We've all heard the crazy questions and comments that people just seem to spew out of their mouths when we bring our Service Dogs in public. You know the ones. "What is that dog doing in here?", "You're not allowed in here with that thing.", "Look mommy, a pony!", "But you're not blind...", "Aww are you training her for someone?", "Oh crap, a drug dog!", "Why can't I pet her? Will she bite?", "What's wrong with you?", "I wish my children behaved that well...","Can you train my dog, too?", "But you don't look disabled..", etc. So here's a few Service Dog jokes to cheer you up and make you forget all about the idiots in the world. Or not..
Person: "Is that a Mastiff?"
Handler: "Um, no - She's a Great Dane."
Person: " I didn't know they were allowed to be Service Dogs.. What does she do?"
Handler: "She prevents panic attacks, stops flashbacks, and helps with mobility."
Person: "Oh - so what's wrong with your vision?"
Person: (talking to their child) "Look at that dog, he helps that lady see."
Handler:(talking to SD) "Ugh...sorry Addy, you just got sex changed again."
Person: "How old is the service dog?"
Handler: "She's 11 months."
Person: "Wont it be hard to give her up when she's done training?"
Handler: "She's for me..."
Person: *jumps in front of handler and waives their hand in their face*
Handler: "What in the heck are you doing?"
Person: "You can see that? I was testing to see if you were really blind."
Handler: "By waiving your hand in my face??"
Person: "I didn't think you could see me."
Employee: "Is that a licensed dog?"
Handler: "No, she only has her learner's permit since she forgets to use the clutch when shifting."
Employee: "You cant have your dog in here, Ma'am"
Handler: "Um, I believe the correct wording to your question is, "Is that a service dog?"
Person: "If you're blind, how can you drive a car?'
Handler: "It's one bark for left, two barks for right. And bites my ear to brake."
Person: "What branch of the service was your dog in?"
Handler: "Isn't it obvious? Navy. She is a salty dog and a Navy Seal."
Person: "Cool!"
Person: "Is that a blind dog?"
Handler: "No, she sees just fine, thank you."
Child: "Mommy -- look!! A doggy."
Mom: "Now little Johnny, what have I told you about saying things that aren't true. No dogs are allowed in here."
Child: "But Mommy - there is a dog. It's right there" (pointing at you)
Mom: "Johnny, stop it. There are no dogs in here."
Child: "Mommy - it's right there by the milk." (as you are walking away from the milk and disappear from sight)
Mom: (finally turning around) "I told you that there are no dogs in here."
Child: "But Mommy, I saw it. I really did!"
Child: "Mommy -- Mommy -- Mommmmmmmmyyyyyy....loooooook - that lady dressed her doggy up as a horse on Halloween. He is wearing a saddle."
Man asking librarian in a frantic voice "When did the state start issuing drivers licenses to blind people?" - The man had just witnessed a Service Dog handler wearing sunglasses get in her car and drive away.
Store owner: "No dogs allowed, you are not disabled."
Handler: "Do you need proof?"
Store owner; "Yes, I need proof."
I walked to the window and pointed at my car and said: "Do you see the license plates? That is my car.."
Child to mom: "Mom, why does that woman have a dog in the store?"
Mom to child: "She's blind and the dog helps her see."
Child to mom: "But she's looking at her phone..."
Mom to child: "Well, that's because she has the dog with her!"
Child to mom: "Oooooh!"
Person: "I had a Great Dane just like that one. He was so smart. They're great dogs"
Handler: "That's cool."
Person: "He died."
Handler: "I am sorry to hear that."
(Why random people feel the need to stop me and tell me about their dog - and tell me their dog died, I am not sure)
Person: "Can my child pet your dog?"
Handler: "Can I pet your child?"
Person: "Freak!!" --{and runs away screaming down the aisle - dragging child after her and saying to child: "Never talk to strangers and never ask someone to pet their service dog!")
Lesson learned!
Person: "I want a dog just like him!"
Handler: "I'll give you the disabilities to go with the dog"
Person: "Oh, what a beautiful dog. Are you training him?"
Handler: "No, she is mine."
Person: "Oh.. uh... so, what's wrong with you?"
Handler: "How were the results of your last (prostate or mammogram) tests?"
Person: "What?! That's personal."
Handler: "Yeah - so is asking me what my disability is.."
Person: "Is that one of them blind dogs?"
Handler: "I certainly hope not!"
Person: "It's amazing how they know!"
Handler: "It's amazing how you don't realize they're trained and it's not magic."
Person: "Oh, but you don't look blind."
Handler: "I'm not. She's for PTSD/Mobility."
Person: "Oh."
Retail store worker reaches down and pets service dog, stating: "Pet the working dog, pet the working dog"
Service dog handler reaches up and starts patting the man on his hair: "Pet the working man, pet the working man"
Hope you enjoyed today's blog! I've had a rough week and needed some light-heartedness in my life. :)
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Update on Access Issues: Mac's
Let me say, the ONLY reason that I went back in last night and today was to prove a point so that they wouldn't get away with what they did to me last night and do it to someone else in the future. My anxiety was raging last night and my dog was going crazy alerting me. (Looked normal to everyone else, but nudging me over and over and eventually whining).
ALRIGHT, well... I went back to MACS today with a service dog advocate to try to talk to the owner/manager, civilly, about what happened last night. The owner wasn't there, so I talked to a manager. Everything was going fine until the owner burst in the room screaming at me to get out because I "struck his employee last night". I did. BUT, only because he was choking me with my leash and I got scared. And I didn't really hit him, I pushed his shoulder really hard. I purposely missed his face so that I wouldn't be starting a fight. Anyways, I waited for last night's officer to get on duty and my advocate and I went to file a formal complaint and press charges since the owner refused to talk to me today.
I went to the police station after going to Mac's first to try to work it out, talked to yesterday's cop and asked what I could do. He said assault and battery charges would not stick because I'd have to prove intent. Meaning, I have to prove that he intended to choke me. BUT, the officer called the owner of Mac's and talked to him, told him what happened, told him that I was not intoxicated at the time and that his employees had lied to him. Mac, then called my SD advocate and apologized to her for yelling and not being willing to listen and agreed to a Service Dog information lecture for him and all his employees.
I'll let you guys know what else happens. We're waiting on a call to set up a meeting to talk to the owner, civilly this time. If he doesn't agree to apologize to me, get his employees to apologize to me, unban me, and punish his employees, then I will sue, picket his business, make sure news and newspapers are aware of the situation and make sure no one goes there again. Today, my advocate and I went to EVERY bar in Alton, informed them of the laws, my rights and their rights, and informed them of the situation that happened last night. So, hopefully I won't have any more problems. Hopefully...
If any of you would like to help me and other Service Dog owners by picketing Mac's establishment with me, then feel free to! I would LOVE the company and the more Service Dogs, the better! I will be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6pm - 2 am to warn other patrons that Mac's is not Service Dog friendly and that they don't want any disabled customers, including veterans.
ALRIGHT, well... I went back to MACS today with a service dog advocate to try to talk to the owner/manager, civilly, about what happened last night. The owner wasn't there, so I talked to a manager. Everything was going fine until the owner burst in the room screaming at me to get out because I "struck his employee last night". I did. BUT, only because he was choking me with my leash and I got scared. And I didn't really hit him, I pushed his shoulder really hard. I purposely missed his face so that I wouldn't be starting a fight. Anyways, I waited for last night's officer to get on duty and my advocate and I went to file a formal complaint and press charges since the owner refused to talk to me today.
I went to the police station after going to Mac's first to try to work it out, talked to yesterday's cop and asked what I could do. He said assault and battery charges would not stick because I'd have to prove intent. Meaning, I have to prove that he intended to choke me. BUT, the officer called the owner of Mac's and talked to him, told him what happened, told him that I was not intoxicated at the time and that his employees had lied to him. Mac, then called my SD advocate and apologized to her for yelling and not being willing to listen and agreed to a Service Dog information lecture for him and all his employees.
I'll let you guys know what else happens. We're waiting on a call to set up a meeting to talk to the owner, civilly this time. If he doesn't agree to apologize to me, get his employees to apologize to me, unban me, and punish his employees, then I will sue, picket his business, make sure news and newspapers are aware of the situation and make sure no one goes there again. Today, my advocate and I went to EVERY bar in Alton, informed them of the laws, my rights and their rights, and informed them of the situation that happened last night. So, hopefully I won't have any more problems. Hopefully...
If any of you would like to help me and other Service Dog owners by picketing Mac's establishment with me, then feel free to! I would LOVE the company and the more Service Dogs, the better! I will be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6pm - 2 am to warn other patrons that Mac's is not Service Dog friendly and that they don't want any disabled customers, including veterans.
Access Issues: Macs Alton, IL
Ok, so I'm still a little drunk. Please pardon any mis-spellings. I would like to point out that NORMALLY, if he hadn't have triggered my PTSD, I almost always act civilly.
So, I was on a first date with a new guy (Stressful enough right?) We go to a bar to meet and we have fun playing pool, whatever. Then we decide to go to a bar around the corner to go get food and the "bouncer" refuses to let me in because of my dog. He said something along the lines of, "Could you please take your dog somewhere else because we're busy right now". I said "No. I am hungry and she is a Service Dog." He says, "Ok, but there's a lot of people here right now, so I don't want your dog in here." I said, "Regardless, I am hungry and she is a service dog and she is allowed to be anywhere I am allowed to be." At which point I started reaching for my wallet to pull out the ADA law. (I keep a copy with me at all times in my wallet). I unfold the paper and hand it to him and say, "Sir, please read this. This is the law regarding Service Dogs and our rights", and he pushed the paper away from him, back towards me. I, again, try to hand it to him, and say, "Sir, unless you want to get sued, please read this before saying anything else to me". He said, "Sue me? HA! I have no money! You won' t get anything!" At which point, one of the bartenders came up and got in my face saying, "I understand you have rights, but so does this bar. Health codes let us deny all dogs from coming in here. I'm sorry, but I don't want to get in trouble with my boss." Then I said, "Well if you don't want to get in trouble with your boss, then you need to read this" - As I handed the ADA law paper to the bartender, he pushed it away and the "bouncer" yanked it out of my hand and crumpled it up. He said, "Ma'am, I've asked you to leave and now I'm telling you. Leave." -Then he grabbed the leash.
I use a hands free over the shoulder, behind the neck and under the armpit leash for my dog. When he grabbed it, he pulled it to where the leash choked me. That is a trigger for me. Not being able to breathe and being choked is the MAIN trigger for my PTSD. When he did that, I SCREAMED, "DON'T TOUCH ME! GET OFF ME!!" and the bouncer, still holding onto the leash, tried to force me out the door (the leash still choking me). I then "punched" (kind of) in the direction of him, purposely missing his face, to push him away from me. He then said, "That's it, you're out!" And I said, "You're CHOKING ME! Get your hands off of me!" (-My date, watching the whole thing, mortified, waiting in silence)
At this point, customers are yelling at him to "leave her alone", "it's a service dog", "she's allowed in here", "get your hands off her", etc. And one customer came to his defense (that saw me push him away) and said "I've witnessed everything. You hit him." blah blah.
Anyways, I was forced to leave and I called the police. The police came, I told them what happened and they asked me what I wanted them to do. I told them I don't plan on suing and I don't care about tickets, I just want them to be informed of the law. And he said, "You still want to go back in there?" and I said, "Yeah, I'm hungry! lol". So, he went into the bar/restaurant (I have no idea what was said) and came back out to tell me that I can go back in now. After what felt like 5 minutes of the bouncer checking my ID, I was allowed to go in, and was left alone. By everyone. I got a table to sit down with my date and his friend and the waitress took our order. AN HOUR LATER, our food finally came. (I think they told them to make it take forever because of the scene I made.) At which point, there was 5 minutes until closing. They told us to hurry up and finish because at 3, we had to be out of the building, finished or not. Anyways, we hurried up and finished our food and as we asked for our check, one of the other employees came up to our table, looked at my service dog and said "I know not to F*** with you guys. How was your meal?". At which point, I chuckled and said, it's alright. Horrible treatment, cold and late food, and now we're being rushed out the door, but the food's alright." and then he went up to the bouncer, told him to leave us alone and to let us finish our meal in peace and other stuff that I could no longer hear.
As we were on our way out the door, the bouncer was still sitting there and rudely told us to have a nice night. (The kind of rude that he is forced to say those words, but he said it with the "I hate your guts" infliction with it.)
I'm not sure I'm going to go back there again. I'd say I visit there fairly frequently. I've been there 3 times in the last 2 months. The daytime bartenders know me and my dog by name and they love us. I've never been there at night before. After all that, I'm not sure if I want to go back. So I'm warning you guys. If you happen to be in Alton, Illinois, do not go to MACS. (Though they SHOULD know the law now.)
So, I was on a first date with a new guy (Stressful enough right?) We go to a bar to meet and we have fun playing pool, whatever. Then we decide to go to a bar around the corner to go get food and the "bouncer" refuses to let me in because of my dog. He said something along the lines of, "Could you please take your dog somewhere else because we're busy right now". I said "No. I am hungry and she is a Service Dog." He says, "Ok, but there's a lot of people here right now, so I don't want your dog in here." I said, "Regardless, I am hungry and she is a service dog and she is allowed to be anywhere I am allowed to be." At which point I started reaching for my wallet to pull out the ADA law. (I keep a copy with me at all times in my wallet). I unfold the paper and hand it to him and say, "Sir, please read this. This is the law regarding Service Dogs and our rights", and he pushed the paper away from him, back towards me. I, again, try to hand it to him, and say, "Sir, unless you want to get sued, please read this before saying anything else to me". He said, "Sue me? HA! I have no money! You won' t get anything!" At which point, one of the bartenders came up and got in my face saying, "I understand you have rights, but so does this bar. Health codes let us deny all dogs from coming in here. I'm sorry, but I don't want to get in trouble with my boss." Then I said, "Well if you don't want to get in trouble with your boss, then you need to read this" - As I handed the ADA law paper to the bartender, he pushed it away and the "bouncer" yanked it out of my hand and crumpled it up. He said, "Ma'am, I've asked you to leave and now I'm telling you. Leave." -Then he grabbed the leash.
I use a hands free over the shoulder, behind the neck and under the armpit leash for my dog. When he grabbed it, he pulled it to where the leash choked me. That is a trigger for me. Not being able to breathe and being choked is the MAIN trigger for my PTSD. When he did that, I SCREAMED, "DON'T TOUCH ME! GET OFF ME!!" and the bouncer, still holding onto the leash, tried to force me out the door (the leash still choking me). I then "punched" (kind of) in the direction of him, purposely missing his face, to push him away from me. He then said, "That's it, you're out!" And I said, "You're CHOKING ME! Get your hands off of me!" (-My date, watching the whole thing, mortified, waiting in silence)
At this point, customers are yelling at him to "leave her alone", "it's a service dog", "she's allowed in here", "get your hands off her", etc. And one customer came to his defense (that saw me push him away) and said "I've witnessed everything. You hit him." blah blah.
Anyways, I was forced to leave and I called the police. The police came, I told them what happened and they asked me what I wanted them to do. I told them I don't plan on suing and I don't care about tickets, I just want them to be informed of the law. And he said, "You still want to go back in there?" and I said, "Yeah, I'm hungry! lol". So, he went into the bar/restaurant (I have no idea what was said) and came back out to tell me that I can go back in now. After what felt like 5 minutes of the bouncer checking my ID, I was allowed to go in, and was left alone. By everyone. I got a table to sit down with my date and his friend and the waitress took our order. AN HOUR LATER, our food finally came. (I think they told them to make it take forever because of the scene I made.) At which point, there was 5 minutes until closing. They told us to hurry up and finish because at 3, we had to be out of the building, finished or not. Anyways, we hurried up and finished our food and as we asked for our check, one of the other employees came up to our table, looked at my service dog and said "I know not to F*** with you guys. How was your meal?". At which point, I chuckled and said, it's alright. Horrible treatment, cold and late food, and now we're being rushed out the door, but the food's alright." and then he went up to the bouncer, told him to leave us alone and to let us finish our meal in peace and other stuff that I could no longer hear.
As we were on our way out the door, the bouncer was still sitting there and rudely told us to have a nice night. (The kind of rude that he is forced to say those words, but he said it with the "I hate your guts" infliction with it.)
I'm not sure I'm going to go back there again. I'd say I visit there fairly frequently. I've been there 3 times in the last 2 months. The daytime bartenders know me and my dog by name and they love us. I've never been there at night before. After all that, I'm not sure if I want to go back. So I'm warning you guys. If you happen to be in Alton, Illinois, do not go to MACS. (Though they SHOULD know the law now.)
These are the marks from where he choked me with my leash.
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