ohmidog!

The website is called bringyourdoganywhere.com — operating under the auspices of “American Service Dogs, Inc.” — and according to it, whether you know it or not, you’re disabled.
And as such, you’re entitled to bring your dog anywhere you want.

“We believe that all Americans could be considered to have one or more physical or psychological disabilities, based on the criteria specified under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). Under the ADA, individuals with disabilities are entitled to the assistance of a service animal.”

It goes on to cite the advantages of having your dog “certified” as a service dog:

“Landlords cannot refuse to rent to a person because of his service animal, nor can they require an additional security deposit. Privately owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxis, theaters, and sports facilities, are required to allow persons with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business areas in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.”

For $365, American Service Dogs, Inc. will send you a dog vest, service dog patches (”we do not sew patches to vest”), a “Personalized Service Dog Identification Card,” a laminated brochure called “Service Dogs and the Law,” and one year of the company’s “Take Your Dog Anywhere” quarterly newsletter.

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     The new Camp Bow Wow in Columbia will hold its grand opening Saturday, and both you and your dog are invited to show up in costume.   
     The Halloween-themed party starts at noon and runs until 4 p.m.
     Camp Bow Wow, a member of the country’s largest kennel and day care chain, features private “cabins” with comfy cots, “bedtime campfire tasty treats” and three indoor/outdoor play yards, all of which can be monitored online through the Camp Bow Wow cam.
     Instead of being kept in kennels, the dogs are allowed to play all day. “Campers spend their time in the play yards romping with their four-legged companions, leaving them exhausted and ready for a quiet evening at home,” say owners Michael Domingues and Eric Neumann.
     Camp Bow Wow bills itself as a place where “a dog can be a dog!”
     At Saturday’s grand opening/halloween party, they can be anything they want, and prizes will be awarded for the top three doggie costumes.
     (If you missed out on the ohimidog! booth at last weekend’s BARCStoberfest, come find us at the Camp Bow Wow party and pick up a free ohmidog! water bottle and refrigerator magnet.)