[nagdu] Handling difficult store owners

Tue Jul 23 21:00:03 UTC 2013

I absolutely agree with this approach as the first step.

I once took a friend to dinner (besides my dog) and we entered a restaurant 
where the Italian proprietor spoke very little English and understood even 
less.  He said no dog and didn't understand anything I said.  My usually 
stormy little female friend (never mess with this lady), fully sighted, got 
him to understand with gestures and words that I was blind.  I think his 
main concern was possible issues from the health department so not only did 
he let us be seated, but would have brought out an entire meal for the dog 
if we hadn't been able to prevent him.  As it was, he provided a large bowl 
of water and ice cubes, in a crystal bowl no less.  Our food came on the 
regular restaurant plates.

That restaurant had a working fireplace and the next time I went (different 
woman) the owner insisted that we sit in the prime seating and Mr. dog laid 
happily by the fire.

Doug: Roast Labrador anybody?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daniel" <daniel.sweeney1 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Handling difficult store owners

: Hi Andrew,
: I am in Denver and the first time I took my new girl into the barber shop
: with me, the barber told me there was a no dog policy. I told him she was
: not a dog, she was my guiding eyes, and I believe that she is allowed. He
: immediately apologized to me and said of course she may come in.
: I have her lay at the foot of the chair when I am being taken care of so 
she
: is not in his way on either side. In fact he now comments on how she 
watches
: him with every move he makes on my head - like you better not even think
: about hurting my papa.
: We had a discussion in the chair about the school, the training and cost 
of
: training. He appreciates the information and said I have "opened his eyes"
: as to what is involved with having a service animal.
: I say go back with the information, and maybe one of the pamphlets from 
your
: school about people meeting a guide dog. If you want to be nice in your 
own
: way and not throw the law in his face - which you have every right to do,
: if you feel he is not receptive, this might be a another way.
: Just a thought. You have every right to be there, he has to let you be
: there, but it would be nicer if it was a mutual friendly relationship or 
you
: may not get the haircut you expect <grins>
:
: Daniel and Cass
: Lakewood, Colorado
:
:
: -----Original Message-----
: From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Webb
: Sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 2:17 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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