JamesCurran wrote:
There's a big difference -- in this case, the police were called in, and they immediately corrected the situation. The system worked, everyone's happy.
And in the motel owner's defense, the veteran had no obvious injury, and clearly didn't need a "seeing-eye" dog, so it reasonable for them to be skeptical when he claims to be a veteran and needs to be with a dog (that was in the car at the time). It sounds just like a guy with a pet trying to get around the "no pets allowed" rule.
There's a big difference -- in this case, the poli... (
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Woaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!
Not all injuries are obvious! The number of veterans returning from combat with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries) has skyrocketed in the last several years. So has the number of veterans with double lower extremity amputations that have received prosthetic limbs. (Meaning they have lost all or part of their legs). While wearing long pants and a regular pair of sneakers or boots it can often be next to impossible that the individual has prosthetic limbs on. However it can be difficult for them to walk like they did before, and or move or accomplish certain task. Yes, this qualifies as a disability. Look up the definition if you question this. Yes, they could have a service dog and no you may never know they have a disability.
This old "You aren't blind so you aren't disabled..." way of thinking is BULLSHIT and needs to stop! NOW!. Just because the clerk or the manager didn't see the individuals disability does not mean they can obviously assume the person doesn't have one.
What they should have done is asked politely and with as little public fan fare as possible. "Is that a service dog?" and "Do you have a disability?" along with "Is the dog specifically trained to assist you?" because guess what, under the ADA laws those are the only three questions the business can ask!
Defending the clerk and the manager makes about as much sense as saying a dark skinned Hispanic person that was killed during the race riots of the 60's or 70's had it coming because they weren't obviously white.
Remember that veteran received his injuries serving this country and that includes the stupid ass individuals that treat him like shite because they are ignorant. I wouldn't have blamed him one bit if he would have drug the dumb clerk over the counter and beat the living hell out of her!
Next time you want to "defend" people like the clerk and the manager remember, you may end up encountering a vet with a service dog one day.
As to the "possible" misdemeanor charges, possible? POSSIBLE? are you freaking kidding me? The ADA laws are VERY SPECIFIC, ...any business that opens it doors to the general public must allow an individual with a service dog to enter, and or provide the same services... telling the veteran that he couldn't have a room because he had a service dog, ..."Service dog or whatever. Dog is dog," said motel owner Bina Patel.... is a clear violation of the ADA laws. If the local doughnut eaters and corrupt judges / prosecuting attorney won't get up and defend the veteran and punish the hotel owner and her staff then it's high time that the Department of Justice start stepping in and enforcing the federal law!
And NO, the system DIDN'T work, if it had the veteran wouldn't have been subjected to the treatment he was given. If the system had worked he would have been asked a few simple questions, answered them, and not have been told he couldn't have a room because of his service dog. Instead the system was so broke that the police had to do what the business owner should have done. Known the law, addressed the situation in an appropriate manor and acted correctly.
It's not unreasonable that the veteran did not take the dog in to begin with, the dog could have been in the vehicle resting, or getting some water. No service dogs are NOT on duty 24/7, they are given down time to relax and unwind by their handlers. Do you ask individuals that "claim" they are disabled because they have epileptic seizures "So you say you are disabled but I don't see you having a seizure right now, sure you aren't faking this?"
No you don't. So when somebody says they are a veteran and they require a service dog you do what you are supposed to, ask the 3 questions I stated earlier, and sit down and shut the hell up! You want to question the integrity of somebody that served? Then you go live in his shoes, go to a foreign country where the majority of the population wants to but a bullet in your head, get rocked by an IED or a RPG, suffer from injuries, come home, try and adjust to a life that is very different from one you used to have and have people treat you like a liar and a sneak and see how YOU like it.
///end rant.