[nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket

[Aaron Cannon]

If the store is to be believed, it sounds like the owner is largely at
fault, though the bit about calling ahead leaves a bad taste in my
mouth.

>From http://www.examiner.com/x-36055-Hartford-Disability-Examiner~y2010m8d4-Disabled-vet-and-service-dog-banned-from-supermarket

According to NBC News Connecticut, Kim Mucha is a veteran who served
in the Air Force Military Police.  She was injured in battle and now
requires the help
of a service dog to keep her balance and reach lower placed objects.

Ms. Mucha entered the Big Y in North Haven, Connecticut along with her
service dog, Ivy, to do some shopping.  While in the store, Ivy
defecated in an aisle.
Despite the fact that Mucha cleaned up the feces immediately, she was
banned from the store.  Mucha told the New Haven Register, "They
treated me and my
dog like criminals."

A spokeswoman for the store, Claire D'Amour-Daley, defended the
decision stating the store was well within its right.  She told the
Register that the dog
was not on a leash at the time that it had several accidents,
including one near a food preparation area.  D'Amour-Daley went on to
say that the Big Y
is happy to work with people and their service dogs, but prefers that
the customer call ahead to inform the store prior to arrival.

There is no stipulation in the
 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
 stating that individuals need to give notice to a business prior to
entering.  Mucha told the paper that she is considering filing a
lawsuit against the
Big Y stores.