[nagdu] Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery

Cindy Ray cindyray at gmail.com
Sat Aug 24 17:50:24 UTC 2013


How are emotional support dogs different from dogs who help vets with post traumatic stress syndrome? Is it because the dog can help such a person refocus if they get into an episode. I am sure I am using all wrong terminology here.

CL

On Aug 24, 2013, at 8:35 AM, "Ginger Kutsch" <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Family Upset After Dog Removed From Eatery
> 
> by Jeff Rusack, 
> 
> August 23, 2013 8:13 PM
> 
> Source:
> http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29327&Itemid=5
> 7
> 
> 
> 
> One Sioux Falls' family is crying foul after they say they were
> discriminated against for having an emotional support dog at a fast food
> restaurant, Thursday. 
> 
> 
> 
> Mocha may have brown fur but she seems to be in a grey area. 
> 
> 
> 
> Thursday afternoon when Alan Steele and his mother Edwina decided to dine in
> at a Sioux Falls Taco Bell, they were told to do something that surprised
> them. 
> 
> 
> 
> "We were asked if we were going to eat in. I said, 'yes, we are.' And he
> goes, 'I'm sorry. I can't allow you to do that,'" said Alan Steele.
> 
> 
> 
> The Americans with Disabilities Act allows any service animal into just
> about any business.
> 
> 
> 
> "On the back it says that she is a part of the American Disabled Act of
> 1990," pointed out Steele.
> 
> 
> 
> Mocha is titled as an emotional support dog. Mocha's owner, Edwina Steele
> suffers from depression and anxiety and can't take prescriptions due to a
> heart condition, as they tried to explain to the Taco Bell staff.
> 
> 
> 
> "She is a service animal, emotional support. And he goes, 'that doesn't
> matter,'" added Steele.
> 
> 
> 
> "Just because a dog has a vest on doesn't mean the dog is protected," said
> Steve Slavik, the CEO of Big Paws Canine, a company that trains dogs for
> Veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.
> 
> 
> 
> "What a service dog is and how it is defined, is a dog that is trained to
> perform work or perform a task for an individual with a disability," quoted
> Slavik from the American with Disabilities Act. 
> 
> 
> 
> And the Steele's may be out of luck when trying to bring Mocha with them to
> businesses with pet policies.    
> 
> 
> 
> "Dogs that wouldn't be protected are emotional support dogs and companion
> dogs. They are still considered pets and they are not defined in the
> protection of the ADA," added Slavik.
> 
> 
> 
> But, asking someone about their dog, when it comes to determining if they
> are indeed a service animal, can be tricky.
> 
> 
> 
> Businesses are only allowed to ask two questions when it comes to service
> dogs. 
> 
> 
> 
> Is the service animal required? And what work has the dog been trained to
> perform?
> 
> 
> 
> Businesses cannot ask what the owners disability is or for the owner to
> provide documentation. 
> 
> 
> 
> "If the dog is barking or being destructive to merchandise or going to the
> restroom on the floor, those types of things, even if it's a full-fledged
> 1,000 of hours training service dog, a service dog can be denied access,"
> added Slavik.
> 
> 
> 
> The Steeles say there was no indication of any misbehavior at the Taco Bell,
> Thursday and they still hope for an apology from the restaurant. 
> 
> 
> 
> "I would like for people to ask and understand before they criticize or
> discriminate against her," added Steele.
> 
> 
> 
> There's no doubt Mocha is a lovable pup. But, service dog experts say an
> emotional support dog has no protection when it comes to the Americans with
> Disabilities Act.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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