Being new to the area, I've been visiting different farmers markets around Santa Clarita, and I was…read morereally excited when I found the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market. Out of the ones I've tried so far, this one had more of the variety I was personally looking for, and I enjoyed the overall atmosphere the first few times I went.
But the main reason I initially felt comfortable there was because during my first visit, I came with my service dog and the employee at the entrance properly asked the ADA-approved questions. She asked if my dog was a service dog and then asked what task she performs. I genuinely appreciated that so much, because most of the time people immediately say "we don't allow dogs" without asking, which can feel dismissive when you rely on a service animal. That first experience made me feel safe and respected, and it made me want to keep coming back.
Unfortunately, my most recent visit was very different. When I arrived, an employee immediately told me that dogs were not allowed, without first asking if my dog was a service animal. I politely asked if she could ask the two ADA questions, and the interaction became uncomfortable. She responded, "I did, I asked you what the task for your service dog was." I told her, "You didn't ask me if she was a service dog, you just told me dogs aren't allowed."
I then explained my dog's task and said, "If you don't mind, please review the ADA procedure for the two questions." She replied, "Oh my friend, we do follow ADA regulations." I told her, "No, you didn't. You assumed my dog was a pet and didn't ask if she was a service dog first." She said, "Most people are happy when we ask those questions," and I responded, "Yes, we are happy when you actually ask them."
I do believe she thought she had asked correctly, but she didn't, and the conversation kept going back and forth in front of other people, including a vendor nearby who was giving samples. I ended up getting emotional and crying, which was embarrassing, and I felt bad that the vendor had to witness the situation because he was just standing there doing his job.
I can see how this may seem like a small thing to some people, but for those of us who rely on real service dogs, these interactions matter a lot. We constantly feel like we have to justify our legitimacy, and it gets exhausting. I understand that staff have to deal with people bringing pets that are not service animals, and I respect that, but that's exactly why the correct ADA questions should always be asked before making assumptions. And there are ways that you can tell when a service dog is not a real service dog, which is information I would gladly give as I used to help train service animals.
Because of that experience, I left feeling really disappointed. It's unfortunate, because I truly liked this farmers market and the variety it offers, but after that interaction I don't feel comfortable going back. I do hope staff continue to review ADA guidelines so situations like this can be handled more professionally in the future.