[NAGDU] FW: [Njagdu] Blind Nashville man denied ride by Lyft driver despite need for emergency vet care

[Dan Weiner]

I'm so sorry this happened, James and I'm very sad about Shep. My Evan 
dog numerous dos has a tumor in his spleen but fortunately it got taken 
out in time so he had more years to live so I know how serious they can be.


And as far as Lift, Uber, cabs or anything,until the law has teeth and 
it is indeed treated as a criminal offesse and there is punishment that 
is swift and unpleasant this stuff will keep going on.

Warmest,

Dan



On 4/27/2017 9:38 AM, Tracy Carcione via NAGDU wrote:
> A news story about Jimmy, president of our Tennessee NAGDU.
>
> Jimmy, I'm very sorry to read of Shep's illness, and it must have been
> doubly distressing to be denied a ride when you knew your dog was seriously
> ill.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Tracy
>
>   
>
>   
>
> From: NJAGDU [mailto:njagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch
> via NJAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 8:01 AM
> To: New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Ginger Kutsch
> Subject: [Njagdu] Blind Nashville man denied ride by Lyft driver despite
> need for emergency vet care
>
>   
>
> Blind Nashville man says he was denied ride from Lyft driver
>
> By Larry Flowers
>
> Published: April 26, 2017, 5:13 pm  |  Updated: April 26, 2017, 6:59 pm
>
>   
>
> NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - A blind man said it has happened again. He was
> refused by another ride-share service driver because of his guide dog.
>
>   
>
> This time, a Lyft driver reportedly told the man he was afraid of dogs and
> took off. Last year, he experienced a similar incident with an Uber driver.
>
>   
>
> Normally when you see James Boehm, his guide dog Shep is leading the way,
> but Wednesday, he was on his own.
>
>   
>
> James Boehm (Photo: WKRN)
>
>   
>
> Like clockwork, Shep nudges Boehm's hand and wakes him every morning, but
> yesterday he just lay next to the bed. He wouldn't eat, even his favorite
> food, pumpkin.
>
>   
>
> "I noticed him kind of panting, kind of unusual," Boehm told News 2.
>
>   
>
> He said he called Lyft to get a ride to the veterinarian, but when the
> driver arrived and saw the dog, he refused to let them in.
>
>   
>
> "He said 'Sir, I can't take you. I'm afraid of dogs,'" Boehm said. "I said,
> 'I'm sorry, sir.' I said, 'But he's a guide dog. I'm blind. I'm disabled.
> He's my service dog; he's been very well trained. He's sick.'"
>
>   
>
> The driver still refused and drove off, he added.
>
>   
>
> Boehm requested another Lyft driver and Shep was off to the animal hospital
> without a minute to spare.
>
>   
>
> "They picked me up, it took about another 10 to 12 minutes, which was time
> that could have gotten Shep to the hospital, to the animal clinic, quicker,"
> he said. "It put his life in jeopardy because he was bleeding internally."
>
>   
>
> Shep has a golf-ball size tumor in his spleen, which was leaking. He was
> immediately rushed to surgery.
>
>   
>
> "Unfortunately this type of cancer is very aggressive," Boehm said.
>
>   
>
> It turns out Shep is so sick, his owner said he doesn't have long to live.
>
>   
>
> "They are giving him six to 12 months to live," he said.
>
>   
>
> Boehm filed a claim with Lyft and contacted Metro police. He said he had to
> educate police on the state law.
>
>   
>
> "I had to state to them what the Tennessee statute law is, 62-7-112, that
> it's a criminal offense, not a civil offense," he explained to News 2.
>
>   
>
> Last year, former Uber driver Rolanda Douglas refused to give Boehm a ride
> because of the guide dog. She ended up pleading guilty and was ordered to
> perform community service.
>
>   
>
> After that experience, Boehm switched to Lyft.
>
>   
>
> "Never had any issues with Lyft before, the drivers seem to be a lot
> friendlier and informed, but unfortunately at the worst possible time I had
> my first incident with Lyft," he said.
>
>   
>
> Boehm is hoping Shep gets better so he can retire him as a guide dog and let
> him live out his remaining life comfortable at home.
>
>   
>
> News 2 did some checking on the Lyft website. It states, "The law and Lyft's
> Service Animal Policy state that drivers may not deny service or otherwise
> discriminate against passengers with service animals."
>
>   
>
> News 2 reached out to the company, which stated, "Lyft takes any allegation
> of this nature incredibly seriously, and we have reached out to the
> passenger to refund their ride and offer our support. The law and Lyft's
> Service Animal Policy state that drivers may not deny service or otherwise
> discriminate against passengers with service animals. Failure to abide by
> that policy can result in deactivation from the Lyft platform. The driver in
> this case has been deactivated from the Lyft platform, pending further
> investigation. Any form of discrimination on our platform is simply
> unacceptable.
>
>   
>
> "Earlier this month, we launched a partnership with the National Federation
> of the Blind and are working with them to better educate about our service
> animal policy. As part of that effort, we have designated this month as
> Service Animal Month."
>
>   
>
> URL:
> http://wkrn.com/2017/04/26/blind-nashville-man-says-he-was-denied-ride-from-
> lyft-driver/
>
>   
>
>   
>
>   
>
>
>
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