[nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket

Tue Aug 10 23:51:22 UTC 2010

I also wonder what the handler's side of the story really is. Does the
service animal have medical problems? Maybe she shouldn't be working
him if he has a medical problem? Was this the first time? I don't
know, would a store really ban a person for the first time? If this
wasn't the first visit that this happened on, what was the handler's
reason for it in the past...so many questions that aren't answered. I
think we should definitely keep an eye out for further updates. Where
was this again, and where did the article come from?

~Jewel

On 8/10/10, Bobbie <bewitched56 at comcast.net> wrote:
> 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.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/bewitched56%40comcast.net
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>

-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com