[nagdu] Disabled Army vet booted off N.J. boardwalk forwalking with service dog - Washington Times

[Mary Wurtzel]

Hello,

It seems that there is an ongoing problem dealing with the whole issue of
service dogs, other than our guide dogs.  I know it is not our particular
mission, but it seems that maybe veterans' groups, or schools such as Guide
dog Foundation could do education.
We also have the issue of distinguishing between service dogs and therapy
dogs.
Mary

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ann Edie
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 3:35 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Disabled Army vet booted off N.J. boardwalk forwalking
with service dog - Washington Times

Hi, James,

The disabled vet deserves more than just an apology, as the article
proposes.  The police should certainly know the law, even if it is federal
law, not state law, but I'm sure that NJ also has a state law protecting the
access rights of persons who are disabled accompanied by their service dogs.
The police should compensate the man in some meaningful way, and education
about the rights of the disabled should be mandated for the particular
police agency involved and perhaps for all police agencies statewide.

Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Alan Boehm
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 8:54 AM
To: National Association of Guide Dog Users Gwizdala
Subject: [nagdu] Disabled Army vet booted off N.J. boardwalk for walking
with service dog - Washington Times


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/12/disabled-army-vet-booted-nj-
boardwalk-walking-serv/

Disabled Army vet booted off N.J. boardwalk for walking with service dog

A veteran of the U.S. Army who was injured by two bomb explosions while
deployed to Afghanistan said New Jersey police mocked him and ordered him
off the boardwalk because he was walking with his service dog.

Jared Goering and his wife Sally both said to The Daily Mail that a police
officer first "harassed" him then "mocked" him, and issued him a summons for
walking with his dog - a no-no on the boardwalk. But, Mr. Goering said in
The Daily Mail, his service dog Navigator, or Gator, is necessary to climb
up and down stairs.

"Just like any veteran with disabilities with a service dog, to come back
and be harassed and shown no respect, it upset me. It really bothered me,"
he said, in The Daily Mail. "I also suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety,
depression, and my dog plays a big part in my life. His main purpose is
mobility, but he also helps me with all my emotional problems from combat."

Mr. Goering said he served 19 years in the military, with two tours of duty
in Afghanistan and one to Iraq.

The couple said they showed police their service dog card, but to no avail.
The officer still ordered them off the boardwalk.

Mrs. Goering said, in The Daily Mail: "He mockingly asked if all veterans
get service dogs. His dog is medically necessary, and he is a service dog.
We want the public to be aware that there are different types of
disabilities and different types of service dogs - and police officers need
to be educated about this."

The North Wildwood mayor said an apology will be forthcoming, if an ongoing
investigation into the incident reveals one is needed.


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