[nagdu] Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs

[Cindy Ray]

Gees, Buddy, calm down. <Grin> I don't think that is a good analogy. The fascinating thing is that the ADA over rides the Tennessee law, I think, so how is it they are just doing this out of the goodness of their little hearts.

Cindy Lou

On Jul 18, 2012, at 9:36 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:

> "why: ?Even though we were already operating under the Tennessee law, we
> decided that it would be best for us to go ahead and comply with the ADA
> law."
> 
> "
> 
> So, what, the ADA is optional? Like, you can choose whether to follow it or not? That's fantastic! So, I can murder the guy in the next cube over because he annoys me, and it's OK, because I choose not to acknowledge the laws against murder? Annoying people of the world, you'd better watch out! 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
> 
> 
> 
> On Jul 18, 2012, at 7:11 AM, "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
>> Goodwill Changes Policy On Service Dogs
>> 
>> By Megan Brantley
>> 
>> Jun 15 2012
>> 
>> http://www.wcyb.com/Goodwill-Changes-Policy-On-Service-Dogs/-/14590664/15240
>> 106/-/9ycsahz/-/index.html
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - 
>> 
>> She claimed to be a victim of discrimination because Goodwill turned her
>> away and wouldn't let her service dog in the store. Earlier this week we
>> told you about a local woman and a controversy over her service dog.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Original story: Service Dog Owner Claims Discrimination
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Rose Hollowka suffers from epilepsy and said her dog, which warns her
>> beforehand that she is about to have a seizure, was not allowed in a Johnson
>> City Goodwill store. The story said that was because she didn't have
>> documentation to prove Honey was a service dog.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> That story touched a nerve for many folks; it has been viewed over 15,000
>> times here on WCYB.com. It also brought a flood of calls and emails to
>> Goodwill about disability discrimination.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> "Nationally we heard a lot. A lot of Goodwill [stores] across the country do
>> hear a lot. They want to comment on it. They want to know. They really don't
>> know how the Goodwill organization is set up," said Bob Miller, CEO and
>> President of Goodwill of Tenn/Va.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> We searched the law and found Tennessee does in fact allow businesses to
>> choose whether or not to ask for documentation when someone has a service
>> animal, but the organization is now making some changes. Miller explained
>> why: ?Even though we were already operating under the Tennessee law, we
>> decided that it would be best for us to go ahead and comply with the ADA
>> law."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Miller told us that Goodwill will announce on its website the new policy
>> with service animals. Now it will only ask what service an animal provides,
>> but not ask for documentation. "I am glad that they changed the policy, said
>> Rose Hollowka. ?I am disappointed that it takes someone going to the media
>> to get this changed and taken care of."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> That's a change that backs up Goodwill?s mission to serve those with
>> disabilities.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Original story: Service Dog Owner Claims Discrimination
>> 
>> By Megan Brantley
>> 
>> POSTED: Jun 12 2012 05:48:52 AM EDT UPDATED: 5:43 AM Jun 12 2012
>> 
>> http://www.wcyb.com/Service-Dog-Owner-Claims-Discrimination/-/14590664/15240
>> 206/-/h8wnql/-/index.html
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - 
>> 
>> A Johnson City woman claims that she was discriminated against for bringing
>> her service dog inside a store.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> According to the Americans with Disability Act, state and local governments,
>> businesses, and non-profit organizations that serve the public must allow
>> service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the
>> facility where the public is normally allowed to go.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> One woman she was not allowed to do so when she was shopping at the
>> Goodwill. Rose Holowka is dealing with a disability. "I was in a car wreck
>> back in 1992 which caused seizures that developed into epilepsy and have
>> partial complex seizures," she explained.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Her service dog Honey makes things a little easier, but we learned that the
>> law makes it a little harder. ?About a month ago my husband and I went to
>> the Goodwill, and we were approached by their supervisor. We were told that
>> we had to leave or show certification or documentation for the dog," said
>> Holowka.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Unlike being blind, Holowka doesn't have a visible disability and she says
>> that makes it harder to convince people.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Federal law does not require folks to show proof an animal is a service dog.
>> State representative Jon Lundberg says places are not allowed to ask. ?You
>> can't ask to see that,? says Lundberg, ?This is not like 'let's see you
>> driver's license, let's see your dog credentials.' It doesn't work that way,
>> it wasn't designed to work that way."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Although it wasn't designed that way, it's put places like Goodwill in a
>> very tough position. With the animals not being required by law to wear a
>> vest or dog tag, it makes it hard to tell which dog is a service dog and
>> which isn't.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> We spoke with a representative from Goodwill who said that with the right
>> paperwork they'd be happy to allow them in, but until then, their policy
>> says no pets allowed.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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