[nagdu] Service Dog Forced To Ride In Taxi Trunk

[Julie Phillipson]

no way would I allow this.  I have to say I have been asked this at least 
twice before, most recently two weeks ago by someone who should know better.
Julie Phillipson
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 6:18 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Service Dog Forced To Ride In Taxi Trunk


> Service Dog Forced To Ride In Taxi Trunk
>
> Blind Woman Says Driver Gave Her Ultimatum
>
> Marc Stewart, 7News Reporter
>
> June 6, 2011
>
>
>
>
>
> DENVER -- A blind woman says a driver told her she would have to put her
> guide dog in the trunk of his taxi if she wanted a ride.
>
>
>
> Judie Brown says her black lab named Alberto isn't just a best friend; 
> he's
> been her lifeline for the past four years.
>
>
>
> "If something happened to him. I would just die," said Brown.
>
>
>
>
>
> About a month ago, Brown called a cab.
>
>
>
> When she walked out front with Alberto, the driver from Union Taxi 
> initially
> refused to transport her with Alberto.
>
>
>
> "He said, 'No dog in my cab,' " said Brown.
>
>
>
> Brown said the driver told her he was allergic to dogs and would only 
> drive
> her if Alberto went in the back of his cab.
>
>
>
> "I asked him, 'Where in the back?' And he said, 'In the trunk,' " said
> Brown.
>
>
>
> Late for an appointment, she reluctantly agreed.
>
>
>
> "I never hear my dog whine or crying. Ever. Ever. I knew it was terribly
> wrong," said Brown.
>
>
>
> Colorado law protects guide dogs and their owners, allowing them to ride
> together in taxis.
>
>
>
> "A service dog is an appliance, similar to a wheelchair. Would you deny 
> them
> a wheelchair?" said animal law expert Jay Swearingen.
>
>
>
> A manager with Union Taxi tells 7NEWS the driver has been suspended and
> fined by the state.
>
>
>
> But Judie is scarred and says she's been afraid to travel with Alberto 
> ever
> since.
>
>
>
> "I've lost my independence. And I do not like it. It makes me angry. And I
> want it back," said Brown.
>
>
>
> The National Guide Dog Association says they get similar calls, three to 
> 10
> times per week.
>
>
>
>
>
> URL: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/28151488/detail.html
>
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