[pct-l] Hiker Approaching Forester Pass

[Ken Murray]

Carolyn Eddy said

"BTW, you are only allowed to ask a person if the dog is a service dog, and 
what tasks it performs, not what their disability is. Be careful and polite 
when talking to people about their dog if they say it's a service dog. We 
have a lot of rights that the average public would like to step all over, 
but many have learned the hard way that sugar gets further than vinegar."

Uhhhh......no.  I do not believe that the legislation enabling service dogs
repealed the right to free speech.  Any civilian can ask any question that they want.
If you advocate differently, then please provide references to that.

However, it is true that AUTHORITIES are limited in what they can ask.

This whole thing seems like a con job to me.  When people have legitimate disabilities
that allow them special parking, they MUST display a placard....it is NOT on on the 
"honor system."  Just like if one has a special dispensation for a hybrid in a carpool
lane, you MUST have a sticker.  I see no problem with having to have documentation of
the service status of the dog.

By the way, George Durkee, the senior wilderness ranger who patrols the Sequoia Park, tells
me that there have been so many abuses of this rule, that they have gotten special training
for this, and will make detection and action against fraudulent use a priority.

The particular dog pictured, sounds like a situation that was described to me (but may not be),
in which the "story" that the owner had, was that having the dog with them gave them comfort, 
and they felt lonely when the dog was absent, and the loneliness was their disability.  

Sheesh!