Author Topic: Starbucks denies disabled vet entry because of service dog. (Read 996 times)

powderman · « **on:** February 09, 2014, 10:42:27 AM »

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/09/disabled-us-veteran-denied-entry-to-starbucks-over-service-dog/

Disabled US veteran denied entry to Starbucks over service dog Published February 09, 2014 FoxNews.com

A disabled U.S. Army veteran says he was told he could not enter a Texas Starbucks because of his service dog.
Yancy Baer traveled to Houston from San Antonio on behalf of the national organization Canine Companions for Independence, which helped pair Baer with service dog Verbena after Baer’s left leg was amputated from the knee down due to bone cancer, KHOU reported.

The cancer was discovered after a non-combat injury Baer suffered while serving in Iraq in 2009.
Baer got Verbena about 14 weeks ago, and traveled to San Antonio to share his story on behalf of the nonprofit Canine Companions.
He tried to go into a Starbucks on Memorial Drive when he was stopped by a store employee.
“A gentleman from Starbucks meets me at the door and says I can’t have her [Verbena] in the store,” Baer told KHOU.
Baer said he explained that Verbena is his physical service dog.
“He stated, ‘you’re not blind’,” recalled Baer. “It was in your face, loud and bold. I got really nervous. I was shaking because I was being confronted.”

According to Baer, the employee continued to confront him in front of a store full of customers.
“I explained what all she does, and his next comment was, 'Why can’t you do that yourself,'” said Baer.
Baer said he was able to speak with another employee, who took the time to listen to him. The first employee who stopped him at the door later apologized, according to the station.
Baer told KHOU that he holds no hard feelings toward Starbucks, and hopes others learn that a person with a service dog doesn’t always have a disability that is immediately apparent. In Baer’s case, he was wearing long pants, so it was not clear he is an amputee.
Starbucks corporate spokeswoman Laurel Harper released the following statement to KHOU:

“Starbucks always welcomes service animals to our stores, and this customer’s experience is not consistent with the welcoming and friendly environment we strive to create for everyone. We have spoken with this customer to apologize for his experience, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve him again. We have also spoken with our store partner about this situation and used this as a coaching opportunity for the future.”
Click for the story from KHOU.

kennyd · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2014, 02:09:26 PM »

My old buddies wife has a service dog. At Walmart she was stopped at the door by an old man. She TOLD them about the law. So "a pimply faced kid kept sticking his head around the corner" wherever she went. I don't know if she made a official complaint.

powderman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2014, 03:01:21 PM »

When I worked at WM I saw a lot of service dogs, not one ever caused a problem. What irked me is the lil wannabes mommy or daddy carried around like a baby, no reason for them to be in the store, leave em home, they are NOT kids. POWDERMAN.

BBF · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2014, 06:12:58 PM »

This brings up a question.
What do you guys do when you have to have your dog along during either hot or very cold weather?

Dee · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2014, 02:59:31 AM »

Some of this "service dog" stuff to me is a load of crap. This guy lost a leg, so he needs a "service dog"? For what?
There's a woman in our church that has a "service dog" that she takes to rest homes, and schools. The dogs skill is: HE WILL LET YOU PET HIM!

THAT'S IT! It relieves stress in kids, and old folks. GIVE ME A BREAK!
She puts the little "service dog" vest on this mutt, and merrily goes to the grocery isle in Wallyworld, and into restaurants.
I am learning to hate the term "service dog", and I was a police K-9 trainer, handler, supervisor.
I don't want dog hair and dog slobber on my groceries, and my ONE SMALL HOUSE DOG, does not eat at the table, or beg at the table. As someone else has said: THEY AIN'T KIDS!
If its too hot, or too cold to leave'em in the car? LEAVE THEM AT HOME!

Whew! I feel better.

lakota · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2014, 03:05:44 AM »

I don't understand the problem with dogs coming into places like this. The dogs are better behaved and cleaner than most of the human patrons anyway, especially when we are talking about wal martians.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

nw_hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2014, 05:00:06 AM »

Quote from: Dee on February 10, 2014, 02:59:31 AM

Some of this "service dog" stuff to me is a load of crap. This guy lost a leg, so he needs a "service dog"? For what?
There's a woman in our church that has a "service dog" that she takes to rest homes, and schools. The dogs skill is: HE WILL LET YOU PET HIM! THAT'S IT! It relieves stress in kids, and old folks. GIVE ME A BREAK!
She puts the little "service dog" vest on this mutt, and merrily goes to the grocery isle in Wallyworld, and into restaurants.
I am learning to hate the term "service dog", and I was a police K-9 trainer, handler, supervisor.
I don't want dog hair and dog slobber on my groceries, and my ONE SMALL HOUSE DOG, does not eat at the table, or beg at the table. As someone else has said: THEY AIN'T KIDS!
If its too hot, or too cold to leave'em in the car? LEAVE THEM AT HOME!

Whew! I feel better.

You took the words right out of my mouth....+1
The only true service dog IMHO is a seeing eye dog. I see the same thing here with (esp) lil old Ladies, with their pets going into stores with nothing wrong with them.Just because this guy is a Vet most don't want to address the problem with this kind of thing.I've known several people who have lost a limb, and manage just fine without a dog.I wonder ! Just what is the service this dog does for him other than just being a pet?

Like you, I don't want to eat next to a slobbering, butt licking dog next to me.The girl will prob. lose her job for feeling the same way.

pastorp · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2014, 01:06:25 AM »

I've been thinking about this vets service dog, & what the dog provides to his owner. Obviously physically the Vet doses not need any help from his dog. But I wonder if the dog helps with the vets PTSD. Keeps him calm so he doesn't go off the deep end & shoot a bunch of folks or something crazy like that.

Any ideas?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2014, 01:30:02 AM »

Should we trust a dog to be able to keep someone from going off the deep end and shooting people ? I guess I differ from the touchy feely huggie crowd but I see dogs as conditioned to do service not deep thinkers.
I don't give my dog human traits and thus don't treat one like a human , child or otherwise. My dogs serve a purpose , mostly hunting with a bit of guard duty. My dogs seldom ride in the cab of my truck , like while eating or in stores I don't want to be covered with slaver , hair or what ever else falls off.
I have yet to see it too cold for one of my labs and I hunted in Canada during a blizzard . I get too cold long before they do. Jake my first lab , a very big male would not stay indoors. It would be 0 or colder and I would bring him indoors and 15 min later he wanted out. Vet said he would be fine , he lived for 15 years. During the hardest rain storms he would lay on his back and let the rain hit is stomach.
Heat on the other hand was hard on him. When dove hunting we had to stand near shade , keep water on hand and pace his work .

that said if there is a real need for a service dog that has been conditioned to serve so be it.

pastorp · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2014, 01:39:15 AM »

SA, I'm simply trying to understand the function of this service dog. I really don't see how it could compare to your hunting dog.... I know your a cut & dried kind of guy but somewhere in this story their must be a explanation. I'm not saying he should or should not have a service dog. I just would like to know how they justify giving him one.

Training and caring for service dogs is expensive. How can the agency justify the cost for this veterans needs?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2014, 01:53:15 AM »

Training and caring for a waterfowl or bird dog is expensive also. I think it does compare in some ways. Due to bad knees I would not be able to fetch my ducks when hunting over mud flats or in swamps etc. The dog allows me to hunt where I did in younger and healthier days. Of course society makes a distinction between pleasure and need but in reality the dog does not no what he is being conditioned for . The function of a service dog should be IMHO to either preform task that aid or protect his master. In the case noted it might be to help stead the guy when he walks etc.
Then again it might be like all the other special interest groups just trying to see how far they can force their way on others .

JonnyReb · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2014, 02:51:59 AM »

Quote from: BBF on February 09, 2014, 06:12:58 PM

This brings up a question.
What do you guys do when you have to have your dog along during either hot or very cold weather?

I either bring him in with me ( loves riding in the cart at lowes) or if i can't because of stupid dog laws, i always have 2 sets of keys and leave the truck idling with the a\c on. The little tacoma has 245,000 miles and probably 500+ hours of idling. Bought an HHR that lets me start the motor via the key fob and it idles merrily away too.

BBF · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2014, 04:58:32 AM »

Quote from: JonnyReb on February 12, 2014, 02:51:59 AM

Quote from: BBF on February 09, 2014, 06:12:58 PM
This brings up a question.
What do you guys do when you have to have your dog along during either hot or very cold weather?

I either bring him in with me ( loves riding in the cart at lowes) or if i can't because of stupid dog laws, i always have 2 sets of keys and leave the truck idling with the a\c on. The little tacoma has 245,000 miles and probably 500 hours of idling. Bought an HHR that lets me start the motor via the key fob and it idles merrily away too.

That is the only answer we found.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2014, 05:08:49 AM »

My dog traveled to Canada with me in the truck , 1900 miles each way. She had a crate in the back . So often we stopped and watered /exercised the dogs and us. At night if we stopped we exercised them for an hour and they slept in their crate. In most cases it was a 6 hr sleep. In the am they were let out fed etc.
I don't run to the store with my dog or leave one in a hot car.

BBF · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2014, 05:30:07 AM »

We don't always have a truck when we do go somewhere and leaving him in the back at minus 25 Deg C isn't an option neither is it at plus 30. So we run the A/C or the heater and hope nobody calls the cops on us because we left a car with a running engine.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2014, 05:51:06 AM »

Did I mention we slept in the cab ? And no we did not run the truck as in most cases it was a loud diesel.
In the back in a crate with bedding inside a camper shell it is always warm when we open it. But I admit it only got down around 0 .

JonnyReb · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2014, 06:26:27 AM »

Quote from: BBF on February 12, 2014, 05:30:07 AM

We don't always have a truck when we do go somewhere and leaving him in the back at minus 25 Deg C isn't an option neither is it at plus 30. So we run the A/C or the heater and hope nobody calls the cops on us because we left a car with a running engine.

I'm with you there, when its on the far end of the extremes i tend not to take a dog either, and as of lately also worry about a ticket when leaving the engine running for the dog. Have to say i also worry about the possibility of the motor stopping, has never ever happened but its possible of course, and i try to limit my time out of the vehicle as much as can.

Like you Shootall i've got a dog with many many thousands of miles under his paws. Hes done N.C to N.Y. 4 or 5 times, Florida, SC and Tennessee. Knows the deal outta town and works his way around rest stops, Waffle house parking lots and hotel rooms like any long distance traveller does. Also know and remembers the same places we stop and visit, wagging his tail and getting real excited at certain places, the pizza joint at the top of the I-81 Berryville VA exit ramp for one. I do the same.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2014, 10:16:06 AM »

Funny how they fall into a pattern .

Merle · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:48:47 AM »

This is just one more reason I refuse to enter Starbucks. Their coffee suck badly, so that makes it even easier!

FourBee · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2014, 12:36:46 PM »

"Dogs Welcome"

A man wrote a letter to a small hotel in a Midwest
town he planned to visit on his vacation.
He wrote: I would very much like to bring my dog
with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved.
Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my
room with me at night?"

An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:

SIR: "I've been operating this hotel for many years.
In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels,
bedclothes, silverware or steal pictures off the walls
or use them as a coloring book.

I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night
for being drunk and disorderly.
And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill.
Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel.
And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to
stay here, too."

JonnyReb · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2014, 09:11:02 PM »

Excellent FourBee

guzzijohn · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2014, 09:58:30 PM »

Quote from pastorp:
"I've been thinking about this vets service dog, & what the dog provides to his owner. Obviously physically the Vet doses not need any help from his dog. But I wonder if the dog helps with the vets PTSD. Keeps him calm so he doesn't go off the deep end & shoot a bunch of folks or something crazy like that.

Any ideas?"

Also consider that many vets are coming home with brain injuries. Many time brain injury leads to seizure activity. Some dogs have the ability to sense a seizure coming on before the person does. The dog is able to alert the person and give them time to sit down, lay down or whatever to prepare for it and reduce chances of injury.
GuzziJohn

Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2014, 01:03:53 AM »

So what does this guys dog actually do. My understanding here is he lost a leg to cancer, and his injury perse' was NOT, combat related.
ALSO! If all that standing between a guy shooting a bunch of people is a companion dog, I hope the dog doesn't chase a ball into the street.
I have two dogs, and trained, and worked police k9s but, I didn't eat with'em, or take'm shopping in food stores or into resturants, nor do I want to eat or grocery shop with anyone else's mutt.
If the mgr doesn't handle it in either, the health officer will.

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #23 on:** February 17, 2014, 01:26:18 AM »

From the report, seems there was a lot of back and forth between Baer and the employee. That's why it made the news. When the employee told him he couldn't bring the dog in, Baer should have turned and left. I mean how bad did he want coffee? Why create a scene just because you think you're right? It sounds like Baer is all eat up with the service dog thing, enough he wants to push it in everyone's face. He should have been meek and left the premises. No gain for him in arguing, even if he was in the right. Just stupid trouble for no reason.

Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** February 17, 2014, 03:19:32 AM »

I agree. Just because he happens to be a vet doesn't say he's right. All three of my sons are vets and the love their dogs, but they don't try to push them on everyone else.