We actually allow whole groups of guide dogs in training in our museum.
We have good relationships with 2 local organizations that train
assistance dogs.  We've never had any problems.  We are also very proud
that our museum is accessible to people with all kinds of challenges, so
we feel this is just another extension.

Tricia Edwards, Education Manager
Delaware Museum of Natural History
[log in to unmask]
(302)658-9111 x 324
(302)658-2610 fax


-----Original Message-----
From: timg [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 26, 1999 3:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Untrained Guide Dogs in Museum


We recently had a visitor come to our Museum with a dog that had a sign
on
it saying it was a "Guidedog in Training".  She was insistent that this
dog
be allowed in the gallery area.

When she got into the gallery area, there was already a trained guidedog
in
the gallery. The "guidedog in training" became very disruptive towards
the
trained guidedog.

Does anyone have polices prohibiting "guidedogs in training" or does
anyone
have limits as the the numbers of dogs allowed in a gallery at any one
time?
(As the airlines limit the number of dogs in the passenger
compartments?)

We eventually had to ask the lady with the guidedog in training to leave
the
gallery and invited her to return as soon as the other dog left.  She
felt
this was a very unsatisfactory response on our part.

Any suggestions or help?