[Artemisia] pets at events

[Jackman-Brink, Julia]

Having just mundanely dealt with this very issue here on Campus....

Everyone needs to be aware there are now several categories of "Service" animals. There are the traditional "Service" types that you see helping the impaired, but there also now "Companion" and even "Therapy" animals. You'll encounter all of these terms depending on the need of an individual or medical community.  On a campus of 13,000 we often have all three types.  These animals all serve very different purposes for the people involved. 

We cannot ask WHY anyone needs them.  That is a privacy issue. Don't even go there. 

What matters to us, and more importantly to event stewards is this:  

An official service/therapy/companion animal will have proper documentation from their medical provider or therapist and/or an official ID card for their animal, to prove their status. They are required to provide it if asked for proof of status.  All animals of this type are required to have a tag or vest identifying them animals as such when out in the public. If they don't have it, then we aren't obligated to recognize the animal as such. That is the way it is.  

Juliana


-----Original Message-----
From: artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org [mailto:artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org] On Behalf Of Sondra Gibson
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:42 PM
To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] pets at events

> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: [Artemisia] pets at events
>
Baron Adne wrote: 
> I do have a problem with the expanding "service animals" at 
> events as a 
> way of evading  pet restrictions.
> Service animals need to be licensed, medically prescribed & wear the 
> vests that  make it clear to everyone that they are not pets 
> or MRE's, 
> but working dogs, there doing a job.
> No paper work, No vest, No event attendance!
> Ådne

Vivat to that!!!  Having had to deal with that issue at non-sca events, when
we all knew the 'service dog' title was being abused, I *strongly* believe
that if a service animal is going to be admitted to events and places where
'regular' animals are not allowed, it should HAVE to wear an *offical*
service dog vest or ID of some kind.  Service dogs should have to be
'certified' in order to qualify for admitance to no pet events.  I have seen
too many incidents where the label was used by an owner as a means of being
able to take their pet where ever they want.  

Gefjon
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