"The dark-haired female working today, February 6, 2019 around noon wanted to refuse service because of my ADA approved service dog. This has happened twice to me in this establishment. She refused to tell me her name so I could let the owner know. She told me that all the customers would complain with me having a dog in the store. She also said I was making a "big scene" which is ridiculous as I never raised my voice, I offered her all the documentation I had (which by law I'm not required to do) and explained she could call the number on the back of the ADA card to know the restaurant's rights as well as mine. She finally just asked what I wanted then told me to leave when I got my frappe'. I went and sat quietly in the corner while the store filled with customers. Not one of them complained, instead they smiled at Jillian and told me how beautiful and well behaved she was. I finally called the police to hopefully educate the lady who was rude and wouldn't look at the ADA card I had explaining the federal law which she instead slid with force back at me telling me she "didn't care and didn't want it". I didn't want this to happen to me again when I went there with my children and I didn't want it to happen to anyone else. It's traumatizing and upsetting to be treated that way for something I'm doing legally, quietly and non- disruptively. When I went back to the counter to get the corporate number before leaving she said there wasn't one. Also, I did ask her for an apology which she refused to give and told me I was again making a "big scene and was over the top in calling the cops". I explained to her that I just wanted her to be educated about this to which she replied "I'm not stupid, I don't need any education". I replied that I absolutely wasn't calling her stupid but was trying to educate her and the team about the rights of service dogs and their handlers since she wouldn't listen to me or read the material I gave her. She kept saying "I was ridiculous, over the top and service dogs have to be big, on a leash and walking on the floor." I've contacted the corporate office - yes lady, there IS one which I'm sure you knew. I've been told a formal review is in process from the corporate end down to the regional manager. Truly, I really hoped she'd just listened to me, read the ADA info I'd given to her and that this could be resolved peacefully and politely. I've NEVER had to call a corporate office about a complaint - only about excellent service I wanted to share. I've never called the police about anything except an emergency. However, there must be education provided from the regional owners on down to the employees as this is completely illegal and must stop."
#servicedogs
#tinybutmighty
#businessesknowtheADAlaw
#dairyqueentrolleyroad
***update: the owner from this Trolley Road DQ called me today, 2/8/19. Andy Anderson feels I was completely ridiculous in calling the law enforcement officer about educating the staff member about the ADA law concerning service dogs and the businesses rights along with the service dog and handler's rights. I told him it was a last resort as this was the second time this has happened to me and it also happened to friends of mine who own a large German Shepherd who wears a large service dog vest and they, too, were asked to leave. He found nothing wrong with the ignorance of his staff and his view on "dogs" being in his store. Once again showing his ignorance as service dogs are considered medical equipment when they are working. He was also upset about my reviews on google, his website and now I'm including YELP. My feeling? If you don't want bad reviews then do your job with politeness, kindness and in accordance to local and federal law. He also said that the dark haired employee said my dog was "in my purse with a fluffy bow on her head" therefore she wasn't a service dog. SERIOUSLY???? She's a Yorkshire Terrier. She is small - 3#'s, so being on the ground in a crowded restaurant is dangerous to her life. Also she has long hair so the "fluffy bow" keeps the hair out of her eyes. NONE of those things distract her from being a seizure alert service dog. Talk about profiling. He became more difficult as the discussion continued and told me since I "couldn't handle his rules then I could just stop coming to his store" thereby admitting that he's not willing to follow federal laws but instead is deciding to make up his own. Again, the corporate office has been called and they are investigating further as this is NOT how they want to be associated with their independently owned DQ franchises. read more