Family files complaints after service dog turned away from lake

[Kirsten]

Family files complaints after service dog turned away from lake

by DEBBIE DENMON
WFAA
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 5:03 PM
Updated today at 5:14 PM

Burger's Lake Web site
FORT WORTH — Hannah James, who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy, needs her service dog to go with her everywhere

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Family-files-complaints-after-service-dog-turned-away-from-lake-102574114.html

[fledchen]

We checked, and the ADA does give the Burger's Lake owner some discretion on how to handle cases like Hannah's.

Checked with whom?

I don't think other customers being afraid of the dog because of breed counts as a direct threat or fundamental alteration. They might have a case with the lifeguard being unsure of how the dog would react during a rescue attempt.

[state_of_nowhere]

I'm curious to see what others have to say about this. Personally, I don't understand why someone with seizures as severe as she claims hers are would want to risk their life to swim in a lake. I thought service dogs were allowed in the water at places such as this that prohibited pets if they were working?

[Kirsten]

1.  I wouldn't be swimming if my seizures were that severe.  I have complex partial seizures and am somewhat unlikely to drown.
2.  I would not take my service dog in swimming with me in a pool.  I think it an unreasonable accommodation because the fur would damage the filtering system.  I was a little surprised about this being an issue at a lake.  However, when they pointed out concern over rescue attempts and how the dog might interfere, I can kind of see their point.

The next question is how good is a GSD at water rescue?  I'd be rescuing Cole because he has negative buoyancy, which is a common enough problem with working GSDs.  I think Ruby might pull it off if I was in a position to help a little (ie hang on to her tail or something).  Luna (who has generous fat) could physically do it (if I held on), but would she bother?  In my mind, the real question is whether the dog could actually handle her having a seizure in the water.  I think even a PWD would have difficulty with that, if they are severe seizures.  Given a choice between a human lifeguard and a dog lifeguard, I'll take the human.

[Gretl2009]

Wow...let's all hope this person who left this comment someday is forced to eat his/her words ---

"There are Limits that disabled people should realize. Stupid complaints wasting others time. If she likes swimming get your own pool in your own backyard." 

I can see both sides of the issue -- but it's a lake for cryin' out loud in a bucket -- I'm willing to bet more kids have peed in the lake than the dog would.  I can see a swimming pool and the chlorine and the pool filtration system being an issue, but a lake?  I wish her the best of luck!!! 

[Ilghaus]

I am very confused with this article. OK, the dog was trained in water rescue and so just how was he to rescue his owner? A dog rescuing in water does not grab hold of someone and carry them (retrieve) back to shore. They tow them. Even this article stated he had a ring on his collar. If the girl is having a seizure would she be able to stay afloat, position herself, hold her head out of the water and hold onto a towing ring?

[Ilghaus]

Did want to add that a water rescue dog also may be trained to take a life jacket out to a person in distress and also some of the heavier breeds and stronger swimmers are trained to tow a boat. These dogs also do not work alone but as part of a team with a handler.

Now I've heard of dogs pulling children out of water (my dad was pulled out of a cement fish pond by his pants at the age of three by a GSD) but these are not dogs trained in water rescue and no one puts themselves in danger relying on a dog to do so.