My service dog
I used to live in a small rural county about 40 miles northeast of Dallas, Texas. As far as I know, there are only two other service dogs in the county, both labs. My hearing and mobility assistance dog is a striking cream Standard Poodle named Amber that I trained. I have had Poodles since I was four years old. Amber’s predecessor earned her companion dog excellent title and could have earned far more had my health not worsened. I have a doctorate in psychology and joke that the only thing I use it for is to train my dogs.
Why do I use a service dog? I have a constellation of respiratory and neurological problems, but the one that causes the most issues is a Pakinsonian syndrome resulting in balance problems, muscle spasms, frequent falls, fatigue, pain, and the inability to walk far, especially over uneven ground. When I fall, which is often, if there is nothing to rest my hand on for balance, I cannot get up. I am rather like a turtle flipped on its back.
In addition, Something attacked the software in my brain that processes sound. I do not hear many sounds at all. If someone speaks to me, I often hear a garble of noise. Consequently, I do a lot of lip reading and my phones are amplified.
Amber’s Duties
Amber is trained to stay with me at all times when I am not in the house. Inside the house, she stays where she can see and hear me but is not necessarily right at my feet. My pet dog, an Australian Cattle Dog, stays at my feet at home. When I fall, Amber comes and stands in front of me. I tell her “brace” and then rest my hand on her back for balance. She remains still until I am standing and stable again. I do not put weight on her back, but do need to hold on for balance.
Amber is trained to specifically alert me to someone turning into our driveway, walking up to the house, the microwave timer going off, the oven timer going off, the alarm clock going off, and any strange noises that occur in the house. When we are outside of the house, she alerts me to someone calling my name, coming up behind me, a car getting near me, and any other strange sound. Her alerts are unobtrusive. At home, she will catch my eye or nudge me and then walk to the sound. Other places she nudges me to get my attention, then looks toward the sound. When I am seated, she usually lays so she faces the other direction from me, to guard my back.
Ratted out by a Dog
In addition to the alerts Amber is trained to give, she will fuss when I am tired or hungry. My feet start to drag when I am tired, and I fall more. My blood sugar will drop when I need to eat, and I get wobbly. I know that when she fusses, I need to sit down and look inward to see if I need to eat or I am getting too tired to continue my activities and need to rest. My friends have learned to watch Amber for cues that I need to stop and rest or eat. My dog rats me out every time!
Explaining my Service Dog
Living in a rural area is wonderful. It does mean, however, that you deal with people who are not as knowledgeable about the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Service Dog Access laws as most city folk. Most of the encounters we have had were brought to a friendly conclusion. I carry the Department of Justice FAQ for businesses with me and giving the business owner something from the DOJ helps a lot. Sometimes, though, that is not sufficient. In the three years I have been partnered with Amber, I have had five denial of access cases that took more work to solve. From these cases, I have learned some ways of dealing with people who either do not know about the ADA laws, or do not care.
Contact the District Office
If the manager on duty will not help, contact the corporate office. The assistant manager of Dollar General in Greenville tried to throw me out of the store. When I cited the law and refused to leave, she stomped off and actually threw things she was so mad. I filled out the compliant form on the website, and soon got a call from the district manager. Not only did he straighten out the personnel at that store, I have not had trouble in any of the Dollar General stores in Hunt County.
Contact the Corporate Lawyer
Sometimes the corporate lawyer is your friend. I used to go to a Mexican restaurant in Greenville a lot called Ta Molly’s. Amber and I had been many times, but one time the assistant manager very worriedly told us the health inspector would shut him down if she saw us. We assured him that it was the law that a service dog was allowed. However, the next time we went, a police officer stopped us as we were leaving and sternly wanted to know why the dog was there. My friend slunk off to get the car while I told the officer why Amber was a service dog, and that I was sure he knew the ADA well enough to know we had a right to be there. I called the restaurant later that day and got the number for their corporate office. When I called, I explained the problem and asked to speak to their lawyer. He was horrified, knew exactly which manager it was, and spread the word that we belonged there. I have not had any further problems.
People who should know better
You will run into people who should know the law but do not. Educate not only them, but present it to their superiors as a training issue. The Director of Security challenged me at the Dallas Museum of Art. He did so after my friend and I had been through the King Tut exhibit, eaten at the café, and then talked to the main desk with a question. Only when we went to the permanent collection did someone on staff summon him. This man had obviously had some training, because he asked if Amber was a working dog and if she was working. But then he demanded her papers, and tried to convince me she would damage his artifacts. Since the museum was full of children who were running, screaming, and touching things, I was not impressed. I told him I could guarantee my dog was better behaved than any child in his museum. I also wrote to the Director of Public Relations when I got home. She replied and said that all security staff would be required to attend a refresher course on the ADA and service dog access laws.
Sometimes it is not about You
A maintenance supervisor tried to throw me out of the county building where I volunteer as a master gardener. I had been doing that for five or six years, and Amber had been with me for two. It turned out he was in a turf war with someone in the building and was trying to prove he could control access to it. His boss and the County Judge both apologized, and assured me that I can go in any county building without a problem.
The Department of Justice Can Help
Finally, sometimes you have to throw up your hands and complain to the Department of Justice. One restaurant, Molina’s, added a new branch in Greenville. I had eaten at the Commerce branch, so tried to go to the Greenville branch. The manager refused to seat me, talk to me, look at the information on the law, or deal with me in any way. The owner refused to talk to me either. Currently, the DOJ is investigating them because they refused mediation and will not cooperate with the investigator.
Service Dog is Worth The Hassle
So why do I continue to use a service dog? Because Amber makes it possible for me to exist in the world without fear — fear that I will fall and not be able to get up, fear that someone will walk up behind me and grab me, fear I will miss some important sound and get hurt. Not being afraid is worth the hassle of people coming up when I am in a hurry, having to assert my rights with people who are ignorant of them, or any other inconvenience. Amber gives me the courage to try to be the person she thinks I am.
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