This page is for others to use to have a hassle free outing with their Service Dogs. I truly hope that someday the government and the general public will all come to see our dogs in the same light a Seeing Eye Dogs are viewed now.
I felt that it was important to say this. I will not and do not take Smokey with me to the Medical Clinic I go too, or to the Pediatric Respiratory Clinic because of the children. I truly hope that everyone who uses a Service Dogs will always be respectful of other with problems.
Smokey and I have been to: The IGA, The Drug Store, Hardware Store, Court rooms, Lawyers, Doctors, Bars, McDonald, Bus, Floats in a Parades, Hotel, Motels, elevators, Walmart, and the Photo Studio, schools, the Jubilee Auditorium, North land Park Sport X, Airports.
Please Come back and see where we have been.
As I start taking Smokey out in public again with me I will add to this to this page.
Right now I have emailed:
West Jet: Clear sign of a Service Dog (vest and Picture ID)
Home Depot: Do not have a problem with our dogs (I will be testing this out)
Staples: They do not have a problem with our Sd's
The Real Canadian Super store: Has said that they do not have a problem with us taking our dogs shopping with us.
April 19,2000
The Heritage Mall and Smithy's Family Restaurant both welcome us with open arms and we did not have any trouble. I Took Jasper to spend time with Wanda. I had Wanda at the one end of the leash while I had another leash just in case.
The both did really Jasper was quite good about staying close to her and not going and checking out other things around them. Jasper also when to Wanda's appointment and meet her Dr and then we had Supper in Smithy's and Jasper just when into a down and stayed there. This was a really great appearance of a good Service Dogs working in Public.
June 2000:
We where in Calgary to meet clients and checking matches also we where at the open house for the Calgary Cerbal Palsy Assoc. we stayed at the Travel Lodge (Airport) the staff was wonderful and very helpful with the dogs we had seven dogs with us. The staff also helps us move dogs from our van to the hotel room. The restaurant staff really wanted to pet the dogs but did respect our wishes to not have our dogs petted. We also where at the Holiday Inn on McLeod Trail because that is where the open house was. They where also good about the dogs and where did not have any trouble. While in Calgary a (Client) used the Data's Bus and they would have taken Jasper.
July 2000:
We where in a transition from Kevin retiring and finding a new place to live. We stayed at the Jockey Motel on 118 Ave. The Motel was wonderful about the dogs; with ten dogs with us we are not always welcome place.
August 2000
We are getting ready to make another trip to Calgary and looking to find a motel to stay in I contacted the Royal Wayne Motor Inn I was told that did not except dogs of any kind I tried again to explain what our dogs did but they kept saying no dogs allows. However when I contacted the Econ lodge they also have a no pet policy but did not have a problem excepting our Service Dogs.
As we where search for our new house we have found out that our Service Dogs are not welcome in many place. This is not a good thing I have never heard some many dumb reasons for our dogs not being welcomed here. Our Service dogs are fully vaccinated for everything they are not left outside to bark and in most cases they are cared for better than some people treat their children. None of this would have happened to us if we had a law that protects us.
In the last few years two people with seeing dogs where evicted because of their dogs, one person was refuse a cab ride from the Airport, Another person was kicked out of a local fitness club because of her Seeing Eye Dog. I cannot believe this is the year 2000 and we here in Alberta cannot even have a quality of life because our dogs a refused enters at every turn.
Here we are in November and we are still fighting for our rights and we call before we take our Service Dogs. We have been in both Edmonton and Calgary and the people and business in Calgary are more welcoming than here in Edmonton.
June 2001
I would be remised if I did not say that West Jet Airlines was more than wonderful with one of my clients. West Jet staff was so very helpful in booking the flight. They also let my client friend pick the seat she thought would be best for the return trip home. The Stewards we great with Jafar on the flight. We at Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation will only be using West Jet for all our travel needs So if you are planning a trip please check them out.
November/December 2001
We have learned that all Tim Horton restaurant do allow all Service Dogs in. All dogs must be clearly marked. We are still waiting to hear back from Arby's restaurants and will be also checking all the other major chains to see if our dogs are welcome.
We are having Trouble with both Edmonton and Victoria Transit allowing our dogs to ride with us. Yet Calgary is very open and we will not have any problems with them.
January 2003
It has been brought to our attention that Edmonton Transit says one thing and in fact they do not stop working teams even if they are not in the blue and yellow backpack. We went the right way and tried to get written permission have our dog son Edmonton Transit but other who have not done things this way and have just take their dogs on the bus and LRT are not being stopped. We are beginning to think that not getting the permission to have our dogs with us is the way to do thing.
Back to the DirectoryIf you have a Service Dogs and you have had a problem, please feel free to email at:
Copyright 2000
Smokey's Assistance Dogs Foundation
All Rights Reserved
Revised: June 26, 2005
