I had a rough therapy session so Zac offered to stop at target to grab ice cream and then we'd go to a movie tonight I walked up to Target and this employee outside by the door screams in my face "YOU CAN'T COME IN NO PETS". I said well he's a service dog in training so state law says I can go in and then I walked in. I realized as soon as I walked in I'd forgotten the credit card and went back to the car. As I'm coming back in the guy screams at me "I SAID NO PETS". I said I guess it's good he isn't a pet and kept walking. I asked nicely to talk to the manager and told him the two questions that they can ask and said that while they're free to ask those questions I don't appreciate being yelled at and I want to make sure it doesn't happen to the other SD handlers in the area (aka my good friend who lives next door). He was super nice about it, and said he'd take care of it. I did see him go straight to where that employee was, so I will assume he did take care of it. But now were not going out to the movies, I'm too afraid of being yelled at again.
hi,i have have a couple disorders and scoliosis,and I do have a service dog but I was wondering can I take him into restaurant the only reason why I was asking is cause ive been to basically all the restaurant's in my town and I've been denied access because of my dog but I severely need him everywhere I go :(
Service dogs are granted access to most public places with only a few exceptions; and restaurants are not one of those exceptions. If your dog is task-trained to help you with your disabilities, restaurants are required by federal law to allow you in.
Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises. (source)
However, your dog can be expelled from places if they cause property damage, are not under control, aren’t housebroken, or pose a threat to others by barking/growling/lunging/etc.
I’m sorry you’ve been turned away from so many places and I hope that armed with this knowledge you will be able to stand up for your legal rights.
I had a service dog problem at the hospital today.
This admin lady at the hospital demanded I tell her my disability, demonstrate my dog alerting (like she’s a trick pony or something) and made unbased accusations against me. I’m so mad.
Can anyone look over my letter before I give it to the patient advocate? It’s under the read more because its long.
On Friday I was in intake when a lady came in, who in the past has said she is "with administration" but always neglects to give me her name (even if asked). She broke federal and state law, as well as being accusatory, ignorant of the law, and rude.
She started in with "We need to discuss your pets", to which I reminded her "My dogs are service animals, not pets" and she replied "That's what you seem to think". This type of communication is inflammatory, and obviously meant to put the person (me) on the defensive and provoke a response. That is not a way I'd speak to staff, and not a way I tolerate being spoken to by staff.
She continued the conversation by demanding I tell her my dog's tasks. I explained that my dog does tasks from several categories of work including medical alert, guide work and mobility work. She demanded to know how the dog alerts and I explained it (the dog uses behavioral and vocal alerts dependent on the situation). She then demanded that I force the dog to alert so she can see it happen. I tried explaining that alerts are tasks, not tricks. Alerts are trained so the dog alerts when it as needed, not on command as a trick. Additionally, it is illegal to ask a handler to have their dog "perform". She then said I had to tell her what my disability is, and wouldn't relent until I told her one of the conditions my dog alerts to. I refused to demonstrate guide and mobility work based on the same legal principle.
As I'm sure you know demanding to know someone's disability or medical condition, or demanding that dog demonstrate a task is illegal under The Americans with Disabilities Act. From the Dept. of Justice website:
"Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task." (http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm)
She also made numerous other accusations, which I will not repeat as they were defamatory, without any factual backup except "she heard from staff". This is not acceptable to me, and my advocate has advised me to get any further complaints in writing, with valid factual backing. For example if she claims my dog ran through a crowd of people, I would expect that complaint be given to me in writing and there be evidence other than hearsay (such as video from the numerous cameras in the facility). This is due to the fact she blatantly lied, whilst calling me a liar, with nothing to support her arguments.
She further insisted I sign a paper that contained a service dog policy that she misrepresented. She said the paper said my dog couldn't be pet by anyone, even with my permission, that I couldn't go near people with the dog, that my leash could be a maximum of 3 feet in length. I told her all of those things violate the law. Upon reading the service dog policy, none of those things were true. The hospital's service dog policy (in writing) falls perfectly in line with state and federal laws. However, she misrepresented the policy making it seem to be something else entirely. She also wouldn’t stop repeating that I needed to sign it over and over, even though I informed her I have sensory difficulties and couldn’t read with her yelling.
Today I have dealt with being spoken to in rude, nasty ways. I had been lied to, and lied about. I have been harassed by a staff member who didn't even give me an option to leave the conversation (she stood blocking the doorway, not letting me leave). I have had that same employee make illegal demands of me, breaking federal law. However, at this time I would like to settle this matter via a patient advocate without filing a complaint with the Dept. of Justice (which would result in legal action being taken against the hospital). Please contact me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss this matter and reach an understanding.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with the incident in August where JJ, a manager at the McDonald's at 2880 Northwest 13th Street called the police on me and my service animal.
In September, I wisited again and the same manager, though not kicking me out, made clear I was not welcome.
In October, I went to the same Mcdonald's and had no issues, so I went back to using it as one of my usual stops.
Talked to a law firm about the GPD issue. I will be receiving a call back from a lawyer any time now... still don't know what I want to ask for other than retraining. Its been a week and a half but I am still pissed. Me being this passed still definitely means something. I'm just not sure what.
a thing i drafted to send AC Transit if tis ok w friend: Please train your staff on service animals and the rights of people who use them! In my dear friend's words, she's "never gotten as much hostility or ignorance in all other places combined as I’ve gotten on AC Transit." There are legally permissible questions to verify if a dog is indeed a service animal (such as "what services does your animal perform?"). Apparently your staff does not know these questions, and instead tries to intimidate people into admitting their dog isn't a service animal. I hope you can see how horrible that is for people with service animals, especially people with atypical animals (such as small dogs or non-dogs). It is illegal to ask for "proof" (there is no such service animal registry, nor are vests a requirement), but more importantly your staff should know how to challenge someone they think is trying to bend the rules, and how to do so without making a hostile environment, especially for people with disabilities. This is especially important since people with disabilities are often at the mercy of public transit like AC Transit. I know you do wheelchair trainings already, and thank you; please also train your employees in service animal rights.
I went to this place https://www.facebook.com/visitdukefarms yesterday to take a walk with my friends, who have been helping me get more exercise. My head and leg have been bad so Nalla was helping me balance and doing guide work in addition to med alert.
We crossed the street and were stopped by a security guard that said "no pets allowed" I said she is not a pet, she's service dog so she is allowed and we continued on. The guy ran after us, and said he needed to see her certification. I explained the ADA said I didn't have to show ID, told him the two questions he could ask (he didn't ask either after I told him) and we told him to have a nice day and continued walking.
Then about .5 miles later a white truck drives up behind us. And tells me I can't have a service dog, as the farm is private property. I explained that yes, it is privately owned, but since they allowed the public (and pointed out various other members of the public around) that they had to follow the ADA. He said well you can't have the dog, I'm calling my supervisor. So I said go ahead, I know my rights and I'd be happy to pull the law up on my smartphone so you can read it. I explained the ADA again, to no avail and he walked away.
We kept walking and he followed us around in his truck. We tried swtiching directions but he just kept following us. I didn't feel safe being followed so I called the police because I felt I was being harassed and the security staff had broken state and federal law already.
Cops came, were well educated on SD law and got the guy to leave us be. I heard the man's supervisor on his radio saying "You didn't harass anyone, you didn't do anything inappropriate" which is a lie. In fact I was so stressed by being followed around I had nearly fainted, ended up with a horrible migraine and spent the night in the hospital.
