Employee Angry At Manager For Allowing A Service Dog Into The Store, Accuses Them Of Endangering Her Health

"She then went on a tangent saying how this wasn’t right "

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• April 25, 2023

Service dogs are specially trained dogs that assist individuals with disabilities in performing tasks they might otherwise have difficulty with. These dogs can be trained to perform a wide range of tasks, including guiding individuals who are visually impaired, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired, pulling wheelchairs, retrieving objects, and providing stability for individuals with mobility issues.

Service dogs are allowed access to public places, such as restaurants, stores, and public transportation, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means that businesses and organizations cannot discriminate against individuals with service dogs and must allow them to enter with their dogs.

As an assistant manager at a cell phone store, OP encountered a customer with a service animal. OP was aware of the store's no-pet policy but recalled that their district manager had allowed a dog in the store a month prior.

OP informed the allergic employee that they were unable to refuse service animals and that they were allowed in the same spaces as other guests. OP's rep then asked how long the animal would remain in the store, to which OP replied that they were finishing up soon.

However, the rep continued to express her displeasure, alleging that OP cared more about the sale than her well-being. OP offered to contact the district manager, but the rep insisted on doing it herself.

OP's DM later called and informed them that going forward, changes may need to be made. After this, the rep accused OP of not valuing her safety, to which OP replied that was not what was said.

The rep then insisted that that was what was meant, and OP ended the conversation.

OP asks:

As an assistant manager at a cell phone store, OP encountered a customer with a service animal. OP was aware of the store's no-pet policy but recalled that their district manager had allowed a dog in the store a month prior.

OP informed the allergic employee that they were unable to refuse service animals and that they were allowed in the same spaces as other guests.

OP's rep then asked how long the animal would remain in the store, to which OP replied that they were finishing up soon.

However, the rep continued to express her displeasure, alleging that OP cared more about the sale than her well-being.

Now OP asks if they did something wrong

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a-hole:

Someone looked it up:

This Redditor is also right - how can you work in public with a life-threatening allergy to dogs

Sounds like a good plan

"You cannot deny the entry of a service animal."

One Redditor with allergies says:

OP could have been fined if they refused them entry.

The employee does not get to dictate a customer with a service dog to be removed.

The bottom line is:

It's important to note that service dogs are not the same as emotional support animals or therapy dogs. Emotional support animals and therapy dogs provide comfort and support to their owners, but they are not trained to perform specific tasks and do not have the same access rights as service dogs.

Service dogs play a critical role in the lives of individuals with disabilities, providing them with independence and assistance in performing everyday tasks. Their access rights under the ADA help ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to participate in society fully.

Damjan