When I went for visiting at Idaho State Correctional I got there a little early. I was standing in the lobby and reading the differant memos and I saw one that mentioned pets. I was reading it and it said absolutally under no circumstances were pets allowed. I thougth that was pretty odd and the only reason I could think of pets being at the prison was if the visitor was blind. I had always thought that seeing eye dogs were by law allowed to be anywhere that people were. I really dont know the answer to that, but I kept reading the memo further and it said that if any pets or CHILDREN were found left in cars the visits would be terminated

I couldnt believe what I was reading. I know that people actually do leave kids in cars alone, but at a PRISON :eek:

To my knowledge when a memo is sent out that normally means something has happend to bring the issue up. I didnt pay attention to the date on the memo and I havent heard anything on the news about kids left in the cars at the prison. I really have to hope that maybe someone left a pet in a car and they only mentioned children to make the policy clear

Well seeing eye dogs (or working dogs) are not considered pets and as you said, by law can be anyplace their human can be.

I'll bet someone came to visit and left a pet in the car. :(

Yeah, I've heard of dogs being locked in cars during visits. I don't think it is the "cruelty factor" that worries the prison, they just don't want the dog barking and disturbing them.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with leaving, say, a 14 year old who has a bad attitude and wants to spoil the visit, in the car alone. But DOC sees them as a child, so you wither have to drag them in anyway or forego the visit. In fact, a prisons here in Wisconsin, no one at all is supposed to wait in the car for you. They must leave the area and wait elsewhere.

Yeah, I've heard of dogs being locked in cars during visits. I don't think it is the "cruelty factor" that worries the prison, they just don't want the dog barking and disturbing them.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with leaving, say, a 14 year old who has a bad attitude and wants to spoil the visit, in the car alone. But DOC sees them as a child, so you wither have to drag them in anyway or forego the visit. In fact, a prisons here in Wisconsin, no one at all is supposed to wait in the car for you. They must leave the area and wait elsewhere.
I agree that it was probably a pet that led to this memo, but the way they worded the memo and included children in it had to make you wonder. Do they really think that people will leave their children in the car while they visit?

As far as pets go I think it depends on a lot of factors. I personally woudnt do it, but there are lots of people that take their dogs everywhere. I say if its going to be a short visit, wheather permitting and the dog isnt a barker then why should it be a problem.

The only thing I can think of is that right near the visiting enterance door is the fence that hold at least one of the prison dogs. Even though the parking lot isnt on top of the door maybe the dogs in the parking lot are close enough to distract the prison dogs and vise versa.

As far as kids go I cant imagine anyone leaving a child in the car while at visiting. I do agree that if you have a 14 yr old who is ready to go a little sooner then they are old enough to do so. I also think the reason the prison wont allow that is a safety factor. As far back as I can remember nobody has escaped the prison here, but there is always a chance and its best that a child of any age isnt left alone. Chances are if the child is out in the car that would also mean they have the keys so they could unlock the car or to listen to the car radio. That would mean IF the event of an escape not only could an inmate take your child, but your car as well.

I know that at one time I heard that at some of the prisons here they REQUIRE all cars to remain locked just in case someone escapes. A locked car is easier to hotwire or hide in.

Here is the actual law requarding the legal rights of guide dogs, hearing dogs and service sogs in Idaho.

DAHO

Idaho Code, Title 56, Chapter 7, Sections 56-701 through 56-707, amended 1984; Title 58, Chapter 58, Sections 18-5811, 18-5812.

Idaho Statutory law guarantees a blind person the legal right to be accompanied by a specially trained dog guide in all public accommodations and on all common carriers. No extra charge can be levied because of the dog's presence, but the dog guide user is liable for any property damage the dog might cause.

A blind person also has a legal right to equal employment opportunity in state service or in the service of the political subdivisions, including public schools, and in all other employment supported in whole or part by public funds. (Sect. 56-707)

Public accommodations include hotels, lodging places, restaurants, stores, places of resort and amusement, and all other places to which the public is invited. (Sect. 56-703)

Common carriers include airplanes, buses, trains, taxis, boats, and all other modes of transportation offered for public use. (Sect. 56-703, 56-704)

Any person whose intentional act startles, frightens or causes injury to a disabled person or assistance dog is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Sect. 18-5811(1)(a)-(b))

Any person who, without justification, intentionally interferes with the use of an assistance dog by obstructing, battering or intimidating the user or dog, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Sect. 18-5811(2))

Any person who permits any animal, which is owned, harbored or controlled by him to cause injury to or the death of any assistance dog or dog-in-training, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Sect. 18-5812)

Violation: Any person, firm, corporation or agent thereof who interferes with the above enumerated rights is guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable accordingly. (Sect. 56-706)

In Florida -or at least the prison I took my friend to- I was sleeping in the car waiting for her and a guard was walking around making sure all the car doors were locked! He scared me half to death but let me stay there and sleep.
I read this one article once about a child that was left on the bus during feildtrip and died... Since it was a church organized daycare that the he/she went to there wasnt much the parents could do about it.... To this day my kids are not aloud to go on field trips unless I go!

i always took my dog when i went to visit my guy in the last jail he was in. she was a great dane puppy and it was a too hour drive to the jail and i ussually had a hour visit so i would rather of had her left in the car for a hour then at home for over five hours byherself. there was no rule that i couldn't leave her in my truck. the guards were really nice there and they actually let me bring her in once. she was really cute and she had belonged to my guy so he was pretty happy. but, then i am in Canada and i imagine things are a bit different. when it was really cold i would drop her off at a freinds so she didn't have to sit in the car but it always seemed better to only leave her for a hour then for five. i'm sure everyone has there own opinions on that though.

This is the only post i found about pets in prison. Inmates like my son who is serving 9 years might lose their pet to death before they get out. A pet should be considered part of the family and aloud at at least family visits. I have found the same rule NO PETS ALOUD. Is there anyway we can change this. Their must be more inmates here that have pets. When they get together they show the love they have, the kindness comes out in them, the sadness felt also when they would say goodbye. All inmates never got to say goodbye to their pet. I know how much my son loves his cat. He mentions him every letter I recieve, as the phone bill is to much we can't receive collect calls anymore.Anyway, does anyone else ever ask, why can't a beloved pet visit their inmate? It bothers me a lot when I heard the question from my son. Will Mowza still be alive when I get home? :sad&blue: