[NFBF-Tampa] Airbnb Host faces Criminal Charges for service Animal Denial

Fri May 24 17:47:59 UTC 2024

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                Those of us who use service animals are well aware of the
ignorance we face when attempting to assert our basic civil right of full
and equal access. Even in those jurisdictions in which such discrimination
is a criminal offense, such as Florida and thirty-six other states, law
enforcement is dismissive of our concerns, further marginalizing the
disabled community. When a case is finally taken seriously and the state
chooses to prosecute an offender, it is essential the disabled community
recognizes these cases and stands up in support of the victim and the
enforcement of the law.

                Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP), a Tampa-based
national advocacy organization that operates a 24-hour service animal
hotline -- 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211) - urges the disabled community to
support the prosecution of the case described below. If you will attend, we
encourage you to wear a bright yellow shirt so our presence will be seen by
the defendant and the Court. If you will be attending the arraignment,
please send us an email so we can coordinate our effort. Keep in mind that
the Court schedule is frequently very unpredictable and can change at the
last minute, so please let us know if you will attend so we can share
important details in advance. If you cannot attend but support our effort,
we would like to know that, as well. Please send an email letting us know
you support us. Our email address is 

Advocacy411 at gmail.com <mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com> 

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

FROM: Advocates for Service Animal Partners

RELEASE DATE: May 24, 2024 

RE: Criminal Arraignment of Service Animal Denial

AIRB&B HOST ARRAIGNED ON SERVICE ANIMAL DENIAL

Tampa, Fla. - At 11:00 at night, shortly after a disabled Montana business
owner checked into a Tampa Airbnb, the  host ordered her off the property
because of her service dog. When she called the Hillsborough County
Sherrif's Office for assistance, explaining such denial was a criminal
offense, the disabled woman was laughed at by a deputy who asserted she did
not know what she was talking about. Frustrated at the response from the
sheriff's office, she called Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP)
which operates a 24-hour telephone hotline to help with such issues. ASAP
just happens to be headquartered in Tampa and the advocate on the hotline
was one of the most authoritative voices in the field of service animal law
and policy!

"I couldn't believe how dismissive the deputy was when I told her it was a
criminal offense in Florida," says Liz Hartranft, whose service dog is
trained to alert her to the onset of a seizure. "I gave her the statute
number and even read it to her but she refused to do so much as to look it
up! I felt so humiliated when she literally laughed in my face!"

According to Florida statute 413.08 (attached), a disabled individual
accompanied by a service dog has the right to full and equal access to any
place other members of the public are allowed. The dog must be kept on a
leash or tether unless the leash or tether interferes with the work the dog
is trained to perform. The dog must be kept under direct control of the
handler and must not create a threat or be disruptive. Violation of this law
is a second degree misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500,
incarceration of up to six months, and the performance of up to thirty hours
of community service.

"This is not an unusual response by law enforcement," says Marion Gwizdala,
ASAP's CEO and the advocate who happened to take this particular call.
"After I quoted the law by literally section and verse, I had an HCSO
dispatcher advise me to call the Better Business Bureau!"

According to Gwizdala, Advocates for Service Animal Partners has attempted
to work with law enforcement around the country to solve this pervasive
problem but their interest in doing so only lasts as long as the issue is in
the media. Gwizdala asserts.

"People with disabilities are marginalized by businesses and when we assert
our rights, we are marginalized even further by those sworn to protect and
serve," says Gwizdala.

The host of the Tampa Airbnb, Juan Gomez, will be arraigned on Wednesday,
May 29, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. at the Hillsborough County Courthouse located at
401 N. Jefferson Street, Courtroom 22, Tampa, Florida. For more information
about the mutual rights and responsibilities of service animal handlers and
the businesses we patronize, please call 813-626-2789.

# # # 

About ASAP

            Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is the only
organization dedicated exclusively to providing direct support,
intervention, and mediation for disabled individuals who choose to use a
service animal to mitigate their disability. ASAP operates the only 24-hour
national hotline to assist service animal handlers and the businesses we
patronize understand their mutual rights and responsibilities under state
and federal laws. Individuals needing assistance and information can call
toll-free 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211) and speak directly with an advocate
trained to resolve access challenges as the result of the choice to use a
service dog to mitigate their disability. ASAP211 is provided at no charge
as a public service to the disabled community.

Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) is a nationwide network of
volunteer service animal advocates. Our goal is to encourage, educate, and
support service animal handlers through printed and electronic publications,
Informational webinars, recorded educational materials, and direct advocacy
support, intervention, and mediation. ASAP also provides in-service training
to employers, governmental entities, private companies, housing
accommodations, and the airline industry about the rights, responsibilities,
and limitations of access under state and federal law. For more information
about the rights and responsibilities of service animal handlers and the
businesses we patronize, please contact 

Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc.

386-ASAP411 (386-272-7411)

 <mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com> Advocacy411 at gmail.com

 <https://ServiceAnimals.info> https://ServiceAnimals.info

Marion Gwizdala, President/CEO

(He/His/Him)

Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc. (ASAP)

Office: 386-ASAP411 (386-272-7411)

Hotline: 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211)

 <mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com> Advocacy411 at gmail.com

ServiceAnimals.info

Facebook.com/asap411/

"Forward together!"

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