[nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket

[Bobbie]

Lyn,
According to the article in the local paper, the dog was trained by a 
school. I too have questions about this incident, simply because I have 
shopped in this supermarket several times and never had a problem. The staff 
have always been accommodating and courteous. I also wonder if the dog was 
off leash, which if it was, is outrageous. There is also a six minute 
interview with the handler in question online, in which she states that the 
dog was on leash and that the dog only pooped once in the store, when she 
brought the dog outside and the dog pooped again. There are a lot of 
discrepancies in the handler's account and the store's account. This 
troubles me simply because access has occasionally been a problem in our 
area with me constantly having to educate the public. According to my 
sighted friend who brought me the article, it was on the front page of the 
newspaper with a photo. Does this mean I am going to have more problems than 
usual regarding access? I have already encountered off leash dogs harassing 
my dog, two store managers actually attempting to evict me from stores, and 
people actually screaming when they see her in a store. She's a German 
Shepherd. Also, many of the taxi cab drivers in this area are Middle 
Eastern, so I have given up calling a cab. One too many incidents where the 
driver refused to take me because of my dog. I would say that education is 
crucial here, which I've done. Even the police departments here don't know 
the laws. So what's the answer? I've become weary of it all, and have 
decided to heed the advice of a friend, a long time handler, who simply 
keeps walking and lets the chips fall where they may. I'm hoping this goes 
to litigation, simply because this seems to be the only way laws are 
strengthened. Regarding the issue of pooping, this has never happened to me, 
but I understand it does happen, much like a child having an accident. I 
always relieve my dog before we travel. If it had been me, I believe I would 
have left the store.After cleaning it up and apologizing, of course. Bobbie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lyn Gwizdak" <linda.gwizdak at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket


> Interesting article.  My question is why was the dog OFF LEASH???  Why did 
> it have several accidents???
>
> It sounds like the dog could do its job on leash and under control of the 
> owner.  Sounds like the owner isn't giving the dog enough time to relieve 
> before entering the store.  Or, the dog either has a medical problem, or 
> is stressed and not a good candidate for service dog work.
>
> Now, really we all don't know what really happened because none of us were 
> there to see the incident.  I wonder if a program trained the dog and 
> owner or was the dog a pet she trained herself and didn't do such a great 
> job in selecting an appropriate dog to work for her.
>
> I'd like to hear the store's version of the story.  Perhaps the business 
> has had alot of problems with this person and her dog - even though she 
> did pick up the mess.
>
> Over the course of my guide dog using career, I've had a few dogs - 
> including Landon - have a very occassional accident in a store.  Landon 
> had an accident in CostCo when I first got him and wasn't clear on his 
> relieving needs yet.  there was no problem as we picked it up right away - 
> it was a poop.  I have never had a store "ban" my dogs because of an 
> accident.  Hey, kids have accidents of some sort all the time and the 
> store workers know this! (grin!)
>
> Lyn and Landon
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Aaron Cannon" <cannona at fireantproductions.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 1:16 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket
>
>
> 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.
>
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