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Emotional Support Dog at the Gym
Replies
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I don't think you're the only person at your gym who feels the way you do.
This seems obviously dangerous to me. What happens when somebody is "in the zone" not paying attention to their surroundings, don't heavy squats, and is surprised by a wet nose on their leg? If they startle and drop the bar, it's a dead emotional support dog.
I'm all for compassion, but this has too much potential down side.7 -
BecomingBane wrote: »They do have a legal obligation to back up their claim. That said, the gym also has a strong incentive not to force them to back up the claim because that can easily be viewed as discrimination and a litigious person can get an almost guaranteed win under ADA law in most places.
The people who abuse the service animal programs really ruin it for those that actually have need of a support animal.
The ADA doesn't cover emotional support animals. It requires reasonable accommodation for specific conditions (which this situation doesn't appear to cover), no one would think creating a hazard is reasonable.
How do you figure this is an almost guaranteed win?5 -
OP to answer your question about are you being a dickhead - no, you're not. I wouldn't want a dog sticking it's nose up my butt while I worked out.
The owner of said dog appears to be the problem more than then dog. If they are sprinting up and down in the gym - why not sprint outside in the park then? And as for the water fountain thing? MAJOR GROSS.
Nothing against having a well-mannered service dog with a well-mannered service dog owner in a gym, but random dog sniffing butts and drinking in the people water fountain?
No.
Go complain to manager. I'm sure you're not the only person who was unhappy with the situation.16 -
NorthCascades wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »They do have a legal obligation to back up their claim. That said, the gym also has a strong incentive not to force them to back up the claim because that can easily be viewed as discrimination and a litigious person can get an almost guaranteed win under ADA law in most places.
The people who abuse the service animal programs really ruin it for those that actually have need of a support animal.
The ADA doesn't cover emotional support animals. It requires reasonable accommodation for specific conditions (which this situation doesn't appear to cover), no one would think creating a hazard is reasonable.
How do you figure this is an almost guaranteed win?
I suspect it's only really a win if someone says the dog is a service dog (as opposed to a support animal), can prove that it's been trained by someone (themselves included) to do a task related to the disability at hand, and can make a case that the dog was safe to the public. Being off leash is fine if a leash (or other tethering device) would inhibit the dog's work and/or the user's disability prevents them from using a leash or harness and the dog is controllable " through voice, signal, or other effective controls."4 -
A properly trained service dog would not get distracted and go up to other people. Until this dog is trained to that level it needs to be leashed for the safety of other gym goers and itself.
I personally also don't really want to share a water fountain with a dog, I would want to see it get a water bowl, but personally that is of less concern to me than it startling someone mid squat or something.9 -
That is absolutely NOT ok! As much as I love dogs, I have two of my own, her dog should be leashed at ALL times wearing an approved vest and she should not let that dog drink out of the water fountain. She should be providing her dog with water in its own water bowl. WTH!
I would definitely complain! Not everyone likes dogs so I am sure other people would be offended her dog going over to them sniffing butts and disrupting their workouts.
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I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.51
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The gym probably has a written complaint form. The girl would’ve given it to you to complete if you’d said you wanted to file a complaint.
The patron is clearly acting in a rude, unsafe, and inappropriate way re their dog.5 -
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I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
I take huge issue with this which clearly represents ignorance of the life of a service dog. I have an ADA service dog (mobility and balance assist if you need to know).
Yes, I have a disability. It's a degenerative muscle disease. Yes, my dog is very well trained to assist me. He has a custom harness that sits over his shoulders because you don't ever want to put your weight on his spine. He gets a full orthopedic vet check twice a year to be sure I'm not causing him any physical ailments.
He is trained to assist me on stairs. He is trained to assist me getting out of a chair. He carries things for me, and picks up anything I drop. And he loves doing it! He thinks it's a great game to go get my shoes, or keys, or the remote. He's a Golden retriever.
Most of the time I feel great and don't particularly need his help. But it's important that I keep him in great physical condition for when my disease flares and I need a couple of hours of help per week. He rarely wears his harness. We go for long walks several times a day. He upland hunts. He dock dives. He does barn hunt. He does agility (with a handler). Oh, and he's a show champion, was invited to Westminster. We've traveled the country together for dog shows, hunting, and fishing trips. He is pampered and loved shamelessly.
More than one person, including two of his trainers, have commented that if there's reincarnation they'd like to come back as my dog.
I know two other people who have legitimate ADA service dogs, and their dogs have fantastic, easy, full lives as well.53 -
I think you're on track, OP, writing an email or letter to the gym manager. Especially if you felt the vibe that the girl at the desk wouldn't actually relay your complaint. Best to do it directly. As everyone's demonstrated in 90% of the posts here, you are definitely justified in complaining about an unsafe, potentially dangerous situation.7
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Running around unleashed and drinking from the water fountain? Um, no. Not okay.
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hotel4dogs wrote: »I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
I take huge issue with this which clearly represents ignorance of the life of a service dog. I have an ADA service dog (mobility and balance assist if you need to know).
Yes, I have a disability. It's a degenerative muscle disease. Yes, my dog is very well trained to assist me. He has a custom harness that sits over his shoulders because you don't ever want to put your weight on his spine. He gets a full orthopedic vet check twice a year to be sure I'm not causing him any physical ailments.
He is trained to assist me on stairs. He is trained to assist me getting out of a chair. He carries things for me, and picks up anything I drop. And he loves doing it! He thinks it's a great game to go get my shoes, or keys, or the remote. He's a Golden retriever.
Most of the time I feel great and don't particularly need his help. But it's important that I keep him in great physical condition for when my disease flares and I need a couple of hours of help per week. He rarely wears his harness. We go for long walks several times a day. He upland hunts. He dock dives. He does barn hunt. He does agility (with a handler). Oh, and he's a show champion, was invited to Westminster. We've traveled the country together for dog shows, hunting, and fishing trips. He is pampered and loved shamelessly.
More than one person, including two of his trainers, have commented that if there's reincarnation they'd like to come back as my dog.
I know two other people who have legitimate ADA service dogs, and their dogs have fantastic, easy, full lives as well.
I couldn't agree more with you about the level of ignorance in that post. I'm so glad you have such a wonderful animal to help you. From everything I've read and studied on this topic, these dogs love to work and be helpful. And in every situation I've been exposed to, the dog has a happy life with a loving person or family.
My personal experience was with the dog that assisted my daughter for the last two and a half years of her life with stage 4 cancer. She had walking and balance issues among many, many other problems while trying to survive this awful disease and her animal was a great help and support to her. And he was treated with love and cared for very well. We lost her 5 months ago at age 35. He now has a loving home with one of my other daughters. He was a wonderful source of assistance and support for her and we will always treasure him for the rest of his dog life time in this earth. He is a living reminder of the love they had for each other.
The ignorance and insensitivity of that post, for me, is truly beyond the pale.52 -
hotel4dogs wrote: »I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
I take huge issue with this which clearly represents ignorance of the life of a service dog. I have an ADA service dog (mobility and balance assist if you need to know).
Yes, I have a disability. It's a degenerative muscle disease. Yes, my dog is very well trained to assist me. He has a custom harness that sits over his shoulders because you don't ever want to put your weight on his spine. He gets a full orthopedic vet check twice a year to be sure I'm not causing him any physical ailments.
He is trained to assist me on stairs. He is trained to assist me getting out of a chair. He carries things for me, and picks up anything I drop. And he loves doing it! He thinks it's a great game to go get my shoes, or keys, or the remote. He's a Golden retriever.
Most of the time I feel great and don't particularly need his help. But it's important that I keep him in great physical condition for when my disease flares and I need a couple of hours of help per week. He rarely wears his harness. We go for long walks several times a day. He upland hunts. He dock dives. He does barn hunt. He does agility (with a handler). Oh, and he's a show champion, was invited to Westminster. We've traveled the country together for dog shows, hunting, and fishing trips. He is pampered and loved shamelessly.
More than one person, including two of his trainers, have commented that if there's reincarnation they'd like to come back as my dog.
I know two other people who have legitimate ADA service dogs, and their dogs have fantastic, easy, full lives as well.
The dog the person was talking about wasn't a service dog though, it is an "emotional support" animal. (All you need a letter from your primary doctor saying it helps your well being and anything can be one)
I completely agree with you on service animals. They are incredible. Also service animals are usually well trained and would not be doing the things OP mentioned.5 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »hotel4dogs wrote: »I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
I take huge issue with this which clearly represents ignorance of the life of a service dog. I have an ADA service dog (mobility and balance assist if you need to know).
Yes, I have a disability. It's a degenerative muscle disease. Yes, my dog is very well trained to assist me. He has a custom harness that sits over his shoulders because you don't ever want to put your weight on his spine. He gets a full orthopedic vet check twice a year to be sure I'm not causing him any physical ailments.
He is trained to assist me on stairs. He is trained to assist me getting out of a chair. He carries things for me, and picks up anything I drop. And he loves doing it! He thinks it's a great game to go get my shoes, or keys, or the remote. He's a Golden retriever.
Most of the time I feel great and don't particularly need his help. But it's important that I keep him in great physical condition for when my disease flares and I need a couple of hours of help per week. He rarely wears his harness. We go for long walks several times a day. He upland hunts. He dock dives. He does barn hunt. He does agility (with a handler). Oh, and he's a show champion, was invited to Westminster. We've traveled the country together for dog shows, hunting, and fishing trips. He is pampered and loved shamelessly.
More than one person, including two of his trainers, have commented that if there's reincarnation they'd like to come back as my dog.
I know two other people who have legitimate ADA service dogs, and their dogs have fantastic, easy, full lives as well.
The dog the person was talking about wasn't a service dog though, it is an "emotional support" animal. (All you need a letter from your primary doctor saying it helps your well being and anything can be one)
I completely agree with you on service animals. They are incredible. Also service animals are usually well trained and would not be doing the things OP mentioned.
FWIW, I have never taken him to the gym. If I'm feeling up to going to work out, I don't need him!
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »
The dog the person was talking about wasn't a service dog though, it is an "emotional support" animal. (All you need a letter from your primary doctor saying it helps your well being and anything can be one)
I completely agree with you on service animals. They are incredible. Also service animals are usually well trained and would not be doing the things OP mentioned.
The dog the OP was talking about was an emotional support animal, but the person that @hotel4dogs was responding to implied that all service dogs were subjected to terrible lives of servitude and the whole concept was therefore unethical.12 -
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Nony_Mouse wrote: »
I've wondered if vegetables scream when they're picked and we just can't hear it
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Nony_Mouse wrote: »
And even if you were, a. there are insects that are killed in the growing and harvesting of produce (and various textiles) and b. how does this person feel about people who work in any job, especially jobs they may not like? One can also hope that they don't encourage the practice of unpaid internships....12 -
Thanks for all the thoughts. I sent an email (basically copying my original post) to the gyms feedback address. I didn't say I questioned to myself if the front desk person would relay my comments.
Will report back if I get a response.13 -
My encounter with an emotional support dog at the empty gym in my apartment building:
I'm on the treadmill, almost done. A young woman walks in and I hear her walk behind me (the treadmills face the window) to the other side of the gym. Then I smell it--that wet dog smell. I look over to her and she has a yellow lab with her, perfectly well behaved. Dogs are great, but I'm allergic and just not used to being around that dog smell.
I said, 'Hi, is the dog staying?'--not mean or hostile, just a little skeptical as I'd never seen a dog in a gym.
She said, 'Oh, he's an emotional support dog. Is it okay if he stays?"
I said, 'No, that's okay, I'm about done. I'll go.' We were the only two in the gym.
The look on her face as I left was a little heartbreaking, she looked so crushed. Was I the jerk? I didn't pitch a fit, I didn't complain, I just didn't want to work out with that smell. Leaving seemed like the best solution.
Worth noting--I leave the gym for just about any minor annoyance, I don't want to be there enough to power through the annoying guy grunting loudly, or the annoying girl singing along with the music on her headphones, the guy who brings his toddler, etc.11 -
My encounter with an emotional support dog at the empty gym in my apartment building:
I'm on the treadmill, almost done. A young woman walks in and I hear her walk behind me (the treadmills face the window) to the other side of the gym. Then I smell it--that wet dog smell. I look over to her and she has a yellow lab with her, perfectly well behaved. Dogs are great, but I'm allergic and just not used to being around that dog smell.
I said, 'Hi, is the dog staying?'--not mean or hostile, just a little skeptical as I'd never seen a dog in a gym.
She said, 'Oh, he's an emotional support dog. Is it okay if he stays?"
I said, 'No, that's okay, I'm about done. I'll go.' We were the only two in the gym.
The look on her face as I left was a little heartbreaking, she looked so crushed. Was I the jerk? I didn't pitch a fit, I didn't complain, I just didn't want to work out with that smell. Leaving seemed like the best solution.
Worth noting--I leave the gym for just about any minor annoyance, I don't want to be there enough to power through the annoying guy grunting loudly, or the annoying girl singing along with the music on her headphones, the guy who brings his toddler, etc.
Not a jerk at all. You let her be in the gym with the dog as she wanted. It's her problem if she is a bit butt-hurt if not everyone can or wants to be around her dog.12 -
My encounter with an emotional support dog at the empty gym in my apartment building:
I'm on the treadmill, almost done. A young woman walks in and I hear her walk behind me (the treadmills face the window) to the other side of the gym. Then I smell it--that wet dog smell. I look over to her and she has a yellow lab with her, perfectly well behaved. Dogs are great, but I'm allergic and just not used to being around that dog smell.
I said, 'Hi, is the dog staying?'--not mean or hostile, just a little skeptical as I'd never seen a dog in a gym.
She said, 'Oh, he's an emotional support dog. Is it okay if he stays?"
I said, 'No, that's okay, I'm about done. I'll go.' We were the only two in the gym.
The look on her face as I left was a little heartbreaking, she looked so crushed. Was I the jerk? I didn't pitch a fit, I didn't complain, I just didn't want to work out with that smell. Leaving seemed like the best solution.
Worth noting--I leave the gym for just about any minor annoyance, I don't want to be there enough to power through the annoying guy grunting loudly, or the annoying girl singing along with the music on her headphones, the guy who brings his toddler, etc.
What would your strategy be if you *were* somewhere that you really wanted to be and things like this occurred? Just curious.
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My encounter with an emotional support dog at the empty gym in my apartment building:
I'm on the treadmill, almost done. A young woman walks in and I hear her walk behind me (the treadmills face the window) to the other side of the gym. Then I smell it--that wet dog smell. I look over to her and she has a yellow lab with her, perfectly well behaved. Dogs are great, but I'm allergic and just not used to being around that dog smell.
I said, 'Hi, is the dog staying?'--not mean or hostile, just a little skeptical as I'd never seen a dog in a gym.
She said, 'Oh, he's an emotional support dog. Is it okay if he stays?"
I said, 'No, that's okay, I'm about done. I'll go.' We were the only two in the gym.
The look on her face as I left was a little heartbreaking, she looked so crushed. Was I the jerk? I didn't pitch a fit, I didn't complain, I just didn't want to work out with that smell. Leaving seemed like the best solution.
Worth noting--I leave the gym for just about any minor annoyance, I don't want to be there enough to power through the annoying guy grunting loudly, or the annoying girl singing along with the music on her headphones, the guy who brings his toddler, etc.
I realize that this was an emotional and not a service dog, but I always wonder would would happen, in practice, if there was someone with a life threatening dog allergy and someone using a service dog in the same room/inclosed space. The ADA says that both parties need to be catered to, but how exactly would that work in some instances?
I'm assuming in the case if airline flights, they airline would be required to rebook a flight (recirculating air and such), but that's just one situation.6 -
My encounter with an emotional support dog at the empty gym in my apartment building:
I'm on the treadmill, almost done. A young woman walks in and I hear her walk behind me (the treadmills face the window) to the other side of the gym. Then I smell it--that wet dog smell. I look over to her and she has a yellow lab with her, perfectly well behaved. Dogs are great, but I'm allergic and just not used to being around that dog smell.
I said, 'Hi, is the dog staying?'--not mean or hostile, just a little skeptical as I'd never seen a dog in a gym.
She said, 'Oh, he's an emotional support dog. Is it okay if he stays?"
I said, 'No, that's okay, I'm about done. I'll go.' We were the only two in the gym.
The look on her face as I left was a little heartbreaking, she looked so crushed. Was I the jerk? I didn't pitch a fit, I didn't complain, I just didn't want to work out with that smell. Leaving seemed like the best solution.
Worth noting--I leave the gym for just about any minor annoyance, I don't want to be there enough to power through the annoying guy grunting loudly, or the annoying girl singing along with the music on her headphones, the guy who brings his toddler, etc.
Fwiw as you describe it you were being a bit precious about it, unless the space was extremely small.
There's already a huge amount of stigma around disability, particularly when that's not obvious.
You'd probably have had less impact of you'd been honest about the allergy.11 -
I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
What about cadaver dogs, search and rescue dogs and those that visit cancer ridden children in the hospital while they're going through terrifying chemo treatments?14 -
I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
What about cadaver dogs, search and rescue dogs and those that visit cancer ridden children in the hospital while they're going through terrifying chemo treatments?
Drug dogs, bomb sniffing dogs too. And therapy dogs, I know a children's psychologist who uses one.
As an aside, our airport (O'Hare) security lines are way better whenever they are using the dogs (which they seem to be doing more lately). When they first got them and people were less used to them, I was surprised at how many tried to pet them even though they have vests that say clearly "working dog, don't pet" or something like that, and were being handled by an official person.3 -
I actually don't believe in service dogs from an ethical standpoint. I just don't think any sentient being should be conscripted to a lifetime of 24/7 servitude.
What I coincidence @33gail33. I was just chatting on another forum about the incredible strides my niece has taken since her mom and dad were able to acquire a service dog for her. She is autistic, and since having the dog she has made incredible progress in being able to interact with family and friends as well as simple daily functions.
Oh, she has also just recently started eating again, the animal is helping her overcome the food rejection common with some autistic folks.
The dog? She's a yellow lab mix. 100% part of the family, loved and treated like gold by everyone, and anyone who knows anything at all about dogs could clearly see the joy she has in going through her routine, hanging tight by my niece and just loving that girl.
It's very much a partnership. So, your post ...well...there is nothing even worth carrying on a conversation about, but it did warrant a reply.35
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