[nagdu] Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him

[Jewel S.]

Finally getting to reading this article...sorry guys!

I noticed that at one point, it referred to the dog as a "guard dog."
Is this a typo? I agree with whoever said the reporter likely got the
breed wrong. It may be a greyhound, but I doubt it's an IG, especially
in a cold-weather area. A greyhound, I could see as a guide dog, so
longa s it gets lots of exercise and has a special harness (which,
being blue, this harness is probably a padded canvas harness, which
would be appropriate for a greyhound).

I wasn't trynig to attack this man in earlier messages. I had not yet
read the article, and didn't know the article and posts about IGs were
connected, so now with the full story, I agree with womever said the
dog's breed was probably misrepresented.

Sounds like the reporter made several boo-boo's...Where did this
article come from? Tomi, is there any more news locally on this
situation??



On 9/7/10, Tamara Smith-Kinney <tamara.8024 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Yikes!  That is totally our neck of the woods.  Just up the street, in fact.
> Wonder if it was one we went into (and right back out of) when we went pawn
> shopping last year?  Of course, I was with a big sighted guy, so the sort of
> peole who would beat up a blind person over her guide dog wouldn't want to
> take him on...  Sad, but true.  I found a number of things about the way the
> article was worded that were interesting, then I realized it's kinda the
> same old stuff...  I will be interested to see what happens.  I did notice
> they've filed a federal case, taking it out of the Oregon legal system...
> So perhaps there will be real penalties and stuff.  Wno't that be
> refreshing.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Ginger Kutsch
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 6:07 AM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: [nagdu] Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him
>
> Tuesday, September 07, 2010Last
> Blind Man Says Shop Owner Assaulted Him
> By KARINA BROWN
> Courthouse News Service
> http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/07/30131.htm
>
>
>      PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - A diabetic blind man says a pawnshop
> owner beat him up because he refused to leave his guide dog
> outside. The blind man, who was wearing dark glasses, claims the
> pawnshop owner head-butted him in the face and then "shoved him
> across the room into a display counter."
>      In his federal complaint, Matthew Compton says he walked
> into Canyon Exchange in Beaverton in May, wearing dark glasses
> and being led by Enzo, his 6-year-old Italian Greyhound guide
> dog. Enzo wore a bright blue harness that clearly identified him
> as a guard dog. Enzo also can sense when Compton is about to have
> a diabetic seizure, and will seek help if Compton becomes
> unresponsive.
>      Compton says Michael Vaden, who owns and operates the
> pawnshop with Jane Vaden, stopped him from entering. Vaden
> demanded that Compton and his girlfriend "get rid of the dog"
> because Vaden "did not allow dogs" in his store, according to the
> complaint.
>      Compton says he and his girlfriend told Vaden that Enzo is a
> service animal, but "Mr. Vaden demanded that they leave the store
> and forcibly grabbed Mr. Compton's arm and pulled him toward the
> door."
>      The complaint continues: "When Mr. Compton resisted, Mr.
> Vaden slammed his forehead into Mr. Compton's face and violently
> shoved him across the room into a display counter.
>      "Mr. Compton and Ms. DeMartelaere were then forced to leave
> Canyon Exchange without having completed their business there."
>      They were looking for a steam cleaner.
>      Compton has been legally blind since both his retinas
> detached during a 2004 accident. He has had more than 15
> operations, but still is legally blind. He and Enzo went through
> 2 years of training at the All is Pawsible Service Dog School.
>      Compton demands punitive damages for assault and battery and
> wants the Vadens and their business enjoined to accommodate
> disabled people and their service animals.
>      Compton and his girlfriend are represented by Jon Egan of
> Lake Oswego.
>
>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com