Tips for Service Dogs and Handlers
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COOL MAT DIRECTIONS You need to find a source for the super absorber crystals. I have a garden center near me that will sell it to me by the pound. You can also find small packages of it in some plant stores. Nurserymen use it as an amendment to potting soil to hold water. One brand is called Water Lock. If you're really desperate you can tear open a super absorbent diaper and find the powder in there:-). You can start with close woven fabric of any size, but I find that starting with a pillow case is an easy way to do it. Also, much larger than that and they become terribly heavy after soaking. Two pillow case sized ones nicely fit in a large crate. Sew lines of stitching length ways about an inch and a half apart all the way across the pillow case. All the little tubes are then open at the normal open end of the case. Put about a teaspoon of the super absorber crystals into each tube and sew across the pillow case about 1/4 of the way up. Add another teaspoon to each tube and sew again about 1/2 way up then add more and sew 3/4 the way then add more and finally sew up the open end of each tube. Soak the pad in clean water for about 20 minutes (maybe a bit more) and each little section should swell up like a little sausage. You can put the whole thing in another pillow case as a cover or use it as is. Don't over soak it or you can actually force the crystals through the pores in the fabric. As the pad dries out or warms up you can re soak it. Leave it out in the open to dry and it can be used over and over. I made one in a long strip and only filled about a 6 inch tube in the middle. I left the "tails" on the tube and my husband, who works in an auto factory, ties it around his head. Or even tie it around your neck. They feel great! The crystals aren't toxic, but you need to be careful not to breathe them while they're dry as they can cause drying of the nose, throat etc.
2) In some cases were the vest isn't enough you should carry your partners ID, certification papers, something that states he/she is a service animal.
3) I don't know if this relates to you but I carry a state law of rights for service dogs from ADA america's disability act. NOTE: it's quit simple to get the laws,just go to the ADA web site and learn the laws!
4)I know its hard to say no to the little children that they can not pet the service animal but it a absolute! Your partner can get distracted from her/his work causing danger to the disabled!
5) Heres a tip for the public that does not relate or has a service animal: Keep your dogs on leash, do not pet, call the dogs name, or offer food to the service animal.
6)Heres another tip for public: A disabled person is still a being and should be treated like one, I get people always smiling at me and talking behind my back, and they talk to me like I'm a baby. It's rude!....Well, I don't like it! I'm still a person!
There were some good and some not so good things about these two parks as far as service dogs are concerned.
1. Both DW and US publish a guide for people with disabilities which you can pick up at their guest services office....these are a must because they state where the potty areas are for the service dogs.
2. US has added to their map of the park, a logo for the potty break areas...DW relies on the book and often the park attendants don't know here the break area is and have to refer to the book with you.
3. US has bags and a trash can available at the break area, DW does not so you have to carry your own bag out to the trash.
4. We went to all four DW parks and both US parks....Often you will feel like a walking exhibit because the people are fascinated by a "dog in the park". "I didn't know you could bring your dog (this with the dog in a vest with SERVICE DOG plastered all over it)..."It's a blind dog" (eye roll and head shake here), "that dog must bite, it has a muzzle" (this with the dog's tongue hanging out panting wearing his gentle leader). But we did hear more "that's a helper dog, don't touch it" than we have before (Thank you, DOGS WITH JOGS...people are watching).
5. If you want to avoid kids, stay away from MGM studios, Magic Kingdom. Animal kingdom and Epcot were the best for least problems with people because there are more older families. US was about even on lots of kids. We were surprised by the number of unsupervised kids at US until one of the attendants told us that a lot of locals use the park as a baby sitting service...kids older than 10 can get a season pass and the parents drop them off and pick them up at closing time each day....I'm assuming the same happens at DW.
6. Best day to go is Monday..especially if it rains. And go early, fewer people early in the morning and if you go to the Animal kingdom, you will see more animals in the morning. Yes, the dog can go on the safari ride. DW puts a leash on the dog that is attached to the car so that it can't jump out (guess one jumped into the front seat with the driver once so they do this now). Usually people with wc's or sd's get to sit in the front of the car, too.
7. Bring your own toilet paper...has nothing to do with SD's...just a personal note. Every park and hotel we stayed in must have used the poorest grade of tp ever made!
8. Teach your dog to drink out of a water bottle, there are no watering spots in the parks although the attendents did offer to give us water. Also if you use a vest, wet it down and use a wet bandana around the dog's neck for cooling. It is hot unless you go in the winter.
9. Each ride attendant in DW and US will let you know if the dog can go on the ride. DW offers an attendant to hold the dog if it is not advisable for the dog to go on the ride, US offers a kennel cage if you don't want the dog to go on the ride. We found that most rides that were not advisable for SD's weren't advisable for us either. So no roller coaster rides but we did go on Pirates of the Carribean and Spiderman.
Air travelers who want information about the rights of persons with disabilities in air travel or who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the Hot line to obtain assistance at: 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY). Air travelers who want DOT to investigate a complaint about a disability-related issue still must submit their complaint in writing via e-mail at airconsumer@ost.dot.gov or postal mail to: Aviation Consumer Protection Division U.S. Department of Transportation 400 7th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590
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