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By Sophie Lloyd
Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter
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Footage showing where service dogs wait while their owners go on the rides at Disneyland is delighting people online.
In a video shared to Instagram and TikTok on December 2, by Megan Leigh (@helperdognala), Autism Service Dog Nala is led to a small room with a kennel to wait with a cast member, while her owner rides the 'Soarin' Around the World Ride' at the Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.
Viewers were impressed that the theme park had a special spot to accommodate service dogs while their owners enjoy rides with height requirements.
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Since being posted, the footage has received more than three million views on TikTok and hundreds of likes on Instagram.
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What is a Service Dog?
The Americans with Disabilities Act defines service dogs as "a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability."
These tasks can include (but are not limited to):
- Guiding people with a visual impairment
- Alerting people with a hearing impairment
- Protecting someone having a seizure or alerting others for help
- Towing a wheelchair
- Supporting a person struggling with mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety or PTSD, or developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder
According to the American Kennel Club, service dogs were initially German Shepherds trained to help those with a visual or hearing impairment.
Since the 1920s, the support service dogs can offer has grown and can be instrumental in helping a disabled person to live independently.
Many different breeds can now be service dogs, with specialist training tailored to their human's needs.
"Service dog in training" Moxie went viral earlier this year, after footage of the eight-week-old pup guarding her owner while using the bathroom took over TikTok. While a clip of service dog Bailey helping his owner in distress was applauded by people online back in March.
What Do Service Dogs Do While Their Owners Go on Rides At Theme Parks?
Leigh is a huge Disney fan and disability awareness influencer, with over 360,000 followers on TikTok (@helperdognala) and more than 65,000 followers on Instagram.
She uploaded the video in response to users asking what Nala did while she went on rides with height restrictions, such as 'Space Mountain' and 'Test Track.'
The clip opens with Leigh and Nala being led to a room backstage at the 'Soarin' Around the World Ride,' located in the EPCOT theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida.
"Hello pupper," one staff member greets them warmly, while another holds the door open for them.
Nala is then given a kennel to sit in while Leigh is away.
"This is where service dogs go when they can't go on a ride due to height requirements," Leigh wrote in the video caption.
"There's a kennel, usually backstage, and a cast member will wait with the service dog for the duration of the ride."
On her social media channels, Leigh regularly shares her adventures at Disney theme parks and resorts, as well as the struggles of having an invisible disability and navigating life with a service dog.
Instagram users applauded Disney's accommodations for service dogs, with scuba_ducky commenting: "That's so neat."
Joshinstudiotv wrote: "They've thought of everything!"
Merrittfamily.6 said: "We saw the kennel at the end of Peter pan a few days ago and wondered .. so cool they do this."
Others were just jealous of the staff member who got to sit with Nala.
"Are they hiring???" asked that_girl_u_hate247.
Tikkitavi agreed, writing: "I WANT THAT JOB."
Paulae1214 said: "Such a good girl!"
While stephyann34 commented: "I'm glad she wasn't alone!"
Newsweek has reached out to Megan Leigh/@helperdognala for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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