[nfbmi-talk] Service Dog Removal

[Larry D. Keeler]

I believe that there only a few conditions where a store owner can legally ask a dog team to leave the location.  None of these did I see at State Convention.  I have seen the first from someone I knew though.  That is the dog relieving itself in the store.  I have seen many folks who seem too busy to relieve there dogs and take them into a business and wonder why they left a present or two.  The one guy in question I knew was guilty of not relieving his dog often enough and when he relieved himself in the store, he refused to accknowledge that his dog did it.  He argued with the manager and his wife cleaned it up.  Accidents do happen but if the owner refuses to take responsibility well they should be asked to leave.  Also, if the dog is obviously not under control.  Excessive barking, putting there noses into displays, snatching things off of shelves and wandering around by themselves come to mind.  Pretty much the same reasons I would remove my kids from a business as well.  My dog has tried to sniff those loaves of bread at Krogers they put nice and low by the counter.  I always correct her and divert her attention when she does that.  I would be worried she might sneak a bite while I was buying something so she doesn't even get to think about it!  Finally, some owners don't remember that there dog needs to be bathed periodically.  The same person who allowed his dog to dump in the store usually forgot to do this and I could tell they were coming by the strong dog odor that preceeded them!  In none of the cases I have looked at in the last year, has any of these reasons been cited for removing dogs from they're businesses!  The last, that guy in Kent County, was only complaining about dog hair.  Well, people sometimes shed hair as well and they don't get banned from places!  Sometimes people don't bathe iether and are allowed to come in!  It amazes me on how lax businesses are on that subject!  I've sat near some pretty ripe individualss who would have put any dog to shame!  I have also seem folks get loud and obnoxious!  Kids and parents screamming and dirty diapers nice and ripe!  And those folks get to stay!  I have only seen 2 instances where I would have kicked out a dog team.  The first, I have already described.  The second was the same guy.  Whenever he took his dog into a pet store his dog became uncontrollable!  The more his dog misbehaved, the more the guy cussed and hollered!  Pretty soon, it always became a great big sceen!  I have had stores tell me that they would never ask a service dog team to leave.  I usually inform them that they do have the right under certain circumstances such as those abov.  My point in metioning this is that again, none of the cases I've seen recently meet the criteria here and of course the security guard, the law office owner and the restraunt manager had no cause to remove the dogs and owners!  
Intelligence is always claimed but rarely proven!