Do RV parks fall under FHA laws or do they fall under ADA public access laws? Granted I know I won't get a hard answer (the only way I can do that is to seek an attorney, but I am hoping someone has more experience with this than I do). Here's the issue: I am going to be staying at Gig Harbor RV Park and they won't make en exemption for both dogs, only one however by law they can't do that as the ADA says that hotels (but an RV park is NOT a hotel) cannot impose a pet fee as they would for those who have pets upon a handler who has service dog(s).However, RV parks seem to be in a grey area as they are "camping" and "housing"??? I totally understand the need for a pet fee, but my dogs are NOT pets (neither one of them) it is incumbent to only have ONE service dog because I need the other one to train the replacement (that is obviously why I have two) but I should not have to explain that. I have two dogs one is 9 years old and the other is 5 months old; obviously the 5 month old is taking over for the 9 year old. The law doesn't say you can't have more than one service dog (or all intents & purposes you could have 10! And I know some people have several for various needs). Granted 10 in an RV would be unreasonable but two is not. There is another RV park in Tacoma called "River Lane RV Park" but I don't like what I see and at this point Gig Harbor would be in my best interest even though there are better ones going towards Seattle but unfortunately that is in the wrong direction of where I need to be. Does anybody have any ideas/recos?

I think that you will have a difficult time convincing an official, either governmental or corporate, that a 5 month old puppy qualifies as a service dog in training. JMHO

Pay the fee or go elsewhere is my suggestion.You want to enjoy your travels or educate idiots?I do not think you can do both.I understand your situation but it is so easy to claim service animal that people are abusing the term. It is similar to people who use handicap stickers but do not really need them or are someone elses

darsben wrote:Pay the fee or go elsewhere is my suggestion.You want to enjoy your travels or educate idiots?I do not think you can do both.I understand your situation but it is so easy to claim service animal that people are abusing the term. It is similar to people who use handicap stickers but do not really need them or are someone elsesyeah... there are those that do legitimately do need them. Unfortunately this isn't going to be the last time I have to stay there :( this is just a preliminary visit before I move; next visit will be looking for a place to live after that there won't be any need to use their park ever again.

kalynzoo wrote:I think that you will have a difficult time convincing an official, either governmental or corporate, that a 5 month old puppy qualifies as a service dog in training. JMHOThere's no specific requirement; as a matter of fact Washington state law actually prohibits places of public access from barring a dog in training from accessing facilities as long as the basic rules are followed and that is: 1. Dog is in control 2. Dog isn't a nuisance (barking, urinating/deficating). There are no age requirements MANY service dogs enter training as early as 6 months; she is ahead of schedule because I've started training her from day one. She has been to several places as an in training dog without issues (and my signature is old, time to update it)

mynetdude wrote:darsben wrote:Pay the fee or go elsewhere is my suggestion.You want to enjoy your travels or educate idiots?I do not think you can do both.I understand your situation but it is so easy to claim service animal that people are abusing the term. It is similar to people who use handicap stickers but do not really need them or are someone elsesyeah... there are those that do legitimately do need them. Unfortunately this isn't going to be the last time I have to stay there :( this is just a preliminary visit before I move; next visit will be looking for a place to live after that there won't be any need to use their park ever again.I will relate my one service animal story;I was in Walmart near Fort Drum in NY and I heard a commotion. A young man was entering the store with a Parrot on his shoulder. Yes a Parrot. The greeter stopped him. He got irate claimed it was his service animal. He was allowed into the store with the bird.

RVing with two service dogs at RV parks | Good Sam Community

30 Replies

stsmark
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
Thanks for pointing my mistake about 3 behaviors. While you can't ask about the persons issues you can ask what the dog can do for the person.
I did not state the dog had to wear a vest. I was trying to make the link of how the vest is a key part for the dog. It really is for them more than the person. Mine knows when the vest goes on that she heals to the left side of my chair and never goes in front of me unless given a command to open a door or pull. Vest on she will walk right past one of her pals or people trying to pet she is never allowed to party under those conditions. She has to sit, I remove the vest, then she is told to release and its dog time.
As for parking, if an Accesible spot is not open I just go to the outskirts so I can have some width to get my chair out and transfer, I have had people cheat in front of me so many times that it just does not bother me any more. Life's too short.
hooligan
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
In a previous discussion here about service dogs, in addition to only requiring a statement that the dog is a service dog, it was also stated that you cannot ask the individual what disability they have that requires a service dog.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015
stsmark wrote:
The ADA defines a Service Dog as having been trained to perform 3 behaviors to assist a Disabled person regardless of who did the training. I have a 5 yr old Golden service dog and the wheelchair to go with it so I have rarely been questioned. If someone does I just pull a credit card from my wallet and throw it 5 ft away she goes and picks it up and either will give it to them or me depending on my command I'll admit to doing it sometimes just to show her off. Zoey was screened as a pup for personality and train ability using the Monks of New Skete tests. She was trained by a graduate of Bergin Institute and myself, there is no sanctioning body or licensing requirements. A misbehaving dog in a vest is a sure sign of BS as the vest is how the dog knows it's time to work.
Sorry, but a service dog only has to perform ONE task, not three. Also, vests are not required. The way the ADA is written, a person's claim that a dog is a service dog is all that is required. If someone says their dog is a service dog, there is no way to dispute that claim. Any business that attempts to restrict any dog that is claimed to be a service dog does so at extreme risk. I wonder how many handicapped parking spaces would be available to the handicapped if those same rules applied to parking. Just say you are handicapped, no proof requested or required, and you can park right up front.
stsmark
Explorer
Sep 29, 2015
The ADA defines a Service Dog as having been trained to perform 3 behaviors to assist a Disabled person regardless of who did the training. I have a 5 yr old Golden service dog and the wheelchair to go with it so I have rarely been questioned. If someone does I just pull a credit card from my wallet and throw it 5 ft away she goes and picks it up and either will give it to them or me depending on my command I'll admit to doing it sometimes just to show her off. Zoey was screened as a pup for personality and train ability using the Monks of New Skete tests. She was trained by a graduate of Bergin Institute and myself, there is no sanctioning body or licensing requirements. A misbehaving dog in a vest is a sure sign of BS as the vest is how the dog knows it's time to work.
Executive45
Explorer III
Sep 25, 2015
Fred, sorry to hear about your child's seizures. Prayers that they lessen and she will never have another one. That said, there are many places that are available that provide service animals for little or no cost, depending of course on your financial status. Please do not give up. A service animal is a wonder to behold. Mine has developed diabetes so she gets two shots a day and we have her on a special diet but she still 'works' when I need her too. Remember dog is simply GOD spelled backwards...as in His image.....Dennis
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Sep 25, 2015
mynetdude wrote:
DownTheAvenue wrote:
mynetdude wrote:
but my dogs are NOT pets (neither one of them) it is incumbent to only have ONE service dog because I need the other one to train the replacement (that is obviously why I have two) but I should not have to explain that.

I have two dogs one is 9 years old and the other is 5 months old; obviously the 5 month old is taking over for the 9 year old.

I am throwing down the B.S. flag! A bona-fide service animal is trained by experts who bred or specially pick a dog to train to perform certain tasks, and then match the person and animal.

NEVER is the disabled person training his or her own animal, and NEVER in any type of dog training does an older dog train a new dog.

I think this is someone who would not qualify for a service animal from legitimate organizations and has manufactured a need and then trains his own dogs.

Nope not at all; federal law doesn't require service dogs to be trained by a professional and this has been challenged in court hence the law.

People choose to train their own dogs for various reasons whether its finances, or unique needs that would be better served by training the dog rather than a professional training the dog. I choose to train my own dog because I already have another service dog but that service dog does not do public access (like going to Walmart) and the puppy learns from the older dog exponentially.

If you want to learn more meet me in Gig Harbor in a few days then :P

Many times a dog is 'discovered' rather than trained.

A family was asked to watch their dog for a week while the owners went on vacation. The Doberman came into the parents room with a worried look on his face, and jumped on the bed, then ran to the child's room and back and forth. The parents wanted to know what this phyco dog was doing so they went into the child's room to investigate. Soon their child was having a seizure, and the dog knew in advance. This is probably not something that can be trained into the dog, but is more a reaction.

Of course the neighbor came home a few days later, and was asked if they could keep the dog. Not every dog can save a life, but I sure would want a dog in training so they can teach each other the trick to detecting a seizure before it happens.

Oregon has some pretty strict laws about service dogs. Kidnapping a service dog can lead to a several year prison sentence!

I can tell you it is really difficult to watch your kid go through a 5 minute seizure, even when in the emergency room with all that stuff hooked up to her, and everyone trying to calm down mom. ..

I would hope I could find a seizure service dog. One place in Grants Pass that trains dogs will charge fees, but only give you the dog if it wants to be with it's disabled person. So they have a few dogs and might have more prospects come in for training on how to handle the dog, but some will go home empty handed. . .

IT takes so long to train a dog, we have given up hope on getting one. They are also very expensive too. .

Fred.
Executive45
Explorer III
Sep 25, 2015
In answer to your question(s)...your SERVICE DOG is allowed anywhere you are allowed to go. The service dog IN TRAINING is not recognized and may be refused. This is directly from the ADA guidelines. If you truly want to train your own dog(s) then you should know these rules completely.

Unfortunately the U.S. is one of the few countries where you can train your own service dog. Most other countries do not allow this practice. With the abuse that has been documented over the past few years, I'm hopeful the U.S. will follow the other countries leads. IMHO, it's easy to spot a true service dog and the fakers. For me, heeling was the most difficult and to this day I sometimes have to command left or right. Proofing was easy.....Good luck....Dennis
Rollnhome
Explorer
Sep 25, 2015
Good for you. I think you're a legitimate guy. Many have come on this forum seeking advise on how to get their "service" (comfort) dog past the park rules. I realize your need for the dog. So many are just trying to use the ADA so Fido can go shopping and have lunch with them. That abuse must make it hard for you. Best of luck and thanks you for your answer.
mynetdude
Explorer
Sep 25, 2015
DownTheAvenue wrote:
mynetdude wrote:
but my dogs are NOT pets (neither one of them) it is incumbent to only have ONE service dog because I need the other one to train the replacement (that is obviously why I have two) but I should not have to explain that.

I have two dogs one is 9 years old and the other is 5 months old; obviously the 5 month old is taking over for the 9 year old.

I am throwing down the B.S. flag! A bona-fide service animal is trained by experts who bred or specially pick a dog to train to perform certain tasks, and then match the person and animal.

NEVER is the disabled person training his or her own animal, and NEVER in any type of dog training does an older dog train a new dog.

I think this is someone who would not qualify for a service animal from legitimate organizations and has manufactured a need and then trains his own dogs.

Nope not at all; federal law doesn't require service dogs to be trained by a professional and this has been challenged in court hence the law.

People choose to train their own dogs for various reasons whether its finances, or unique needs that would be better served by training the dog rather than a professional training the dog. I choose to train my own dog because I already have another service dog but that service dog does not do public access (like going to Walmart) and the puppy learns from the older dog exponentially.

If you want to learn more meet me in Gig Harbor in a few days then :P
mynetdude
Explorer
Sep 25, 2015
SuperiorBound wrote:
I would think calling a place that trains service animals would best answer.
Someone mentioned the mini horse, people use them for seeing eye pets. It's pretty cool, one reason is to be different I am sure but horses have a longer life than dogs as well. I have seen cats as service animals as warning for diabetes and one was blood pressure. Awesome how animals can help us.

Would love to get woken up by a horse stomping on me LOL j/k! Yeah mini horses are amazing to use as service animals but I can't see them being very practical but YES they do live longer. Getting 10 years of service life from a dog is pretty good IMO but it would be awesome if you could get 20 years (that's why they prefer mini horses instead).