[pct-l] (photo) Hiker Approaching Forester Pass

[jeff.singewald at comcast.net]

Well, I will admit I didn't read the whole journal but I did read the sections in and around Lassen where the earlier post indicated that they decided to reclassify the dog as a service dog.  There was no mention of this that I could find.  What I did see, was that they had originally planned to find someone to take the dog around Lassen Park but plans fell through at the last minute and they decided to go through with the dog.  There were several entries noting that they felt very fortunate that the dog did not chase deer in the park.  The last entry as they were leaving Lassen included the following comment:  "Kerry said taking Cody through Lassen felt like smuggling dissidents out of Russia—an inappropriate exaggeration, but the feeling was definitely there!" 



Based on this entry, I would have to conclude that these section hikers new the rules in advance of their hike and decided to forego the rules and go through with the dog anyhow.  Obviously, they must believe in the HYOH principle which so many people on the list preach!  I wonder why, if they were concerned about sneaking the dog through the park, why they did not at least keep the dog on leash in the restricted area? 



Oh well, they are not the first thru-hikers or section hikers to bend the rules/guidelines to fit their journey and they will not likely be the last. 



Elevator 






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ellzey" <david at xpletive.com> 
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 1:28:25 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] (photo) Hiker Approaching Forester Pass 

>> RANT MODE ON 

I didn't read the journal so I don't want to judge this particular situation but as someone who has a SDIT (service dog in training) any misuse of the ADA legislation that protects the use of service dogs really bothers me. 

In my case I am permanently hearing impaired (a combination of military service and bad genes) and was told to expect to be legally deaf within 10 years. I can get along without a service dog right now but the rate at which my hearing is deteriorating is alarming and I expect to require my dog's service more and more over the next few years. 

The process for training a service dog is incredibly time intensive, takes at least a year but can take up to 2. In theory, a service dog SHOULD be certified by a reputable program but the law is actually grey in that area. 

Regardless if this is actually a service dog or not, if she is allowing the animal off leash then she is abusing the status. At NO TIME is a service dog to be off leash while "working", not to mention the very strict rules within the NPS. 

Anyway, I suggest that if anyone runs across somebody that you feel is abusing the service dog legislation, report them to the authorities. In California a conviction is very serious with large fines and potential prison time. 

>> RANT MODE OFF 

Dave (Bigtoe) 

-----Original Message----- 
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Gary Schenk 
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 1:10 PM 
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Subject: Re: [pct-l] (photo) Hiker Approaching Forester Pass 

While it is hard to imagine what disability a person who is capable of 
crossing Forester Pass solo might have, there's no evidence that she is 
abusing the service status. 

On Friday 29 May 2009 13:00:10 Will Hiltz wrote: 
> Abuse of service status is really short-sighted IMHO.  Lots of people in 
> the state I live in are pushing the limit and there will be a backlash. 
> 
> 
> 
> Easy 
> 
> On Fri, May 29, 2009 at 3:53 PM, Gary Schenk <gwschenk at socal.rr.com> wrote: 
> > On Friday 29 May 2009 12:51:40 Gary Schenk wrote: 
> > > On Friday 29 May 2009 12:07:50 jeff.singewald at comcast.net wrote: 
> > > > Scott, 
> > > > This appears to be from last year.  Correct?  This is not the class 
> > > > of 2009.  And yes, what's up with the dog? 
> > > 
> > > Apparently it is a service dog. It travels unleashed most of the time, 
> > 
> > and 
> > 
> > > likes to chomp on marmots, chipmunks and squirrels. Earlier in their 
> > > section hikes it didn't seem to be a service dog. They wrote of making 
> > > a decision when they went through Lassen. At some point the dog 
> > > obtained service status. 
> > 
> > Oh, she did mention that she kept it under control in bighorn territory. 
> > _______________________________________________ 
> > Pct-l mailing list 
> > Pct-l at backcountry.net 
> > http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l 


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