[nagdu] EXTERNAL:Re: Disabled vet and service dog banned from supermarket

Fri Aug 13 19:36:26 UTC 2010

Anybody able to post the comments? I haven't a clue where I'd find them.
Our paper has a comment thread too. Many people use it to let their
inner jacka** out to play. 
Some use it because they simply cannot see the problem based on what
they know. Case in point, two writers had to take a trip at the same
time and couldn't find childcare. Many people couldn't understand why
they both had to take this trip, and why the kids couldn't come along,
all valid concerns which the article failed to address. Some were just
nasty of the "Hey, you chose to work, you chose to have children, deal
with it" variety. 
You know, you can always report these comments as offensive to the
newspaper. They can remove them. Make a good case for why they should,
something other then "I don't like it" and they'll go away. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lyn Gwizdak
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 12:07 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: EXTERNAL:Re: [nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from
supermarket

Hi Bobbie,
I would definately try to get an article in the paper to counter balance

that other article - for sure!

This is a prime example of how the actions of just one person spoils it
for 
the rest of us.  It really sucks that this is so - that we can't just
live 
our lives as we may without ramifications on another person.  We all get

painted by the same brush when one of "ours" misbehaves.  I don't like
it 
that this is the case.  I don't know what we can do to convince people
that 
disabled or blind people are all individuals like anyone else.  But, it
is. 
(sigh!)

As a matter of course, I conduct myself publiclly as a decent,
considerate 
human being.  I treat people as I want myself treated. I think this is a

good way to live one's life.  I only have control over my own actions
and 
the actions of my dog.

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bobbie" <bewitched56 at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Disabled vet and service dog banned from
supermarket

> 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~y2010m8d
4-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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