Posted on 12/15/2007 1:02:52 PM PST by RDTF
Agreed, but I believe Rush takes off the last two weeks of the year, every year.
Could it be that individual districts or managers made that decision to not have Christmas music playing or to not allow the Salvation Army bell ringers out front?
First, this was not a professionally trained guide dog, the guy is “training” it himself which means the store has no idea if this dog might be mean, might bite another customer or cause damage to the premises. The dog is only 7 months old, too young to be a reliably and sufficiently trained.
Second, it might me but I can’t possibly understand how holding a dogs leash is going to “stabilize” someone
who might fall. Seems to me he is in greater danger of the the dog pulling him down. If they guy had a handle, as opposed to a leash, I might understand it, but he didn’t.
The guy said he was “training the dog” on the escalator. Huh? Why is he using Dillard’s facilities to train his dog? Why didn’t he call ahead of time so Dillards employees could help accommodate him if that was his intention?
ADA allows dogs in training to be allowed in public places, but that training must be conducted by a licensed dog handler...this guy wasn’t. For all Dillards knew this was just some guy trying to circumvent their rules so he didn’t have to leave the dog in the car or tie him up outside.
If the dog bit someone in the store, Dillards would be sued by the victim for irresponsibly allowing an underage untrained dog and an unlicensed dog trainer into the store.
It reads - "In Texas, an assistance animal in training has the same rights as long as the trainer is an agent of an organization generally recognized by agencies involved in the rehabilitation of animals and their handlers."
This guy admits that he's training the dog on his own (which means he isn't protected by law), and judging by the fact that he forced the 7 month old pup onto an escalator, it doesn't seem like he is qualified to properly train a service dog.
Unfortunately, the facts sometimes get pushed aside in favor of a touchy-feely story.
If this veteran wants a properly trained service dog, there are plenty of organizations that can provide one for him, if he is eligible.
Mine too. It’s the Target stores who don’t allow the Salvation Army. Needless to say, they get practically none of my business. I had to go there a couple of months ago b/c a co-worker was registered there for baby gifts. Otherwise I wouldn’t have shopped there.
Did you see the pic of the dog? He’s a puppy. How the heck is a puppy going to “stabilize” an ex soldier (military police) who might be off balance? At the end of a leash no less?
This guys story smells to high heaven.
Yeah, I agree.
Bob thank you for your succinct recap of the article. There are many issues at play here...the first being the age of the dog; the fact the training was being done by the dog’s owner; and that the store was not notified that Service Dog training was going to be done (or even asked that such training could occur on their property).
With questions of the dog’s status weighed against safety of other store customers I can see how the Dillard’s store management would have to address the situation. It is unfortunate that cooler heads did not prevail, and that this escalated (no pun intended) to this level.
His prior military service is irrelevant to the case. Would it be OK with you if the guy was a lifelong civilian?
I hope not. That's BS.
Don’t guide dogs usually use a harnass (handle)?
All the ones I’ve seen. Ths guy claims he had the dog to steady him if he were to fall. How are you going to steady yourself with a LEASH?
Must be a pretty stiff leash.
But the interesting thing here is how everyone piled on Dillards without asking questions simply because the guy was a veteran. You won’t find a more veteran supporting site then FR but that shouldn’t blind people to when veterans do crappy things nor should the guy use it as a fig leaf to hide his own questionnable behavior.
That should be a travesty to all veterans.
BTW - All the puppies I’ve had pull you pretty good while on a leash...until they’re trained properly. IT seems to me a puppy on a leash would do more damage, not help, to a disabled owner.
him not going back is what the beautiful people want.
If you are not beautiful and perfect you have no place in our neighborhood. (see concept of badguy in Moonraker)
I agree. It amazes me that the furious commentary can be unleashed (again no pun) WITH OUT READING the accompaning article.
Everything isnt black or white...its uaually a variable shade of gray...’cept on the internet.
The problem is it’s the knee jerk reactions we should be trying to avoid. Only carefula analysis and objective reasoning will lead us to the correct conclusion.
“A mob is an ugly thing” and the mob on FR gets larger every day. Unquestioned support of a veteran, any veteran simply because they are a veteran, like patriotism, can be last refuge of a scoundrel.
The only other thing that I would add is even if Dillards was to cooperate with the guy, they couldn't do it two weeks before Christmas with the shopping crowds.
Any business is at the mercy of, not only the government, but the hyena packs that are sure that they know how to run that business better than the management does. Even if someone seriously disagrees with a law or regulation, they are not above beating you over the head with it, given the opportunity.
MM, I understand. I must also say that if people of good conscience don’t jump in when the situation dictates, FR will devolve further into a surreal substrate of roving bands of ideology thugs who attack like packs of hyenas at the first hint of non compliance with the group think.
FR used to be better, it can be that way again.
BTW - The best way to deconstruct an illogical argument is through logic, which unravels at the first sign of structure.
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