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Blues City Service Dogs, Memphis, TN (2026)

02/05/2026

A concerned member of the service dog community has recently brought attention to an ongoing issue at major theme parks in Orlando, Florida, including Disney and Universal. This concern applies to any theme park that offers kennels for service dogs.

If a service dog is not crate trained, the kennel option should not be utilized. Mild, brief vocalization can happen, but attractions reportedly having to replace kennels almost weekly due to dogs bending bars or chewing through crate flooring is unacceptable and raises serious welfare and safety concerns.

Theme park team members may supervise kennels, but they cannot interact with, comfort, or train service dogs. Their role is limited. While excitement around vacations and family experiences is understandable, a service dog’s training, comfort, and ability to safely tolerate kenneling must be carefully considered when planning theme park visits.

If rider swap is not an option you are comfortable using, and the service dog is not comfortable or safe in a kennel environment, alternative arrangements should be made. There are numerous reputable boarding and daycare facilities located near the Orlando theme parks that can better meet the dog’s needs during ride times.

Responsible planning protects the service dog, the handler, and access opportunities for the entire disabled community.

Discussion Question:
What factors should handlers consider when deciding between kenneling, rider swap, or off-site care for their service dog at theme parks?

02/05/2026

Discussion Post:

Before criticizing a veterinary clinic for the cost of a spay, it’s worth taking a moment to understand everything that goes into a safe, ethical surgical procedure.

A standard spay isn’t just “one surgery.” The cost often reflects many essential components: pre-operative bloodwork, IV fluids, surgical prep (shaving and sterilization), sterile drapes and packs, sutures, anesthesia induction and monitoring, the surgeon’s time and expertise, pain management, antibiotics, post-operative care, and even factors like the dog’s size and overall health. And that list still doesn’t cover every detail involved.

When all of these elements are accounted for, higher prices are not unreasonable—they’re often a reflection of doing things correctly and safely. In fact, many clinics intentionally undercharge for spay and neuter procedures to help prevent unwanted litters and to make veterinary care more accessible, often absorbing some of the true cost themselves.

Most veterinarians and clinic staff enter this field because they genuinely care about animals and the people who love them. Their goal isn’t profit—it’s providing the safest, highest-quality care possible.

💬 Discussion question:
How can we better educate pet owners about what goes into veterinary procedures so pricing feels more transparent and understood?

02/04/2026

Thank you Dinah and The Dogs for meeting us for lunch at Chipotle Mexican Grill l and a short training trip to Michaels Stores today!

02/04/2026

We'd like to take a minute to address a comment left on one of our posts about housing yesterday as this is exactly how misinformation spreads. So many landlords already try to illegally deny legitimate teams and spreading this information is even more hurtful to the community.

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There were no changes to the written Fair Housing Act or federal law.

What has changed is related to guidance, enforcement trends, and court interpretation, not statute. Specifically:

• HUD Guidance Withdrawal: On September 17, 2025, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity withdrew prior assistance animal guidance. This did not change the law, but it signaled a shift toward evaluating cases based on actual, provable instances of discrimination rather than broad interpretations.

• Documentation Review Trends: In 2025, many housing providers began using more robust digital verification systems to review ESA documentation. This reflects enforcement practice, not a legal rewrite.

• Multiple Assistance Animal Requests: Updated guidance and case law emphasize clearer documentation when requesting multiple assistance animals, including why one animal does not sufficiently mitigate the disability.

• Direct Threat Exception: Courts continue to reinforce that even legitimate service animals or ESAs may be excluded if there is documented evidence of a direct threat to health or safety, or substantial property damage. This has long existed in law and is being more consistently applied.

• No-Pet Policy Exemptions: The FHA still requires reasonable accommodations for disabled tenants, including waivers of no-pet policies when legally appropriate.

In short, the law itself remains unchanged. What has evolved is how guidance is applied and how cases are evaluated in practice.

02/04/2026

💙 A Warm Welcome for a Very Special Girl 💙

We are honored to welcome Keiko (pronounced KAY-koh), a beautiful standard poodle puppy, into the Blues City Service Dogs family.

Keiko’s previous owners made the incredibly thoughtful and loving decision to reach out after realizing that the home they had was not the right fit for her. Not every dog is suited for every home—and there is absolutely no shame in recognizing that and choosing what’s best for the dog. That kind of honesty and care takes heart.

We are deeply grateful to be trusted with Keiko, her training journey, and the responsibility of helping her find her forever home through meaningful service work. She is a sweet soul, and we are excited to see who she grows into under our program.

At this time, Keiko is not available for matching or placement. Once she has time to settle in and gain more training under her paws, we will determine which part of our program she will be available under—either started (adults only) or fully trained (adults and minors).

Thank you to everyone who believes in doing right by the dog. We’re so glad you’re here with us, Keiko. 💙🐾

Discussion Question:
What does “the right home” for a dog mean to you, and how do you know when it’s the right fit?

02/04/2026

🐾 Big paws, big futures! 🐾

Fish Stick has officially swam off to her new puppy raiser home to complete the final year of her service dog training journey! 🎉💙 This is a huge milestone, and it wouldn’t be possible without the dedication, patience, and teamwork that goes into every single day of training.

A heartfelt thank you to Emily for the commitment and continued collaboration with our trainers. That kind of consistency and care is what truly helps change futures—not just for the dogs, but for the people who will one day rely on them.

✨ Interested in becoming a puppy raiser? ✨
Send us an email at BluesCityServiceDogs@gmail.com. By volunteering, you can change three lives:
• the dog’s
• the future handler’s
• and your own

You’ll also make a meaningful impact on the community—and yes, we supply everything you need!

💬 Discussion Question:
What would motivate you to open your home and heart to a future service dog in training?

02/04/2026

How to Properly Request a Service Dog Accommodation

Requesting a service dog as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) doesn’t have to be complicated — but it does need to be done correctly.

How to request an accommodation:

• Make the request in writing (email or letter is best)
• Clearly state that you are a person with a disability
• Explain that you are requesting a reasonable accommodation for a service dog
• You do not need to disclose your diagnosis or medical history

What a landlord can legally require:

✔ Confirmation that you have a disability (if not obvious)
✔ Confirmation that the dog is needed to assist with that disability

That’s it.

A landlord cannot legally require:
✖ Proof of certification, registration, or ID
✖ Training records or demonstrations
✖ Veterinary records beyond standard housing requirements
✖ Disclosure of your specific medical condition

The goal of the process is to establish need, not to interrogate or intimidate disabled tenants.

Knowing what’s reasonable on both sides helps prevent conflict and protects everyone involved.

Discussion Question:
What part of the accommodation request process feels most intimidating to you?

02/03/2026

Reporting an Illegal Denial of a Service Dog

If you believe a landlord has illegally denied your service dog as a reasonable accommodation, you do have options.

Here’s how to report it:

1️⃣ Document everything
Save emails, texts, written notices, and dates of conversations.

2️⃣ Confirm your eligibility
Ensure your dog meets the legal definition of a service dog and that you requested the accommodation properly.

3️⃣ File a complaint with HUD
You can submit a Fair Housing complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Complaints can be filed online, by phone, or by mail.

4️⃣ Seek legal or advocacy support
Fair housing organizations and disability rights advocates can help guide you through the process.

Illegal denials hurt real disabled people — and reporting them helps protect the community as a whole.

Discussion Question:
Have you ever had to advocate for your housing rights, or helped someone else do so?

02/03/2026

When a Landlord Can Legally Deny a Service Dog

While the Fair Housing Act (FHA) provides important protections, service dogs are not automatically approved in every housing situation. There are specific circumstances where a landlord may legally deny a service dog as a reasonable accommodation.

A landlord may legally deny if:

• The property has 4 units or fewer and the landlord lives in one of them
• The landlord can prove that accommodating the dog would cause insurance costs to increase so significantly that it creates an undue financial burden
• The living space does not meet fire, safety, or occupancy codes to safely house another living being
• The dog does not meet the legal definition of a service dog as defined by the ADA
• The dog is a service dog in training or a prospect that has not yet met the legal definition of a fully trained service dog

This last point is especially important for owner trainers to understand:

➡️ The Fair Housing Act does NOT federally protect service dogs in training.
While some states offer additional protections, FHA coverage applies only to dogs that are already task-trained to mitigate a disability.

This means many owner trainers may face legitimate housing challenges until their dog fully meets the legal definition of a service dog.

These denials must be lawful, specific, and based on facts — not fear, bias, or personal preference.

Reasonable accommodation means reasonable, not unconditional.

Discussion Question:
Did you know that service dogs in training are not federally protected under the Fair Housing Act?

Post 2 of 4

02/02/2026

One thing good dog trainers have in common: we don’t diagnose or give individualized behavior modification plans based on a short video clip or a single photo.

Why? Because behavior does not exist in a vacuum.

•A 10–30 second video only shows what’s happening on screen—not:

•What happened before the camera was turned on

•What consistently happens after

•The dog’s full reinforcement history

•Health, pain, or stress factors

•Handler timing, pressure, or environmental context

•The dog’s baseline behavior in other settings

Two dogs can display the exact same behavior on camera for completely different reasons. Treating them the same way can be ineffective at best—and harmful at worst.

Good trainers gather information. We ask questions. We observe patterns over time and across environments. We look at the whole picture, not just the moment that went viral.

Quick takes and “just do this” advice might feel helpful online, but real behavior change requires context, assessment, and responsibility. That’s not gatekeeping—that’s professionalism.

Discussion question:
Have you ever seen a dog (or handler) get unfairly judged based on a short clip without the full context? How do you think that impacts training outcomes?

02/02/2026

When does a service dog need to be “tucked out of the way”… and when do they not?

This is a question that comes up a lot, especially in busy public spaces like malls and food courts.

The general expectation is that a service dog should not block aisles, doorways, hallways, or create a tripping hazard for others. That’s the line. Being “out of the way” does not mean the dog must be shoved under a table or forced into an uncomfortable position just to meet someone else’s idea of what looks tidy.

In the video here, you’ll see Havelock settling in the mall food court. The walkway is very wide, there are no tables directly next to the team, and he isn’t blocking foot traffic, hallways, or blind corners. No one has to step over him, walk around him, or worry about tripping. This is an example of appropriate public access behavior without unnecessary pressure to over-tuck a dog.

Service dogs need enough space to remain safe, comfortable, and ready to work. “Out of the way” should always be about public safety and accessibility, not aesthetics.

💬 Discussion Question:
How do you decide when your service dog needs to be tucked versus when a natural down-stay is sufficient?

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