My mother has a service dog and the owner of this establishment was incredibly rude and accusatory when we tried to shop in this store.
I told the owner that the dog in question was a service dog, which should have been abundantly obvious because the dog always wears an identifying vest (which is not even required by law). She demanded to see "the papers".
This is in violation of the American with Disabilities Act. According to the ADA website:
"Staff are not allowed to request
any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about
the nature of a person's disability."
Her response was, "Well, you can buy those vests online."
She implied that my mother, who has had 5 open heart surgeries, a stroke, and is currently battling cancer, is lying about having a legitimate disability.
It should be noted that there is no official government registration for service dogs, which the owner should have known considering she operates a business. Regardless, the dog is certified by a private agency and professionally trained, while the disability is medically documented.
This person demanded to see evidence of the legitimacy of my mother's disability and implied that we were faking it. All of this took place in front of other customers. It was humiliating and demeaning to be treated like frauds, especially since we both work in the disability field and are extremely well-versed in the ADA.
We do not take kindly to people who have illegitimate service dogs so for us, private people who have jumped through every imaginable hoop to make sure that the dog is well-trained and professional, it is terrible to be treated this way.
When we explained that we didn't have to show any papers in accordance with the ADA, the worker claimed that she would let it slip "this one time", therefore implying that she would not allow us to shop in her store a second time with a service dog.
Her claim that we would not be allowed back in the store with the dog unless we show her papers is in and of itself a violation of the ADA.
My mother and I have dedicated our lives to working with children with disabilities and have fought hard to secure rights for the disabled. It is important that everyone knows that people with disabilities are not welcome at the Royal Wren and Geneva should not be proud that this store is in their community.
Or better yet, maybe every person with a service dog should show up at their store. Don't buy anything, just peruse. And take your sweet time. read more
