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.