[nagdu] A true allergy case

[Chasity Jackson]

Hi listers. I feel real bad tonight. I have taken a few cabs today. I took one from my allergist's office to Walmart, and another from Walmart back home. When it came to taking a cab from the allergist's office to Walmart, I waited quite a while. I kept calling and inquiring about the status on the cab, and they kept giving me numbers and saying, "Cab 1154 is on the way," and then, "Cab 1066 is on the way." Neither of them ever showed. I thought I remembered those numbers from earlier trips and I thought they were numbers of cabs where the driver gave me a hard time about my dog. I had no proof though that either of them came and drove off when they saw my dog. So I finally got a cab to Walmart. The driver and I were discussing how it was against the law for drivers to refuse someone with a guide dog because they were scared. The driver said, "Next time someone does that to you, put the fear of God into them." And he gave me the name of the president of the cab company, and he said that when every driver and every cab company gets their license, they are handed a letter that specifically states that if they refuse a blind person with a guide dog, they will be fired and possibly have their license revoked. The driver said in addition to threatening to call the president on the driver, also threaten to call the Metropolitan Taxi Cab Commission. He said these two combined would put the fear of God into every driver and make them change their mind faster than you'll believe. Then, when it was time to come home, my friend Terry and I went outside...And sure enough, I got to put my new knowledge into practice immediately. The driver said, "I'm gonna have to call you another cab. I don't take dogs." I have gotten this off and on a lot with this company...And when I insist that the driver take me, I have to hear him complain the whole way home. So I said, "Oh yes you do. If you don't take me, I'll call the police, and then I'll call so and so, who is the president of the cab company and I'll call the Metropolitan Taxi Cab Commission and take measures to get your license revoked." And then he immediately stuttered and said, "Okay, let me ask my dispatcher." So less than a minute later, he came out of the cab and said, "Okay, I'm so sorry. I've never heard this before. But could you please sit on the door nearest the passenger's side, because I'm terribly allergic to dogs." So I thought it was the same old song and dance, just another person scared of dogs trying to lie and get their way out of it. I've heard that line before for so many years. I've even had cab drivers say they're going to lie and say they're allergic to dogs so they don't have to transport me. But the whole way home, he sneezed, coughed, and literally sounded like he was going to puke. I know when someone is exaggerating and trying to put on, and this guy was truly having an allergic reaction. Now I know that the law states that unless the allergy rises to the level of a disability, that the driver still has to transport the dog and passenger. But I can guarantee you that anyone with half a heart would have felt bad hearing this guy. Even though it was the law, and I had every right, even though he was allergic to my dog, I felt so bad. I even apologized afterwards. I said that I was sorry to have been so firm about it, but I've heard the same old song and dance for years. He said he didn't blame me, and said not to feel bad. He said he was sorry too that he was so ignorant of the law. I know that some might say I didn't owe that guy an apology, but I just felt terrible after seeing him carry on so bad. I must have talked to him for 5 minutes when I got home about all the drivers who have tried to refuse me over the years, and that I have never had a legitimate situation arise. He said, "Oh, no I was honestly not trying to do that. Your dog is beautiful and looks totally harmless. I am truly allergic to dogs." In the end, it was all good, but I still felt bad even though technically by the law, I was in the right. Has anyone ever experienced a true case where someone was allergic to your dog and you felt bad after they had to be around you for a given period of time?
Chasity