Walk Of Shame

We went to the Salvation Army, needing a bit of help until I get my check, and the following is what I typed to the Salvation Army’s “Contact Us” website :

I would first off like to say that my family and I are VERY grateful for the service you all provide. We did however have an incident with a person named Linda. My wife and I walked in as with everyone else in the line.

My wife has a disability with high anxiety so we had a service dog. She was holding the dog the entire time (She is 5 lbs rat terrier). When we eventually got up to the counter we were greeted by Linda. Linda promptly asked that the dog be removed. We stated to her that she is a service dog. She asked to see paperwork. A Service Dog is defined under Sec. 36.104 of the ADA as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. There is also NO REQUIREMENT to produce ANY documentation, nor is it necessary to ask what the impairment is. This is federal law as stated ANYWHERE online and in the ADA handbook. I tried to educate her of this federal law and she just states… “It’s because we have food back here.” If we go back to the ADA it states that – Another important goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act is to ensure that businesses and organizations, serving the public, allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks and zoos, etc. I then asked , in a very polite tone as I am all about customer service, where their home office is located or perhaps a phone number or address. She stated that the facility on Harvey and 4th street WAS the home office… which I found out later was incorrect.

I let it go because there was a line of people (who also didn’t have any issues with the dog, they all were loving on her).

So, in retrospect, Linda didn’t understand the law… and lied about that being the home office that I send my complaints to… not to mention she made my wife leave to sit in a broken AC car to swelter with her service animal that needed no such documentation.

Again I iterate that we appreciate the service that you provide very much, Linda and the other workers there should also be told about the ADA (American’s With Disabilities Act). This “walk of shame” my wife had to take was unconstitutional. The dog was wearing the harness, leash, and was being held the entire time.