"Maggie Was Turned Away"

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by sillyjacki

If a pup is enclosed completely- in a stroller or carrier, what's the big deal?You can't put mammoth dogs in carriers, so I think that would weed them out.

I was at the "posh" mall in my town a few weeks ago and saw a lady with a medium/large dog on a leash. No harness (Service dogs have to have their special harnesses here), no state certified tags. No one seemed to have a problem with it.

I was in a store in Galveston petting the sweetest little Cairn boy (he was in a harness) and this stupid b**** in line behind me gave me this nasty look like he was filthy! I just gave her a nasty look back and said "Good boy! You're so FRIENDLY!!!" Unlike SOME people!

Sillyjacki - Where in houston are you ? I'm here too !

I had to comment one more time - I can understand the rule about dogs in stores where food is sold....but in CABELA'S it's HUNTING stuff - no food so I don't see the reasoning of the employees thinking about a yorkie in a stroller at all....I think you did the right thing contacting them and your hubby was GREAT to say what he said !! Way to go hubby !

[sillyjacki]

Originally Posted by red98vett

Sillyjacki - Where in houston are you ? I'm here too !

Right at the moment I'm in Columbus, OH... This is my last summer at "home" before I move to Houston for good! I am a student at Rice, so I spend most of my time in that area.

[Julie1]

Only guide dogs are allowed in UK stores and personally that's how I like it, I don't want to make peole any more anti dog than they already are and if shops allowed dogs in I think it would scare some people and and disgust others, it just isn't worth making other people uncomfortable for a few minutes shopping. Mine wouldn't enjoy shoping anyway they much prefer a run in the woods or a romp round the lake.

[Sydney'sMom]

Originally Posted by typerk

That's a huge store by the way, I saw it on the news. I just don't think we should expect everyone to treat our pets like we would. You allow a yorkie in then you have to allow a great dane, next thing you know employees are cleaning poop up off the floor. Pets simply aren't allowed to go everywhere we want them to and I think it's unreasonable to expect everyone to be accommodating.

I agree to a point with you. But a Great Dane could not be in a carrier or a stroller. I think that it is entirely different if the dog isn't going to touch the floor.

I asked at Wegmans last night while I was shopping. They have rule signs posted on the door about having to wear shoes and stuff like that...but there was no "no dogs" sign...so I went to the service desk and asked. I told the girl that when I go shopping, my dog (4 lbs.) is usually with me...and could I bring her in with me instead of leaving her in the car, if she is in a carrier and never touches the floor. That was a lie...actually I would just like to be allowed to bring her...and I would never leave her in the car. The girl had to call her manager b/c nobody had ever asked her that question before (I find that surprising). And the manager said "no" becuase it's against the law for health reasons. Now...mind you...I can't believe that's true b/c I've seen seeing-eye-dogs in there. It may be the store policy...but it couldn't be against the law. I'm not really mad about it...I understand that businesses have rules. It just annoyed me that they couldn't just tell me that it is store policy and not make up some bogus law!

[Sydney'sMom]

Somebody said something on a different thread about getting in trouble at Target. I was wondering what happened there.

You New Yorkers...Sammi, Maximus, and others...don't know how good you have it. Almost NOTHING in my city is privately owned...so I can't take my dog anywhere. Big corporations almost always have rules like that. And everytime I've been to New York...it seems to be so common to take your toy dog with you everywhere that even when I was in Macys, H&M, and Urban Outfitters I saw dogs in dog-purses and the store clerks didn't bat an eye.

[Hannah]

In my town in Westport these stores are pet friendly (even take my Lab in them):

Restoration Hardware
Banana Republic
Gap
Anthropologie
J Crew
Sometimes Barnes and Noble

And the Westchester Mall always allows my Yorkie!

[chewysmom]

You know, here in Manhattan, you can take your dog into Bergdorf Goodman's, and not just in a carrier. You can have the dog on the leash for it to walk around amongst the $700 Chimmy Choos and $3,000 Michael Kors jackets. If this is possible then carrying a 2lb dog in a bag around Target should be too!

[Stitches29]

Originally Posted by sillyjacki

If a pup is enclosed completely- in a stroller or carrier, what's the big deal?You can't put mammoth dogs in carriers, so I think that would weed them out.

I was at the "posh" mall in my town a few weeks ago and saw a lady with a medium/large dog on a leash. No harness (Service dogs have to have their special harnesses here), no state certified tags. No one seemed to have a problem with it.

I was in a store in Galveston petting the sweetest little Cairn boy (he was in a harness) and this stupid b**** in line behind me gave me this nasty look like he was filthy! I just gave her a nasty look back and said "Good boy! You're so FRIENDLY!!!" Unlike SOME people!

Thank You. I feel the same. I posted a picture of the stroller in the section Meet My Yorkie.

[Latuya]

I don't get it,,, they say it's a health issue. So what about the person who smells so bad they actually leave a trail? Or a homeless person who hasent showered in who knows how long? I can see why you can't have dogs lose walking on the floor. But small dogs that are confined and are well behaved and don't mind being confined, and just love being with mommy (like my Gus) I really don't see how it can be a health issue if the doggy is confined in a doggy bag or inclosed in a doggy stroller.

[Sydney'sMom]

I decided to email the customer service reps from some local store and malls in my area. This is the only one who has answered me so far...but I was surprised by how nice she was about it. The mall that she works for is a huge outlet (strip-mall style) mall. I'll share with you what the other places I contacted say when I get responses. Here is her response:

Dear Holly;

We are a pet friendly facility. We have grassy areas to walk your dog, and we give out dog treats at Guest Services. Pets are not permitted in the Food Court unless they are specifically used as an Aid Dog assisting a handicapped individual. Each store has their own individual policies in place. If you need further information on a pet care facility, I would be happy to gather that information for you.

Please contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Have a great day!

Vicki L. Elford
Guest Services Manager
Prime Outlets-Grove City
P.O. Box 1001
Grove City, PA 16127
(724) 748-3875
(724) 748-4944 Fax
velford@primeretail.com

[Stitches29]

That is wonderful. I envy those who live in Grove City. Just may have to move, so Maggie can go shopping with me.

Thanks for sharing that with us. Not everyone or every business is hateful, or selfish.

[Sydney'sMom]

Originally Posted by Stitches29

That is wonderful. I envy those who live in Grove City. Just may have to move, so Maggie can go shopping with me.

Thanks for sharing that with us. Not everyone or every business is hateful, or selfish.

It is refreshing! But I get the feeling that I probably won't actually be able to take her into the stores with me.

[kindness_001]

I've taken mine to homedpole, pet smart and was kicked out of walmart with a 8 week old pup. GRRRRRRRRRRRR. But, i will say at pet smart my dogs would never touch the floor i have walked around messes becaUSE the clerks was too busy to clean them up. I always clean up after my own dogs if they should happen to have to go. Who knows what some of the other dogs have everyone dont take as good of care as we do, and i dont want a sick dog. I also take them to ballgames, but if someones dog is there i don't know i hold my dog. I do let them go potty in a little woods place they have there. I have anxity attacks and i have two dogs that knows when they are coming on and i love having them, with me. I took Playboy to the doctor with me to give a test and ciouldnt right then had to come back and they told me it couldn't be in waiting room. At first it made me mad but people also can be allgeric to pet dander which all dogs have. I want to train my yorkie and my pooidle for service dogs for my attacks they keep me calm by licking my hand when i start to have attacks and i've had some bad ones everythiong closing in on me, mt blood pressure dropping to 97/56, not thinking stright and studdering. I LOVEW MY DOGS.bottom line.

[ritaman1]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

I do wish more businesses in our country were dog friendly as there is no reason for them not to be. Dogs do go everywhere in a lot of places in Europe and I think if we start taking our dogs everywhere and doing just what you did by not ginving them our business then businesses will be foced to change these ridiculous policies.

I don't have the problem because all of mine are service dogs and have to be allowed unrestricted access with no charge to any place that is open to the public. I am not blind, but my disability is such that I can use a dog to help me with my normal daily activities such as picking things up, retrieving items, alerting to certain situations and sounds, etc. It is a great law and I would never encourage anyone who did not have a condition which qualifies under the law to do this, but most of us have some malady that our dogs could assist us with and so for them it is the best. They can have their baby with them always.

We have a long way to go to educate the public about the health benefits of dogs, as evidenced by some of the negative feedback I've gotten even here on this forum, but it is a proven fact that dogs reduce stress and can even give people a reason to live. Our legislators recognized this when they enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act and I am trying my best to educate everyone about the law. It helps everyone...the disabled, the dogs and the able-bodied. It harms no one. It's a win win.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...8poochlgn.html



San Diego has been a hot spot in the state for ADA abuse, with litigious predators targeting area small businesses as they exploit the law. Knowing that many small businesses without the financial resources to fight lawsuits will often settle out of court, ADA abusers have perfected the art of extracting settlements in exchange for dropping costly legal cases.



Accommodating Californians with special needs is vital, though abuse of the current system has resulted in great distress to many family businesses in San Diego and across the state. Ironically, this law that was originally designed to open doors for the disabled has forced some business to close their doors altogether. The Americans with Disabilities Act should be about providing access, not a payday for shakedown artists.

http://www.iaadp.org/CADO_Advocacy.html



The Department of Justice tells businesses to view dogs with such training as mobility aids, a form of assistive technology similar to equipment like a wheelchair, an assistive listening device or a blind person's white cane.

Unfortunately, some individuals are interpreting the regulatory language on service animals in ways which distort the intent of Congress in granting access rights to citizens who have a disability. They appear to view this civil rights legislation as a clever legal loophole allowing them to escape zoning restrictions, the payment of pet deposits, shipping fees or as a way to get around other ordinances or rules about pets, barnyard animals and protection dogs. Most of them seem unaware of ADA's requirement for disability mitigating task training or view it as a mere technicality to be ignored with impunity.


I have known truly disabled people and they face so many challenges – it can be heartbreaking.



I can’t help but think if the system of service dogs is being abused, it could really hurt the people who need it the most. To abuse this system is sinful.



I’m sorry, but if you are so disabled that you can’t pick up your keys in public – you won’t be able to reach down to take the keys from your Yorkies mouth.



The fact is – NOT EVERYONE LOVES DOGS THE WAY WE DO. I would never disrespect a business or public establishment to bring my dog where “we” weren’t wanted. I might choose to not visit that establishment – but I sure wouldn’t want to force my “wants” onto them.



If you are so stressed, that you can’t leave the house without your dog – take a pill. If this is an anxiety you have, maybe a visit to a doctor would be in order.



I am extremely familiar with the ADA – it is despicable someone would take advantage of this system just because you want to take your dogs everywhere with you.

[Sydney'sMom]

I'm totally confused...how do lawsuits occur? Do you mean a disabled person sueing b/c they were not allowed in and the store didn't comply?

B/c if that is the case then they should be shut down...all they have to do is comply with the law, right? How can someone scam that? People may not be legally disabled...but the HIPPA laws and laws like it state that you don't have to prove your dissability. I can understand how some forms of abuse of this law could be harmful...but I don't understand it in regards to stores and businesses.

PS. Maybe her yorkie picks up her keys and then jumps into her lap to give them to her!!!