Puffie Scott-Calhoun
38 mins
I'm sharing this in hopes that everyone will drive/walk the extra few minutes to a different store. Byers has not only discriminated against this man, but has since then been rude and not remorseful at all. I'll go as far as I need to in order to have this mans back. After all, he served for US!! #BoycottByers
SCREENSHOT, COPY AND PASTE, WHATEVER! GET THE WORD OUT!!!
Robert Timmons III writes:I am a 100% Disabled Veteran with a Service Dog. He goes everywhere with me. Before he was my service dog, I would not go anywhere. Because of the issues I struggle with, I have terrible anxiety attacks and never ventured far from home. Because of my service dog, I am able to go further and do much more than I have in over a decade. He has been a life saver for me in so many ways.
I was at Byers Stop & Go this afternoon and one of the managers told me I could not have my service dog in the store. It was the second time he has harassed me about being in the store with my service dog. The last time, I asked for the main manager and showed him a copy of the ADA Federal Law pertaining to service dogs and a copy of a letter stating that I am a 100% Disabled Veteran. He made a copy of the law and told me that he valued my business and that I was free to return. That was about a week and a half ago.
When I returned today, the other manager that had harassed me last time came out and said I could not be in the store with my service dog and I told him that my dog was allowed to go anywhere. I told him my service dog was protected by federal law and that he could go anywhere. Other customers stepped in and opined that my service dog was covered by federal law and that they could not legally discriminate against me. I told the manager that I would not leave and that I would finish my meal there. I told him that he doesn't have to like the law that protects my service dog, but he does have to abide by it. He disagreed and I told him to call the police if he didn't like it.
A police officer came by a little while later and talked to me. I explained everything to him and the purpose of my service dog, and explained the federal law regarding service dogs to him. He was aware of the law and agreed that there was nothing that could legally be done. At that time, one of the employees came and handed me a No Trespassing notice stating that I could no longer go into Byers Stop & Go because of my service dog. The officer called it in on his radio and discussed with the person on the other side that I was issued a No Trespass order and the officer said that he would not enforce it if I chose to return because the reasoning of the order was in conflict with the federal ADA law concerning my service dog.
After leaving the store, I showed the officer my letter from the VA stating that I am a 100% Disabled Veteran and I showed him the copy of the federal ADA law regarding service animals. He reassured me that he would not arrest me if I returned and said that Byers Stop & Go would still have the option of filing charges at the courthouse. He said he would love to witness that case and what the judge would say about them discriminating against a Disabled Veteran and his Service Dog.
What I would like to do is to educate everybody about service dogs. Service dogs come in all shapes and sizes. They don't just help blind people. They help disabled people with a wide range of issues from diabetes, seizures, mobility issues, PTSD, hearing impairments, mental disorders, etc. There are many issues that are "invisible", meaning that you can't tell what is wrong with a person simply by looking at them. If you think you can, I would strongly suggest that you pursue a career in the ER assessing triage for patients (note my sarcasm). I am including a copy of the American with Disabilities Act section regarding Service Dogs. It is Federal Law, meaning that businesses can't arbitrarily ignore it and make up their own rules.
There are more and more service dogs helping people with disabilities. We do not have service dogs because it is "fun". Trust me, it gets old when people constantly ask the same questions about why we have a service dog an what is wrong with us. I'd rather just zip through my day without people staring at me when I walk into a business. It is not all fun and games. But without my service dog, I would be back to where I was before, rarely venturing far from my home. My service dog has been a life-changer for me. We deserve the right to go about our day without being harassed or discriminated against. read more