emergency and it needs help.

At Seaside we have seen how they treat a Unit that has a Service Dog. After the folks checked out all the furniture was removed and cleaned. The Unit was cleaned from ceiling, walls, and floors. This is all done at the expense of the timeshare.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

The possibility of having dogs anywhere in CFW has caused great consternation on DISboards.

I’m not surprised. Dog hair allergies are not that uncommon.

 

[55plus]

I travel with a service dog due to mobility issues from military injuries. I've owned with Wyndham going on 30 years and never had a problem at a resort with my dog. Mainly because my dogs behave like service dogs should. Most resorts I frequent regularly remember my dogs name, but usually not mine.

I was happy to see Bonnet Creek is documenting service dogs at check-in. They gave me a bright color service dog tag to attach to the leash. Security looks for the tags. I was told Wyndham is cracking down of people sneaking pets in, fake service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. I saw security nab a few people with unauthorized dogs (no tags). One couple had two small dogs in a stroller. They tried to pass them off as their service dogs.

Most people don't know that even legitimate service dogs can be ask to leave a hotel, resort, restaurant, store, etc., if the dog is a nuisance, disturbed others, for barking, being aggressive, etc. One couple was asked to removed their fake "service dog" from the premises after it showed aggression towards my dog outside the lobby. Another dog tried to jump my dog as an elevator door opened in building 6. My previous dog was jumped and bite at Ocean Walk several years ago. The owner wouldn't show me proof of rabies vaccination (show me the rabies tag) so I had no other choice but to call the police.

My current service dog is a long haired German Shepherd. He'll be 3 years old next month and was in imported from Germany. Picture is from Bonnet Creek over the holidays.

 

[ridgerunner71]

Two of my 'Pet" Peeves are entitled people that believe they should be allowed to take their pets anywhere anytime. The other is GM's and Staff that do not enforce the Rules and are not trained in what they can do/ask.

I have had GM'S get mad at me for raising the issue.

You have 2 issues, combined make a complete monster of an issue.

Generally speaking, timeshare owners are a very self perceived privaleged / entitled group.

Generally speaking, pet owners are a very self perceived privaleged and entitled group.

Put these 2 things together, and then add in "I am a PLATINUM/FOUNDERS VIP" and "do you know how much I paid for this?" type conversations.

I stopped bringing it up with resort management because I have had the same interactions with staff and managers at the resorts. I have a kid with severe respiratory issues and also allergic to most dogs, so It was more of an issue when he travelled with us.

What I instead do is every time I see an animal, I berate the owner if it's something that is obviously not a service animal. Like 90% of them are. I have gotten in arguments with people, and i don't care anymore. While the resorts may not be able to ask questions, we patrons/the general; public can, and at the end of the day, if I shame them into not bringing their emotional support chihuahua, then I have done my job.

I also only do this when it's 100% obvious or the pet is misbehaving. Or if I see them poop and they dont clean it up.

It's great that "you have owned since the fairfield days", but that doesn't entitle you to play by a separate set of rules.

 

[marmite]

I travel with a service dog due to mobility issues from military injuries. I've owned with Wyndham going on 30 years and never had a problem at a resort with my dog. Mainly because my dogs behave like service dogs should. Most resorts I frequent regularly remember my dogs name, but usually not mine.

I was happy to see Bonnet Creek is documenting service dogs at check-in. They gave me a bright color service dog tag to attach to the leash. Security looks for the tags. I was told Wyndham is cracking down of people sneaking pets in, fake service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. I saw security nab a few people with unauthorized dogs (no tags). One couple had two small dogs in a stroller. They tried to pass them off as their service dogs.

Most people don't know that even legitimate service dogs can be ask to leave a hotel, resort, restaurant, store, etc., if the dog is a nuisance, disturbed others, for barking, being aggressive, etc. One couple was asked to removed their fake "service dog" from the premises after it showed aggression towards my dog outside the lobby. Another dog tried to jump my dog as an elevator door opened in building 6. My previous dog was jumped and bite at Ocean Walk several years ago. The owner wouldn't show me proof of rabies vaccination (show me the rabies tag) so I had no other choice but to call the police.

My current service dog is a long haired German Shepherd. He'll be 3 years old next month and was in imported from Germany. Picture is from Bonnet Creek over the holidays.

View attachment 88526

Your dog is a beauty. I am in awe of working-dogs and love the bigger breeds.

That said, my dogs are not service animals so like @geist1223 does, I hire a pet/house-sitter for all vacations. Hearing someone's yappy dog left in a room is not fun, yet there's not much you can do if at a pet-friendly property.

 

[Luanne]

My husband has a good friend who was planning to visit, with his wife and dog (or dogs) a couple of years ago. They planned to come by motor home. My husband kind of discouraged them from doing so. They can't bring the dogs to our house, we are not set up for dogs. They couldn't leave them in the motor home. It was really limiting what they could do. I asked why they couldn't board them and leave them home. My husband said his friend told him the dog (or dogs) suffered from "separation anxiety". So, so far no visit from these friends.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Two of my 'Pet" Peeves are entitled people that believe they should be allowed to take their pets anywhere anytime. The other is GM's and Staff that do not enforce the Rules and are not trained in what they can do/ask.

I have had GM'S get mad at me for raising the issue.

We currently have 2 pets. We travel a lot. We hire a House/Pet Sitter that moves into our House to take care of our House and our Pets.

My former DIL was highly allergic to cats and dogs. She always carried several Epi Pens. One time they were checking into WM Seaside. Within minutes she was having a severe reaction. They went back down to the Front Desk. The Resort Records did not show that a pet had ever been declared in that Unit. Even though it was a busy Friday the Staff was able to find them another Unit.

Once at Seaside a Unit down the Hall had a Dog that barked a lot. The folks left their 'trained' service animal alone for hours. Obviously not a trained service animal. Complaining to the Front Deak did no good. Patti decided next time this happened we were going to call 911. A trained service animal will only bark like that if there is a true emergency and it needs help.

At Seaside we have seen how they treat a Unit that has a Service Dog. After the folks checked out all the furniture was removed and cleaned. The Unit was cleaned from ceiling, walls, and floors. This is all done at the expense of the timeshare.

I have read the ADA rules and FAQs. IIRC, if a person needs a service animal they are required to keep the dog with them. So, if an owner leaves the dog alone, the logic is that they don't need the services of the dog.
My wife has allergies and asthma. She can tell if there has been a dog in the unit before her and has to take medications to counteract the dog dander.
When we were at Marriott Newport Coast last fall and more recently at Marriott Canyon Villas, it was obvious from the barking that there was a dog next door. The barking was a likely indication that the dog was not a service dog (unless they were taught to bark when they sensed certain medical issues). My wife called the front desk and asked if our neighbors had registered their dog. In both cases it was "No". So, security went out and were greated by family pets that were barking their head off and trying to physically and aggressively protect their owners. Nice traits for a pet or guard dog. In both cases the guests were required to leave immediately. I presume that they may have had to pay the mandatory cleaning fee. While that is a shame that there vacation came to an abrupt end, it would also be a shame if someone had a severe reaction to the dog and got into a medical emergency. These people knew the rules/risks and chose to ignore them and chose to sneak in a pet.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

What I instead do is every time I see an animal, I berate the owner if it's something that is obviously not a service animal. Like 90% of them are. I have gotten in arguments with people, and i don't care anymore. While the resorts may not be able to ask questions, we patrons/the general; public can, and at the end of the day, if I shame them into not bringing their emotional support chihuahua, then I have done my job.

I think this is probably a bad/dangerous idea given how people behave these days, however I get it, as one relative of a dog allergy sufferer to another.

 

[regatta333]

We were recently staying at Hyatt Coconut Plantation and there was a dog repeatedly barking in the unit next door. I called the front desk and they said they would take care of it. They called back a few minutes later and said that the woman claimed she was unaware of the no pets policy, but that the situation had been resolved. I asked what she meant by that and she would not say how it had been resolved, only that I should call if there were any further issues.

They obviously did not ask the owner to remove the dog, because the next day, we heard the dog repeatedly whining. I again called the front desk and they said they would handle it. We didn't hear any more from the dog after that, and I'm not sure what they actually did to resolve the situation, but animals that are not service animals should be required to be immediately removed from the premises.

 

[HitchHiker71]

ESAs are pets. Pets are not allowed.

Service animals are not pets. They are allowed.

Excellent succinct response. I just added this topic to our FAQ since we get this question periodically: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/s...before-posting-questions-in-the-forum.355645/

 

[HitchHiker71]

I can understand both sides. I love the toy breeds and I will almost always pet them and tell the owners hiw cute they are. We had a Papillon until she passed a few years ago and we always got compliments on her. OTOH, I don’t particularly care for larger dogs and know they can be hard to handle in certain situations.

When we were down at OTA over Christmas and were coming back late one night around 11:00 PM an older gentlemen was exiting the building with a larger dog on leash - clearly trying to avoid being seen since it was late and the front desk was no longer being manned - and it clearly was not a service animal. Looked like a big poodle - not sure of the exact breed. Wifey and I were commenting about it in a negative manner on the elevator ride up to our room.

 

[paxsarah]

Excellent succinct response. I just added this topic to our FAQ since we get this question periodically: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/s...before-posting-questions-in-the-forum.355645/

View attachment 88552

I think this excerpt from the member directory on page 322 is better than the faq from the website. ("Licensed" is problematic, as that is not part of the ADA definition.)

Edited to add that it's pretty annoying that they don't just use the same language on the website as they do in the directory. This isn't the only policy where this is the case and there occasionally are inexplicable omissions of key details in one source or the other.

 

[HitchHiker71]

ESA are NOT service animals.
This is straight from the ADA website... https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/

what questions can be asked:

A. In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.

But it seems that a lot of places don't know what Qs they are allowed or have been instructed to not ask any questions.

This makes no sense to me. If it's a Licensed Service Animal - there should be no reason that the resort cannot request that you produce the license. We carry driver's licenses for the same reason. When you are caught driving without a license - there are repercussions. The same should be the case when attempting to pass a pet off as a Licensed Service animal IMHO. Since almost all people have online accounts to hotels/resorts these days - allow for owners/consumers to upload the license to their online account so that it's right there in your account for easy reference - this would also allow the resorts to track and deliver additional room cleaning protocols after checkout.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I think this excerpt from the member directory on page 322 is better than the faq from the website. ("Licensed" is problematic, as that is not part of the ADA definition.)
View attachment 88553

Edited to add that it's pretty annoying that they don't just use the same language on the website as they do in the directory. This isn't the only policy where this is the case and there occasionally are inexplicable omissions of key details in one source or the other.

I added that graphic to the FAQ section as well. Thanks for posting.

 

[VacationForever]

This makes no sense to me. If it's a Licensed Service Animal - there should be no reason that the resort cannot request that you produce the license. We carry driver's licenses for the same reason. When you are caught driving without a license - there are repercussions. The same should be the case when attempting to pass a pet off as a Licensed Service animal IMHO. Since almost all people have online accounts to hotels/resorts these days - allow for owners/consumers to upload the license to their online account so that it's right there in your account for easy reference - this would also allow the resorts to track and deliver additional room cleaning protocols after checkout.

There is not such a thing as a licensed service animal. There is no licensing body. There are all sorts of fake service dog registries. You pay to register your dog, any dog, and they send you a vest and some piece of paper.

 

[55plus]

There is no ADA licensing requirements or registration requirements for service dogs. Airlines are starting to require a DOT form with the trainers information and dogs medical info signed by a veterinarian. There was some talk about Florida adding something to Florida driver licenses and state ID's to ID a legitimate service dog and handler. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before something like this goes nationwide.

 

[Sandy VDH]

This makes no sense to me. If it's a Licensed Service Animal - there should be no reason that the resort cannot request that you produce the license. We carry driver's licenses for the same reason. When you are caught driving without a license - there are repercussions. The same should be the case when attempting to pass a pet off as a Licensed Service animal IMHO. Since almost all people have online accounts to hotels/resorts these days - allow for owners/consumers to upload the license to their online account so that it's right there in your account for easy reference - this would also allow the resorts to track and deliver additional room cleaning protocols after checkout.

It might have something to do with HIPAA laws. Not sure what info is on the service animal documentation, but it might disclose something that is in violation of the laws.

I think ADA needs to do a better job at giving vendors a better way to screen out all these "ESA" pets from legitimate service animals.

 

[VacationForever]

There is no ADA licensing requirements or registration requirements for service dogs. Airlines are starting to require a DOT form with the trainers information and dogs medical info signed by a veterinarian. There was some talk about Florida adding something to Florida driver licenses and state ID's to ID a legitimate service dog and handler. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before something like this goes nationwide.

My friends with their fake service dog just completed the DOT form with their $5K trainer's information. It is a legitimate service dog trainer but their dog cannot perform the said service. They are getting on the plane this week.

 

[dioxide45]

My friends with their fake service dog just completed the DOT form with their $5K trainer's information. It is a legitimate service dog trainer but their dog cannot perform the said service. They are getting on the plane this week.

I guess it isn't any different than people who ask their doctor for some note or letter for some imaginary ailment or some ailment that isn't so bad that they don't really need a reason for a letter. I suspect many accessible parking passes are given out this way.

 

[HitchHiker71]

There is no ADA licensing requirements or registration requirements for service dogs. Airlines are starting to require a DOT form with the trainers information and dogs medical info signed by a veterinarian. There was some talk about Florida adding something to Florida driver licenses and state ID's to ID a legitimate service dog and handler. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before something like this goes nationwide.

Agreed - there should be a licensure process that all service animals undertake - standardized across all states. Would make it much easier to handle this issue across the board.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I travel with a service dog due to mobility issues from military injuries. I've owned with Wyndham going on 30 years and never had a problem at a resort with my dog. Mainly because my dogs behave like service dogs should. Most resorts I frequent regularly remember my dogs name, but usually not mine.

I was happy to see Bonnet Creek is documenting service dogs at check-in. They gave me a bright color service dog tag to attach to the leash. Security looks for the tags. I was told Wyndham is cracking down of people sneaking pets in, fake service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. I saw security nab a few people with unauthorized dogs (no tags). One couple had two small dogs in a stroller. They tried to pass them off as their service dogs.

Most people don't know that even legitimate service dogs can be ask to leave a hotel, resort, restaurant, store, etc., if the dog is a nuisance, disturbed others, for barking, being aggressive, etc. One couple was asked to removed their fake "service dog" from the premises after it showed aggression towards my dog outside the lobby. Another dog tried to jump my dog as an elevator door opened in building 6. My previous dog was jumped and bite at Ocean Walk several years ago. The owner wouldn't show me proof of rabies vaccination (show me the rabies tag) so I had no other choice but to call the police.

My current service dog is a long haired German Shepherd. He'll be 3 years old next month and was in imported from Germany. Picture is from Bonnet Creek over the holidays.

View attachment 88526

Since there's no central licensure process apparently (perhaps their should be?), it's good to see Wyndham taking this approach of documenting and tagging service animals at checkin. Provides the resort management with the ability to easily differentiate between tagged animals vs those that people are sneaking in somehow. Perhaps this is the best way to handle service animals given there's not a standardized license process at this time.

 

[chapjim]

I travel with a service dog due to mobility issues from military injuries. I've owned with Wyndham going on 30 years and never had a problem at a resort with my dog. Mainly because my dogs behave like service dogs should. Most resorts I frequent regularly remember my dogs name, but usually not mine.

I was happy to see Bonnet Creek is documenting service dogs at check-in. They gave me a bright color service dog tag to attach to the leash. Security looks for the tags. I was told Wyndham is cracking down of people sneaking pets in, fake service dogs, emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. I saw security nab a few people with unauthorized dogs (no tags). One couple had two small dogs in a stroller. They tried to pass them off as their service dogs.

Most people don't know that even legitimate service dogs can be ask to leave a hotel, resort, restaurant, store, etc., if the dog is a nuisance, disturbed others, for barking, being aggressive, etc. One couple was asked to removed their fake "service dog" from the premises after it showed aggression towards my dog outside the lobby. Another dog tried to jump my dog as an elevator door opened in building 6. My previous dog was jumped and bite at Ocean Walk several years ago. The owner wouldn't show me proof of rabies vaccination (show me the rabies tag) so I had no other choice but to call the police.

My current service dog is a long haired German Shepherd. He'll be 3 years old next month and was in imported from Germany. Picture is from Bonnet Creek over the holidays.

View attachment 88526

Perfect example of what service animals do -- lie down quietly.

I've used the term "service animal" rather than "service dog," knowing (thinking, erroneously as it turns out -- see Post #52) that animals other than dogs could qualify but not knowing which animals. Now I know.
[Source: https://www.disabilityguide.com/6-different-types-of-service-animals.html]

1. Miniature horses
2. Ferrets
3. Boa constrictors
4. Parrots
5. Pot bellied pigs
6. Capuchin monkeys

I can hardly wait for the horses and snakes and pigs to start showing up at the check-in line. I wonder if Wyndham is prepared for that!

 

[paxsarah]

Hopefully it's only a matter of time before something like this goes nationwide.

Perhaps this is the best way to handle service animals given there's not a standardized license process at this time.

It's written in the Title III regulations of the ADA that public accommodations may not ask for or require any sort of licensure or documentation of service animals, so unless people want to start a grassroots effort for the DOJ to undertake new rulemaking to make this change, I'd simply assume we're going to continue under the same regulations indefinitely.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

We were recently staying at Hyatt Coconut Plantation and there was a dog repeatedly barking in the unit next door. I called the front desk and they said they would take care of it. They called back a few minutes later and said that the woman claimed she was unaware of the no pets policy, but that the situation had been resolved. I asked what she meant by that and she would not say how it had been resolved, only that I should call if there were any further issues.

They obviously did not ask the owner to remove the dog, because the next day, we heard the dog repeatedly whining. I again called the front desk and they said they would handle it. We didn't hear any more from the dog after that, and I'm not sure what they actually did to resolve the situation, but animals that are not service animals should be required to be immediately removed from the premises.

Maybe on the first "handling" they put the person on notice AND (maybe) told them that they will have to pay a deep cleaning fee. But who knows.
But it sounds like the second "handling" may have resulted in the guests being told to leave or resulted in the dog going to boarding place.

I learned something recently regarding true service dogs that aren't well trained and are causing an issue (e.g. barking, aggressive behavior, etc.) - TS security told me that even if a dog is a security animal if it is causing a problem, it will have to be removed. Of course, every true service animal that I've ever seen didn't cause any sort of problem.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

My friends with their fake service dog just completed the DOT form with their $5K trainer's information. It is a legitimate service dog trainer but their dog cannot perform the said service. They are getting on the plane this week.

The fact that people are willing to pay $5,000 to fake register their fake service dog so they can abuse hotel and transportation rules is just insanity to me.