La Guardia Community College, part of City University of New York.
College security cop now decides I must register my service dog (license on collar and in wallet; “Service Dog” vest on), or else considered “pet” and not allowed in building.
Pets not allowed in supermarkets, restaurants, I shop, eat w/o “registering.”
Ditto buses, subways, movies, etc. ADA and all…
I’ll register, I feel, when they register students with walkers (exercising equipment for triceps), wheelchairs, people with HIV, colds.
Thing is, final exams next week. Prof. Witness to summons/ticket issuance.
I can’t advise if that info applys to your situation exactly, but it might be worthwhile starting with your school’s disability coordinator - if they have one.
Get over yourself and register your service animal. Just because a lot of other places don’t care about the details doesn’t mean that the college can’t.
If you suspect that your legal rights have been violated, does the college provide any type of legal services to students? If so, consult a lawyer.
The lawyer will probably advise you to register your dog, of course, but perhaps will have another suggestion.
There could also be an advocate for disabled students on campus, or you could consult an organization specific to your disability for advice. If they are in violation of the ADA, action should be taken to put an end to this requirement.
They, presumably, require people to register their dogs because other people who are dickheads pass of their family rottweiler as a service animal, abusing the system. It’s not a personal slight on you, just get it registered.
The OP didn’t say but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the college charges a substantial fee for this registration. Colleges have students locked into the system for an education and use that to force students to pay a variety of mandatory fees for services that are often overpriced and unwanted.
I don’t get this part; if I’m a university and I don’t allow animals on campus in general, but do allow service animals, it seems entirely reasonable that those animals would have to show proof of some minimum behavioral training standard before they’re going to be in typical university conditions (lots of people who want to pet them, infrequent and/or limited bathroom breaks and places to go, requirements about silence during class, etc…
I mean, I wouldn’t want to be disturbed in class, step in dog shit or be bitten or growled at by someone’s ill-trained service animal.
If your service dog qualifies under the ADA as a service dog, I imagine there are plenty of lawyers in New York who would happily sue the college for you. These suits are very annoying in California, but are based on federal law.
Honest question for those who oppose any type of registration or documentary proof: what means could, or should, a school use to prevent people from bringing their pets to class?
OP, what’s so burdensome about registering the dog? Is there a huge registration fee? Do you have to go through a separate and invasive medical evaluation at the school (“Your doctor says you need this dog, we doubt this. Go over here for comprehensive X-rays. Now, go to room 305 where a psychiatrist will interview you about your childhood experiences, this will take about five hours. After that, we’ll have a running test out on the track.”)? Is it a privacy thing and registering your dog would put you on some sort of list? Is this an “I feel entitled to ignore the rules” thing? Do you have a coherent legal argument as to why the guard’s assertion that the dog must be registered is false as a matter of law?
What type of service dog is it? What agency trained it and for what purpose do you need it?
Sight, sound, seizure, etc?
I suspect the OP’s dog won’t pass the process and this is why he is concerned. Recently places have started to crack down on pets that people have put a service dog vest on. Just because you don’t want to go anywhere without Fluffy, does not entitle you to legal recourse so you can bring your pet everywhere. If this is not the case, I apologize in advance.