Whenever I talk about the challenges Itzl and I receive when we go out in public, someone always asks why I don't put Itzl in a service dog vest.
This is one reason why. Far too many people ignore the vest, ignore the tags, ignore the color coding, ignore the cards, ignore the words. They kick our service dogs, they punch them, they grab them, and sometimes, they ruin the dog for service.
That's right.
Sometimes, the treatment service animals receive at the hands of people who should know better will ruin a service dog.
The tens of thousands of dollars sent training that dog is the least of what's wasted. The very least.
Let me enumerate for you what happens when a service dog is abused and beaten by someone like Untied Airlines employees who kicked Jim Stanek's service dog so hard, it flung her across his lap, and left her fearful for her safety, unable to provide the service she was trained to provide.
Sarge looks to be a typical service dog - 60 pounds or so, wearing a vest and a leader/halter (required to soothe the public, not because she's a vicious dog). Kicking her can hurt her and make her fearful. Evidently, according to Mr. Stanek, she is shaking and terrified, and has to be re-evaluated to see if she can keep working. If she can't be re-trained and taught trust again, she will never work again.
That means that, in addition to the humiliation and fear Mr. Stanek suffered, he will have to wait for another dog, losing some of his independence until then, and will have to give up Sarge to another forever home where she will not be exposed to public transportation.
Had that been Itzl, a kick of that nature would have killed him. He's been kicked and stepped on before, which is why he now rides up in his carry pouch. That also gives me a chance to deflect other people when they try to hit Itzl or punch him because they claim to be "afraid" of him.
No matter how much advocacy we do, how often we educate, speak out, pass out the ADA cards, talk to people, demonstrate what service dogs can do, and it's not enough. It's mostly the employees in various establishments that are the problem. In Mr. Stanek's case, it was airline employees who kicked his service dog and airline employees who humiliated and lied to him. That it was also airline employees who eventually helped him doesn't mitigate the harm done beforehand.
Customer service training should always include training for customers with disabilities, including ones who will be accompanied by service animals. The training does not take long - I can cover it in 5 minutes, 15 with intelligent, thoughtful questions and an hour with stupid, jack-ass questions.
It's very simple. Service dogs have the exact same access as their human partner. They do not have to wear a special vest, display special tags, or otherwise be identified. Employees have the right to ask: Is it a service animal? What tasks does it perform?
The ADA service brief is free and can be posted in every break room, included in employee training materials, and it's just one page. With pictures, even.
Duplication is encouraged. So here it is (sans their pictures):
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
Department of Justice seal
horizontal border
Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA Business BRIEF: Service Animals
horizontal border
Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.
(insert one of my pictures)
Caption: Businesses that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to enter with their service animal.
Businesses may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability.
People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be charged extra fees, isolated from other patrons, or treated less favorably than other patrons. However, if a business such as a hotel normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may be charged for damage caused by his or her service animal.
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie) or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
In these cases, the business should give the person with the disability the option to obtain goods and services without having the animal on the premises.
Businesses that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.
A business is not required to provide care or food for a service animal or provide a special location for it to relieve itself.
Allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.
Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties.
(insert one of my pictures)
Caption: Service animals are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.
If you have additional questions concerning the ADA and service animals, please call the Department's ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) or visit the ADA Business Connection at ada.gov.
Duplication is encouraged. April 2002