I read this entire thread and quite astonished at many of the posts. Before I respond further you should know I am both a driver for Lyft and Uber and often a pax; and I require the assistance of a service dog. Yes I drive with my dog. Prior to giving my first ride I informed both Lyft and Uber I drive with service dog. Uber was indifferent, Lyft was very supportive. I don't call the pax first because often I get one ping after another. However when I arrive, I immediately inform the pax I have a service dog and if they have an issue I inform them I will cancel the ride so they don't get charged. Lyft informed me to let them know if I had to cancel due to my service dog and they will remove it from my record. Uber will not.
When I'm a pax she goes with me. Every single time I request a ride, I call the driver first and ask them if I can bring my dog, and give them the option to opt out, I even tell them I'm willing to cancel the request so they don't get dinged. I also don't even mention it's a service dog. I do this because I'm sensitive of others. I realize some people don't like dogs, they are allergic to them, or frightened of them. I don't want to trample on their rights although legally those are not legitimate reasons to refuse someone with a service dog access.
I'm not blind so it's not obvious why I need a service dog. My dog is a little white Westie who doesn't wear a vest because I don't feel the need to advertise I need a service dog. However, she is specially trained to assist me in a medical emergency. We do our best to respect others and only ask in return you respect us.
What I found most upsetting reading your posts, is the judgements of many of you while most of the posts are based on speculation. Which leads me to ask the following
questions:
LA Dispatcher, you seem the most judgemental of them all.
Be careful, you might not get a complaint emailed to you, but one filed against you and uber with the ADA. You also might be served a complaint as well. People like me are sick and tired of the judgements and condemnation by people like you. Are you willing to cough up the money for attorney fees?
When I'm a pax she goes with me. Every single time I request a ride, I call the driver first and ask them if I can bring my dog, and give them the option to opt out, I even tell them I'm willing to cancel the request so they don't get dinged. I also don't even mention it's a service dog. I do this because I'm sensitive of others. I realize some people don't like dogs, they are allergic to them, or frightened of them. I don't want to trample on their rights although legally those are not legitimate reasons to refuse someone with a service dog access.
I'm not blind so it's not obvious why I need a service dog. My dog is a little white Westie who doesn't wear a vest because I don't feel the need to advertise I need a service dog. However, she is specially trained to assist me in a medical emergency. We do our best to respect others and only ask in return you respect us.
What I found most upsetting reading your posts, is the judgements of many of you while most of the posts are based on speculation. Which leads me to ask the following
questions:
LA Dispatcher, you seem the most judgemental of them all.
LA Dispatcher - how many times have you picked up a pax with a service dog? According to you, if someone has a service dog they are not disabled. Where is your proof?
Yes, unfortunately for you the ADA protects people with disabilities and Will have the correct answer for question #2. Based on this statement I suspect you really don't have any specific experience with someone who needs a service dog but without even knowing us we are the worst people in the world.
Ever met a phooey service dog owner? What did they do to you to trample over your rights?
Uruber how many service dogs have you picked up? Not all service dogs are 40lbs. Mine is only 17lbs. She is also one of the breeds that are hypoallergenic and don't shed.I have a bag of dog pampers in my trunk just in case,but let's be clear about something, as Uber has stated many times,we as drivers DO NOT WORK for Uber, we are independent contractors, and as such I am the President and Owner of my company and I am the one that pick the jobs I want to do and not Uber, my car isn't a Taxi, Bus or Limo, it is my car, the one I use to transport my little daughter around as well so if you bring a big ass dog and I think that is too much for my Prius it is my call, my car, my company. You are welcome to send and email complaining to my company [email protected]
Be careful, you might not get a complaint emailed to you, but one filed against you and uber with the ADA. You also might be served a complaint as well. People like me are sick and tired of the judgements and condemnation by people like you. Are you willing to cough up the money for attorney fees?
Calhiker - how do you know this to be true? How often have you personally experienced this? Were you harmed in any way?
Cres i have a little fluffy dog, while she wouldn't be drinking an iced frappuccino I could be. So according to your judgement I fail. Without so much as asking me two simple questions.I'll do the inspections.
Fluffy white dog, drinking an iced frappuccino, on 4th and Broadway in Santa Monica..? Result: fail.
Mike78 service dogs assist people other than the blind. Often, such in my case they are trained to perform life saving tasks.
EcoboostMKS, I want to thank you as it seems you are one of the more respectful and knowledgable people posting on this thread. However, your statement about ESA is incorrect. While the ADA laws do not provide the same rights as service dogs; many states and/or local ordinances do grant ESA the same rights.
Whiteorchids yes dogs bite. And it's awful you had to experience such an ordeal. But paxs can also get violent. Last Friday I had a pax in the backseat call me the c word that rhymes with runt, punch the passenger seat, then punch his friend sitting up front, then grab me. Thankfully I wasn't injured and drove away scared out of mind and a $10 tip.
UberWhenICan - thank you for sharing. It appears you are the only one who posted about your actual experience with a dog. (If someone else did, sorry for the oversight). You have an awesome perspective on paxs with dogs. I agree with you that uber should cover damages caused by a dog no differently than damage caused by a pax.
