[News] Barbershop Yorkie Face $5100 in Fines

[fasteddie]

TITUSVILLE, FL - Nestled among a television repair shop, a dog groomer, a sign-maker and a storefront ministry, you'll find Satey's Barber Shop, offering everything from a crew cut to a trim at the Hopkins Street location since 1981.

A mainstay for the past six years is Satey's dog -- a Yorkshire terrier named Snoopy who spends her days lounging, yawning and greeting customers who come armed with homemade doggie treats.

But after having a dog in various barbershops since 1965, owner Lucey "Satey" Higginbotham faces fines of more than $5,100 for repeatedly violating the state regulation that prohibits pets because of sanitary reasons.

"I couldn't understand it," the 82-year-old said of the letter she recently received from the from Department of Business and Professional Regulation. "I can't even describe the feeling.

"There's nothing left over at the end of the month when we pay all our expenses for the shop and our home. I couldn't even sell the equipment here in the shop for $5,000."

The state argues that it's
Higginbotham's refusal to comply with the law that drove the fines so high. State inspectors found the dog in the shop the past three Novembers on routine visits, and she paid $400 in fines the past two years.

But she kept bringing the dog in, and the penalty skyrocketed.

"I think it's insane," said her daughter, Dorothy, who now runs the day-to-day operations of the barbershop. "Our customers love the dog. Sometimes they just stop by and visit with the dog and bring her a treat. If you ask me, this is totally crazy."

'Kind of blatant'

Kristen Ploska, press secretary for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, said Higginbotham is not in danger of losing her license -- yet.

"On the third offense, it's kind of blatant that she is still not in compliance," Ploska said.

Higginbotham has had two heart attacks and no longer cuts hair because of shaky hands.

She spends most of her time in the barbershop taking online courses from Brevard Community College. She just completed courses on how to use the computer programs such as Quicken. She said her next challenge is mastering digital photography.

Higginbotham said a new "doggy dining" law that allows pets in some restaurants rankles her most.

"We don't even have a soda machine," she said. "All you can get in here is a haircut."

The steady stream of clients in the barber's chair one day this week expressed disbelief at the amount of the fine.

"I didn't even know there was such a fine," said Mims resident Walt Meyer, who has been a regular for more than six years. "Is there really such a law? There's no food in here. If someone's allergic to hair, then this is the wrong place to be in the first place."

George Derr of Titusville said that as long as it wasn't a Great Dane leaning on him, he had no objections to a dog in the shop.

"The people leave more hair than the dog does," he said. "It's ridiculous."

Limited options

Higginbotham's options are limited. Her customers have urged her to get a petition started, but she has opted -- at least for now -- to send a letter to the department asking for leniency.

"The world has changed so much during my life," she wrote. "I was just trying to keep the hometown atmosphere in my barbershop."

Titusville resident Anne Hopkins has been getting her hair cut at Satey's for the past three years.

"I don't know what she can do," Hopkins said. "If she doesn't pay it, then she might get in more trouble than ever."

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...WS01/606230334

[suz]

This takes the term "A Little Off The Top" to a new level. If the people don't care if the Yorkie is there....why in the heck should the Department of Business and Professional Regulation care?? I can understand it if they sold prepared food, but they CUT HAIR for God's sake!! I am just shocked that the regular customers don't try and help that poor lady. "They" say, "you can't beat city hall", but I for one would sure be trying!!
Suz

[chuckandnan]

This is just plain stupid. I can't believe it. Just as others state, why doesn't someone come forward and help these people in this town? A few bucks from everyone could help with this fine and then they need to take a good look at what the heck this law is really about! God save us all from "Big Brother".....

[BabyFidgette]

This is crazy! I don't believe there is a law like that in Jersey! There is a mall here (I think it's down the shore) that has an eclectic store that sells incense and such. They have a black cat that stays in the store! I believe it lives in there! It never leaves the boundaries of the store. It climbs on top of the heated jewelry cases because it's warm. She is a nice cat, and I think it's a nice idea!

[Peters]

they shouldn't harass that old lady and her dog! hwo heartkess of them he doesn't look like a mean dog that would attack anyone ?! i bet someone reported it though and that's what started it! but still if she owns the buisness it should be her decision! the local movie theater here has always had a dog in it when we went a huge old dog that belongs to the owner lying aorund the theater! they do have food there popcorn n such i didn't even here of that place having these problems?

[romeos mommy]

i live in nj and i had a salon/spa. it's illegal here to have dogs in a salon. it seems crazy to me too. i would feel so embarrassed when i would have to tell clients no pets. i would only do it though when i knew we were due for our annual inspection.

[MelAnnDoll]

i used to bring my puppy to my salon when i was just getting a wax. the salon owner never said anything! I would feel so bad if it was illegal here and she never said anything to me Although her and another hairdresser there have yorkies, so they really wanted to see her anyway!

But, still, it seems so weird. I know I have seen dogs in liquer stores around here. They just lay around a do nothing! If it's your store and you want to take on the liability, I don't see why it should matter!

Oh, and one other thing, people bring there kids to the salon and a lot of times they are much more annoying than a little dog lying around. Maybe the Department of Business and Professional Regulation should check that out too!

[SnowWa]

I think it's sad that the little dog couldn't stay in the shop -- but Holy Cow - after paying two fines, you'd think the lady would have realized that she just can't have her dog there....... I really think she was just asking for more trouble by not complying with what she had already been told. Even I could have figured that one out!

What did she do - pay a $400 fine and then take her dog back to the salon the next day and every day until she was caught and fined again - and then take the dog back again the next day until she was caught and fined even another time.......??????

I really am sorry she couldn't have her dog there -- but I'm telling you -after the first fine, I wouldn't have taken my dog back, and I wouldn't be in the situation she is in today.

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FROM THE ARTICLE ........ after having a dog in various barbershops since 1965, (the owner) faces fines of more than $5,100 for repeatedly violating the state regulation that prohibits pets ....

She kept bringing the dog in and the penalty skyrocketed......

She says "I can't understand it." "I can't even describe the feeling."

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She may be 82 - but it sounds like she's smart enought to have known better than to get herself in this situation.

****** You wait - they'll probably cut the fine in half or less - she'll get it paid and then take her dog right back into the shop...... do you think she might do this?



Carol Jean

[jencar98]

This is another sad example of how government is intruding and controlling an individuals life. If this lady is the shop owner and her patrons are made aware of the dog presence in the shop and don't mind, I don't see what the problem would be, except for the law. A law, I'm sure has good reasons for being, but there doesn't seem to be any consideration of the individual, and this I think is where the failure is in the system. Yes, maybe she shouldn't have continued to bring her dog, then, we don't really know the entire story.There could be very compelling reasons for her actions?

[lexi'smom]

that is sad, and crazy
who cares, they cut hair for goodness sake

[Yorkiesforever]

Now that is flippin ridiculous. Get over it already it's not a food facility. IT IS A BARBER SHOP.

[vainchick5]

It's really sad that she can't have her dog in her own barbershop and there is no food around. But I think she probably could have handled it better than to ignore the notices until her fines got to this point. She could have hired an attorney to fight it instead of ignoring the warnings.

[SnowWa]

Yes - she could have done a lot better....

And - I'm not sure hiring an attorney (and they aren't free) --- would have solved her problem. There is an ordinance that she flagrantly disobeyed...again and again ........ sounds like a slam-dunk case to me. I wouldn't want to try and defend her.

I don't think the issue is whether or not her dog should have been allowed in the salon. The issue is that she didn't obey the law and has been fined several times for not doing so.

How do we behave and what do we teach our children??? If you don't agree with the law -- just break it - and then complain about having to pay the consequences? (Sit in jail and pay fines and complain!!!)

Believe me there have been a lot of laws and issues during my life time that I haven't agreed with -- but for the most part, I have tried to be an honest good citizen and live in compliance with them.

I think that given we already live in the most free country in the world that there are other avenues we can take if we don't agree with laws. We can petition to change them. There are several major law changes in my own state this year that have taken place because of petitions and people caring about issues.

And I certainly don't think the issue here is about "dogs." The issue is whether or not people can ignore existing laws and do whatever they want.
Can they or can't they? I say "No - they can't."

Carol Jean








I really have no sympathy for this elderly woman - age is not an issue - I'm not young myself, and there is no way in the world that I would flagrantly break laws the way she did and then expect people to feel sorry for me because I was fined.

Sorry - but that's the way life is. We have the most wonderful life and opportunities in the world in our country - but that doesn't mean everything is alays going to be the way we want it to be.

[red98vett]

Oh wow - I'm not one to say break the law - but in this case...there's NO food and people seem to enjoy her little dog....I think that poor woman should be given a break - if the customers complained that's different ...but it sounds like people enjoy her little yorkie

The fines are Way too excessive and for someone that age ...I think it's sad. I liked her comment about keeping the "hometown atmosphere" in her shop. Are we so insensitive now that a little bending of the laws can't happen ? as long as she isn't bothering anyone I don't see the harm...it IS her shop after all.

[jencar98]

I'm not a big one on breaking the law either,especially with a son going for a criminal justice major, I try to mind my P&Q's. There are laws on the books even prosecutors laugh at here in OK. I still say HER Shop, customers knew about the dog, let her alone,for God's sake. Go after some real criminals, like the crack dealer that probably lives down the street from the shop, com'on.