[nagdu] Handling difficult store owners

Mon Jul 22 23:21:42 UTC 2013

Hi Andrew,

You handled the situation well including tying your dog in a convenient
place.  My suggestion is that you take the initiative to obtain a copy of
your state's guide dog law along with the relevant section of the ADA and
take them to the proprietor.  You may be right that he needs some educating
as he is not familiar with the law.  He also may simply be uncomfortable
with dogs, but as you know that is irrelevant where guide dogs are
concerned.

I would work to let him know that you like coming to him, but that where
guide dogs are concerned he must not provide any barriers for their owners
coming into his shop with their guides.  Remember, that by denying access to
a guide dog he is really denying you access.  It is YOU who have the right
to take your guide anywhere in public.  It is not the dog that has rights,
it is you who has the rights.

Please keep us posted, and welcome to the list.  If you ever want to talk by
phone feel free to give me a call at (415) 827-4084. 

Best,

Michael Hingson

The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
"Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info at michaelhingson.com
To order Michael Hingson's new book, Thunder Dog, and check on Michael
Hingson's speaking availability for your next event please visit:
www.michaelhingson.com

To purchase your own portrait of Roselle painted by the world's foremost
animal artist, Ron Burns, please visit http://www.ronburns.com/roselle

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Webb
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 01:17 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Handling difficult store owners

Hello all,

I've been a member of this list for all of about the last 15 minutes, so
it's good to be with you all.  I'd like to ask some advice on a topic that
I'm sure comes up very frequently.  I'm a pretty new guide dog user and so
there are some situations on which I'm still sort of feeling my way and
appreciate hearing thoughts from more experienced handlers.

I recently visited for the first time a store where the proprietor was
plainly not very happy about my having brought my dog inside.  Specifically,
it was a barber shop.  However, the point I'd like to emphasize is that,
unlike with a couple other similar encounters I've had, this gentleman was
absolutely kind, respectful, and courteous to me in every other regard.  He
gave me a warm greeting, made small talk, made sure he knew what I was
looking for in a haircut, etc.  He just wasn't comfortable having the dog
inside the shop.  He said that ordinarily the shop has a "no dogs" policy,
but that for me, "he would make an exception."  (Yes, I know, kind of
patronizing, but I needed to get my hair cut.)  When we were done, he asked
if next time I could please tie up the dog to a post that is right outside
the shop's front door.  I explained to him in a respectful tone, that this
was a service animal and as such enjoyed a special status, and that by law
the shop owner could not refuse admission to the dog or ask me to keep him
outside, not to mention the fact that I take care to ensure that the dog is
clean, well-groomed, and well-behaved.  After I explained this, especially
the part about the applicable laws, the gentleman just sort of went silent,
we left it at that, I wished him a good day and the dog and I were on our
way.    

Bottom line: This was a nice and seemingly decent fellow, who probably
sincerely believed that he was acting within his rights as the store owner,
and simply doesn't know the relevant law.  He listened to what I told him
about the law, but I don't think he believed me.

I wonder how people would suggest that I handle this matter going forward?
This barber shop is far and away the most convenient one for me to visit,
and what's more they give good haircuts at a reasonable price.  In other
words, all other things being equal, I'd prefer to keep going there, and it
would be an inconvenience for me not to.  What's more, it's a short enough
walk from my house that I can feasibly get there using just my cane and park
the dog at home (in most cases).

What's giving me pause here is that the shop owner was nice, just ignorant.
If he were a jerk, it would all be different.  I can deal with a jerk, and
have done so.  I'd have no problem suing, if need be.  (I'm actually an
attorney.)  But in this case, since the shop is right in my neighborhood and
I pass by it every day, since I'd prefer to keep going there for haircuts,
and since the owner was an absolutely nice guy aside from not wanting the
dog in the store, I feel sort of conflicted.  I wonder if I should just
check my ego (and my rights), and go there in futre without the dog?  Or
should I return there next time with the dog, armed with a copy of the
relevant statute in hand, and show it to the gentleman, in the interest of
educating him (and consequently probably taking the pleasure out of that and
all future visits)?  Perhaps there are no right or wrong answers here per
se, but I'm just interested to hear people's thoughts.

Also, when I went to sit in the barber's chair, I left my dog tied down to a
seat in the waiting area (perhaps 20 feet away).  Can anyone tell me if
legally this was permissible, or do I need to have him close at hand near
the barber chair?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts and perspectives.

Regards,

Andrew 

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