[nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket

Wed Aug 11 00:16:58 UTC 2010

Jewel,
I agree. I don't know the actual circumstances, there are too many 
discrepancies. On both sides. My husband was able to access the online 
interview with the woman. If you like, I would be happy to ask him and send 
the link. The article is in the New Haven Register. Bobbie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket


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