[NFBF-Tampa] Airbnb Host faces Criminal Charges for service Animal Denial
Ineko Gary
rubiigary at gmail.com
Fri May 24 18:20:41 UTC 2024
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to come. It depends on the time and the day.
I’m crazy busy doing different things and I’m also busy with JW. With meetings, Bible studies. With myself and others. And traveling to Plant city for the deaf JW assemblies.
If you don’t know what JW stands for or JH stands for feel free to ask me and I will be happy to explain.
Love always
Ineko
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 24, 2024, at 1:49 PM, Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Please circulate the following message as widely as appropriate. If the
> attachment has been stripped as the result of this message being forwarded,
> you can request the attachment by sending a message to
>
>
>
> Advocacy411 at gmail.com <mailto:Advocacy411 at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> 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!"
>
>
>
> <winmail.dat>
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