tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47820746822034044322024-03-13T19:59:27.222-07:00RENEGADES SAVE OUR SERVICE ANIMALSRENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-75690722496396769632012-11-24T19:16:00.003-08:002012-12-09T00:08:41.472-08:00SERVICE DOG DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE IT IS A CHIWEENIE<br />
Written By: Renegades Save Our Service Animals Foundation<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwpMJ_g6tsU/UGcrHX86d1I/AAAAAAAAA-8/AdLy-LxYblo/s1600/228451_183072648408607_3025256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwpMJ_g6tsU/UGcrHX86d1I/AAAAAAAAA-8/AdLy-LxYblo/s400/228451_183072648408607_3025256_n.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi in the Mobility Scooter</span> </td></tr>
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On July 7, 2011, this beautiful, small Service Dog, was the subject of an incident that took place at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC). The reasoning behind the matter was that BAMBI is a Chiweenie and in accordance with the GBMC Hospital Head of Security, Mr Miles, small dogs are not Service Animals. Their contention is that only Guide Dogs are Service Animals. In addition, they protested that Bambi was allowed to socialize with both a Staff Member at GBMC and an elderly couple also waiting for Medical Transportation pickup.<br />
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ADA Law States:<br />
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<li style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(http://www.ada.gov/images/greybullet.jpg); margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000;">Beginning on March 15, 2011, only dogs are recognized as service animals under titles II and III of the ADA. (Exception: Miniature Horses)</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(http://www.ada.gov/images/greybullet.jpg); margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000;">A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.</span></li>
<li style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(http://www.ada.gov/images/greybullet.jpg); margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000;">Generally, title II and title III entities must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">At no point and time does it say that small dogs cannot be Service Animals. On the contrary, today many small dogs are being utilized as Medical Alert, Psychiatric Service Dogs, etc. Nor does the ADA Law state that people are not allowed, with proper consent from the Disabled Individual, to say hello to the Service Animal.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">ADA Law States:</span></span></div>
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<li style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style: square outside url(http://www.ada.gov/images/greybullet.jpg); margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000;">When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is he dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. <u>Staff CANNOT ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrates its ability to perform the work or task.</u></span></li>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UdzJBaFWJ1Y/UGd3jw-qhcI/AAAAAAAAA_U/prDYRsTCA3k/s1600/150835_148815405167665_8224200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UdzJBaFWJ1Y/UGd3jw-qhcI/AAAAAAAAA_U/prDYRsTCA3k/s400/150835_148815405167665_8224200_n.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi and UCH Staff</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><b>Service Animal Etiquette:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><b>When you meet a person with a service dog, please remember that the dog is working. Don't do anything to interrupt the service dog while it is performing its tasks</b>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Some Rules for Interacting with People with Service Dogs:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>1. Speak to the person first. Do not aim distracting or rude noises at the dog.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>2. Do not touch the service dog without asking for, and receiving, permission.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>3. Do not offer food to the service dog.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>4. Do not ask personal questions about the handler's disability, or otherwise intrude on his or her privacy.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b>5. Don't be offended if the handler does not wish to chat about the service dog.</b></span><br />
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<b>What if you don't like dogs or are afraid of dogs?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b>Place yourself away from the service dog. If you are a business person, discreetly arrange for someone else to wait on the person. You may ask the person to have the service dog lie down if it does not interfere with its work.</b></span><br />
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<b>What if the service dog barks, growls, or otherwise forgets its manners?</b><br />
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<span style="line-height: 30px;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b>Find out what happened before taking action. Was the service dog stepped on, poked, asleep and dreaming, performing its job (some alert their owners to oncoming seizures, diabetes, anxiety, PTSD, etc by barking and/or whinning and/or getting someone nearby or in authority for additional assistance)?</b></span></span><br />
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<b>What if other people complain about the dog being present?</b></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b>Explain that the service dog is medically necessary and that federal law protects the right of the person to be accompanied by the service dog in public places.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;">Again, at no point and time does it say that small dogs cannot be Service Animals. On the contrary, today many small dogs are being utilized as Medical Alert, Psychiatric Service Dogs, etc. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;">Nor does the ADA Law state that Service Dogs are not allowed, with proper consent from the Disabled Individual, to say hello to the Service Animal.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vOTKbUHoRc/UGd27oHpnNI/AAAAAAAAA_M/rf-TD9vYv0A/s1600/35461_147623581953514_809265_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0vOTKbUHoRc/UGd27oHpnNI/AAAAAAAAA_M/rf-TD9vYv0A/s400/35461_147623581953514_809265_n.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi and Dr Roy Phillips</span></td></tr>
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Now let us return to the event of July 7, 2011 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC):<br />
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This wonderful Service Canine, Bambi, and her Visually, Physically, and Neurologically Challenged Human Partner plus an associate assistant, went about, upon arrival via Medical Transportation, first to the Hospital Cafeteria for some very much needed Coffee. From there, Bambi (SD), her human partner, and the associate assistant who is also Disabled and in a Powerchair, proceeded to the Medical Office of the Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Dr Vivian Rismondo, where everyone, staff and patients, were so happy to see their precious little friend, Bambi.</div>
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After the appointment they returned to the Hospital Cafeteria as the Disabled SD Team Handler and her assistant associate were both thirsty. After purchasing two Root Beers, they headed back towards the Main Entrance of GBMC Hospital to await medical transportation pickup. A young woman, either an intern or a medical doctor as she was wearing the white coat, approached Bambi with such admiration and asked if she could pet her. Without hesitation, the Multi-Disabled Individual approved. The GBMC Staff Member bent down to stroke Bambi's head and even played with her for a while. When she left an elderly couple sitting right across also spoke fondly of Bambi and asked if they could pet her and again the response was yes. It was a wonderful moment for Bambi since she was able to interact with both Staff and Patients of the Hospital, which is very important as she is a Medical Alert Dog and needs to trust others in the event of an EMERGENCY with her human partner.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7iq13CdN5M/UGd51YzzWeI/AAAAAAAAA_k/UZ3e6pGBTjI/s1600/76834_144506915598514_7574686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7iq13CdN5M/UGd51YzzWeI/AAAAAAAAA_k/UZ3e6pGBTjI/s400/76834_144506915598514_7574686_n.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi and UCH Staff</span></td></tr>
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Some ten to fifthteen minutes later, a security guard (in uniform) of the Hospital approached and stated that "they" had informed him the Disabled Person could not be in the Hospital with the dog -- This very same security guard had seen the Service Dog Team earlier in the day and he too had said hello to Bambi -- Further, the security guard had seen the SD Team the week before and the month before that and even prior and never made any comment of "they had said" -- He was immediately informed that the dog was a Service Animal and was within legal rights to be there -- The security guard left and return shortly after indicating that "they" had made it known that if the Disabled Individual did not leave the Hospital with the dog they would call the police. The Visually, Physically, and Neurologically Challenged Individual, in a mobility scooter, with the Service Dog secured in the Basket, stated to the security guard that she was waiting for medical transportation to pick them up and Bambi was a Service Animal, therefore she would not be leaving the Hospital (GBMC) until transportation arrived. If he wanted she could call the police for them. Again the security guard left. During the process, the Multi-Disabled Handler went to the Administrative Office located just around the corner from the incident. Spoke with a lady with blonde hair about being harassed because of the Service Dog and the response was shocking "that is your problem". At this point, the Administration of the Hospital had the opportunity to resolve the matter in a manner that was not in violation of the Civil Rights of the SD Team and her associate assistant, but Administration refused to do so. What an unprofessional and degrading response that was for a supposed Medical Professional. Sad to say, the lack of appropriate intervention from the Administration led to further harassment and abuses that took place later.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MX1AePPZroM/UGd6BCtjTJI/AAAAAAAAA_s/vxFOBYviSOM/s1600/148325_144498488932690_7960224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MX1AePPZroM/UGd6BCtjTJI/AAAAAAAAA_s/vxFOBYviSOM/s400/148325_144498488932690_7960224_n.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi and UCH Staff</span></td></tr>
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The police did arrived and the SD Team plus the associate assistant were under the impression that their civil rights would now be under protection as in accordance with ADA Law. How wrong they were! Apparently, the Baltimore County Police were not there to even ask the Disabled Person in the mobility scooter with the Service Dog and/or the associate assistant (also in a powerchair and developmentally challenged) what the situation was. Instead, they approached the associate assistant and while he was attempting to explain that Bambi was a Service Animal, the police officer bent over him and screamed and yelled at the top of his lungs for the associate assistant "to shut the hell up and who the hell did he think he was." The police officer then attempted to overthrow the associate assistant from his powerchair. Yes, you read this right. The police officer then attempted to overthrow the associate assistant from his powerchair. Upon seeing that her assosciate assistant was about to be physically violated, the SD Team Handler in the mobility scooter moved closer to her associate assistant and the police officer and say to the officer "Don't you dare. Don't you dare even think of overthrowing my associate assistant from his powerchair or else you and the two other officers will be in some very serious legal problems and your actions are presently being recorded and taped by the cellphone and video camera on the mobility scooter". The police did back off from attempting to overthrow the associate assistant, which highly surprised both the associate assistant and the SD Team Handler. Bambi (SD) crouched even deeper in the basket in front of the mobility scooter completely traumatized by the Baltimore County Police and now has trust issues with persons in uniform. GEE, WONDER WHY? The associate assistant has not been able to sleep without nightmares since that day. To the dismay of an already disgusting situation, it did not end there.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsBAcTmHZQ/UGd6BjnFI0I/AAAAAAAAA_0/hAOyywwxKmc/s1600/148814_145852238797315_7264292_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsBAcTmHZQ/UGd6BjnFI0I/AAAAAAAAA_0/hAOyywwxKmc/s400/148814_145852238797315_7264292_n.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi and UCH Staff</span></td></tr>
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The police decided that now they would approach, harass, and threaten the Visually, Physically, and Neurologically Disabled Individual in the mobility scooter with the Service Dog, Bambi. They proceeded to yell in her face that she was a criminal, that she was trespassing on the Hospital grounds, and that her dog was not a Service Dog because there was no such thing as a small SD -- they said it was obvious that the dog was a pet because it was a small dog -- they yelled that if the SD Team and the associate assistant did not leave the Hospital they would be arrested for trespassing and other charges would also follow -- The Multi-Disabled Individual knowing that she was within her legal rights responded to the Baltimore county Police Officer, in a calm but firm manner, that she was not intimidated by his bullying, yelling and screaming, nor his uniform, nor his badge, nor his gun -- that it was them that were the criminals as they were violating the Civil Rights of both herself and her associate assistant while in uniform and with full knowledge that her and her associate assistant were well within their legal rights to be there, thus now they, the Baltimore county Police, themselves were committing a felony known as "color of law abuses" by police officers in uniform -- She went on to inform them that their attempt to overthrow her assistant associate, who was Multi-Disabled and Developmentally Challenged, from his powerchair was inhumane, immoral, and deplorable, that such actions were punishable by law and they would not get away with it as she was recording and videoing the entire event. That the cellphone was on and others were listening to their entire unprofessional and corrupt behavior -- She further stated that there would definitely be legal consequences for their actions as complaints and a lawsuit would be forthcoming -- Upon realizing that their violations of "color of law" was not making the Disabled Individual leave the Hospital until medical transportation arrived, they made a radio call for additional assistance on the matter -- That was a clue for both the Multi-Disabled Person, Bambi, and her associate assistant to seek refuge at the office of the Neuro-Ophthalmologist, Dr Vivian Rismondo, while awaiting their medical transportation. So they left for the Doctor's Office and let the medical transportation unit know exactly were they were and to please hurry as they were being harassed and threatened with arrest by the Baltimore County Police and the Hospital (GBMC) because the Service Dog was a Chiweenie. Medical Transportation arrived and safely took the SD Team and Associate Assistant home. However, continue to read as you will discover the horrors of this discriminatory event did not end here. Instead, the government agencies empowered to protect, investigate, and resolve such matters also participated in the abuses and violations.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi and UCH Staff</span> </td></tr>
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<b>Color of Law Abuses -- FBI Dfinition</b></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; text-align: left;"><b>US law enforcement officers and other officials like judges, prosecutors, and security guards are given tremendous power by local, state, and federal government agencies. This authority is utilized to enforce the law and ensure justice in our country. However, preventing abuse of this authority is equally necessary to the health of our nation's democracy. That is why it is a federal crime for anyone acting under "color of law" to willfully deprive or conspire to deprive a person of a right protected by the constitution or any US Law. "Color of Law Abuses" means that the person is using said authority to violate the rights of others.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating "Color of Law Abuses", which include acts carried out by government officials operating both within and beyond the limits of their lawful authority. Off-duty conduct may be covered if the </span>perpetrator<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> asserted his or her official status in some way.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbJvgPxL0qA/UGd6CxOXzNI/AAAAAAAABAE/P1OgZcdymtE/s1600/154927_144507068931832_3528198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YbJvgPxL0qA/UGd6CxOXzNI/AAAAAAAABAE/P1OgZcdymtE/s400/154927_144507068931832_3528198_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi, Vascular Surgeon and UCH Staff</span></td></tr>
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The very next day after speaking with the Baltimore County Police an Internal Affairs Investigation was commenced and an apology was issued by a Lt McCollumn that claimed he was the Director of Internal Affairs not only to the Disabled Individual, but also to Reverend Rainette Murphy Lopez of Renegades Save Our Service Animals, As it turns out, this Lt had misrepresented himself to both Reverend Rainette and the SD Team Handler. Since then, copies of the Internal Affairs Investigation have not been forthcoming, but the apologies have continued with the promise to retrain their police officers as to Service Animal Law. Fine and great, except this does not alleviate or erase the trauma caused by their actions: the associate assistant is unable to sleep properly due to nightmares of the incident; Bambi is afraid of individuals in police and security guard uniforms and loud noises, even after a year; and the Multi-Disabled Partner, who also suffers from PTSD, despite standing her ground for her rights and that of her Service Dog and her associate assistant, is also in fear of those in such uniforms as now it has become more than evident that the police will not always abide by the law, but instead violate it further.</div>
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As for the Hospital, Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), their response was extremely apologetic at first and with the promise to retrain their staff and security and generate new Service Animal polices for the Hospital Staff. Unfortunately, their Head of Security, Mr Miles, in a crude and vicious voice claimed he would without hesitation call the police each and every time that the SD Team Handler went to the Hospital with Bambi. He screamed and yelled (much like the Baltimore County Police did) over the phone that small dogs were not Service Animals and that she was a fraud, a disgrace, and a criminal. He called the Multi-Disabled Individual and her associate assistant "you people are always trying to get away with things" What exactly did Mr Miles mean by "you people"? Sounds a bit racist does it not? He said he knew what Service Dogs were and only Guide Dogs were Service Animals. He did not care what the ADA Law was, but for her never to show up with Bambi again or she would be arrested. This Miles said the same thing to Reverend Rainette Murphy Lopez from Renegades Save Our Service Animals.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGHu3uPz5VY/UGjeyjn_l3I/AAAAAAAABAc/zWy5KrY4rXI/s1600/156610_150708741644998_2748378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGHu3uPz5VY/UGjeyjn_l3I/AAAAAAAABAc/zWy5KrY4rXI/s400/156610_150708741644998_2748378_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Bambi and Hart to Heart Ambulance Service</span></td></tr>
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Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) was informed of their Head of Security, Mr Miles, threat to continue the abuses against the Multi-Disabled Woman, her Service Dog Bambi, and her associate assistant. They were advised of the possible irreparable damage done to the Service Dog, Bambi, and how it relates to and affects her being a Medical Service Dog to the fullest. They were told of the mental trauma they caused on the associate assistant who only wanted to inform them of the fact that Bambi was a Service Animal and what the ADA Laws were. That this was most unforgivable and immoral, especially when Administration was given the opportunity that very day (July 7, 2011) to stop the abuse. The Hospital issued a written apology and a determination that they indeed were at fault. However, as previously stated, fine and great, except this does not alleviate or erase the trauma caused by their actions: the associate assistant is unable to sleep properly due to nightmares of the incident; Bambi is afraid of individuals in police and security guard uniforms and loud noises, even after a year; and the Multi-Disabled Partner, who also suffers from PTSD, despite standing her ground for her rights and that of her Service Dog and her associate assistant, is also in fear of those in such uniforms as now it has become more than evident that the police will not always abide by the law, but instead violate it further.</div>
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However, if after reading this you realize and feel the tragedy of the event, then prepare for the next phase of the matter. On July 8, 2011, after speaking with both the Hospital Attorney, Ms Martenelli; the Head of Security, Mr Miles; and the Baltimore County Police Chief; the Maryland State Commission of Civil Rights was contacted and a request for a complaint against GBMC and the Baltimore County Police was in demand. The Disabled woman spoke with a representative named Valerie at intake who was not very understanding or caring of the matter and tried to dismiss it completely. After insistence the complaint was taken for the Hospital or so it was thought, but Valerie from the Maryland Commission of Civil Rights refused to do the one against the Baltimore County Police. Also refused was the complaint for the the SD Handler associate assistant as Valerie claimed that he was not the patient and his mental disability would intervene. Apparently, the abuses and violations against the SD Team and the associate assistant were just beginning, only this time it was being done by the Maryland State Commission of Civil Rights. After not hearing from the Commission for almost a month or so, they were called again and it was discovered that the original complaint had not been taken at all, not even the one for the Hospital. This Valerie had deliberately misrepresented that the complaint was taken. How Cruel! How inhumane of them! A call had to be placed to the Director's Office of the Maryland Commission of Civil Rights in order for at least one of the complaints to be actually processed. Unfortunately, this Valerie, after receiving a call from the Director's Office still refused to take a complaint against the Baltimore County Police and to take complaints from the associate assistant. In the end and after many months of back and forth and the involvement of an understanding and caring Attorney, Chris Marts of Bel Air, Maryland, the complaints against the Baltimore County Police and the associate assistant complaints against both the Hospital (GBMC) and the Baltimore County Police were finally processed. Again, had it not been for an understanding and caring Attorney, Chris Marts, the rights of the Disabled Individual, Bambi, and the associate assistant, would have been further violated. However, once again, it does not conclude there at all. The matter moves forward with greater disturbance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi and Dr John Prodoehl</span></td></tr>
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On Sept 28, 2012, a representative, Willie Owens, of the Maryland State Commission of Civil Rights after supposedly being lost in the neighborhood, finally arrived to the home scheduled interview with both the Multi-Disabled Woman in the mobility scooter with Service Dog, Bambi and associate assistant. As she stepped into the apartment, the very first words were she was late by two hours because her GPS brought her to another Pentwood Rd in Bel Air, Maryland. There is only one Pentwood Rd in Bel Air. There is a Pentwood Ct right next to Pentwood Rd. Doubt very much it takes two hours to cross the street. <b>Further she refused to enter the apartment unless Bambi was placed in another room as she was severely afraid of dogs. WOW! </b>In continuance and to the amazement of all, it appears that the Maryland State Commission of Civil Rights is not knowledgeable about the American With Disabilities Act pertaining to Service Animals or are pretending not to be informed. To the surprise of all, they are under the impression that one must provide proof that their Service Dog is indeed an SD via documentation and certification even though the ADA Law is very specific about such and states that it is a violation of Federal Law to request that; they are under the impression that one must provide proof of training, even though the ADA Law is very specific about such and states that it is a violation of Federal Law to request that; they are under the impression that Service Dogs are not allowed, even with the permission of the Disabled Owner, to socialize at all. There were so many questions that they themselves made that were in total violation of the ADA Law. They even asked what a Service Animal was. <b>How can anyone investigate a Civil Rights Violation, Discrimination, and Harassment Case if they do not know what a Service Animal is to begin with!</b> With all the information in respect to Service Animals on the Department of Justice website and via research on Google, how can Investigator Willie Owens for the Maryland Commission of Civil Rights approach a case without first enlightening herself as to the ADA Law and the subject matter of Service Animals. Her own questions during the interview were in direct violation of the Federal Law and quite racist as well. This investigator, Willie Owens, while a very personable individual to a point, asked if Bambi had the proper identification, certification, and training to be qualified as a Service Dog. If not, there was no case. She also requested to know if Bambi was properly identified so that everyone would automatically know that she was an SD. This is also in direct violation of the ADA Service Animal Law. <span style="color: #990000;"><u>Then she went on to say that it did not matter as she had already made up her mind on this case prior to coming to the apartment. She flatly and clearly stated that she was ruling against the SD Team Handler and her associate assistant on the grounds that the Disabled Person with the Service Dog had already seen her Doctor and therefore was not suppose to be in the Hospital. That the Service Dog, Bambi, had no documentation to prove it was a Service Dog.</u></span> This is most illegal for an Investigator (Willie Owens) to decide on a case WITHOUT properly investigating it. At no point, was it ever said that Bambi did not have documentation. She does and it was offered, but the Investigator (Willie Owens) refused to see the documentation just as she refused to see Bambi.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;">When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is he dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. </span><u style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 30px;">Staff CANNOT ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrates its ability to perform the work or task.</u></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi and her favorite person at UCH, Joe</span></td></tr>
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The violations did not end there either. The investigator, Willie Owens, continued repeating that Discrimination, Harassment, and Civil Rights Violations due to having a Service Animal might only be considered if the patient was denied medical services. That is just not true and thus lacks accuracy of law. While the SD Team Individual was able to attend to her appointment, this Multi-Disabled person was within her legal rights on the premises of the Hospital as she was awaiting for the arrival of her medical transportation in the exact same manner as there were others waiting for medical transportation and other services or simply resting for a moment. Waiting for medical transportation does not give any member of the Hospital Staff and/or the Baltimore County Police "carte blanche" to harass, discriminate, or violate the civil rights of a Disabled Individual in a mobility scooter with a Service Dog and/or the rights of the associate assistant. Discrimination is discrimination; harassment is harassment; and violating someone's civil rights is still violating someone's civil rights. </div>
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To say otherwise, would create a pandemic of abuses against the Disabled Community with Service Animals. As it is, there is already a growing trend for such discrimination and violations throughout the United States from Hospitals, Psychiatric Centers, Medical Offices, Medical Clinics, Counseling Centers, VA Hospitals, etc. Everyday these abuses and violations are featured in the news, internet, newspapers, and numerous courts throughout the country. If such is happening now, can one imagine when the medical field becomes aware that they can freely harass, discriminate, and violate the civil rights of the Disabled with Service Animals as long as they allow the person to attend their appointments. OMG! The thought of it alone is extremely frightening. So compelling is this matter, that it will force the Disabled Community with Service Animals back into their homes in hiding so as not be be harassed, discriminated against, and violated of their civil rights.</div>
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The most depressing point of this matter is that it will generate an epidemic of even further abuses from the business community as well. Places such as Walmarts, McDonalds, Wendy's, Movie Theaters, Museums, Aquariums, Parks, Zoos, Sears, JC Penny, Supermarkets, and/or all public places will soon follow suit as they will now have "carte blanche" to proceed with such disdain towards the Disabled Community and their Service Animals.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bambi attempting to re-trust people in uniform</span></td></tr>
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The Disabled Community and their Service Animals must unite so as to deter such harassment, violations, and abuses from not only the business and medical community, but also from non-disabled individuals who find it amusing that their pets or even themselves can cause harm via violations of their rights, mentally, verbally, and physically to a Service Animal and their SD Team Handler with and without associates assistants. The Disabled Community and their Service Animals must unite so as to ensure that those agencies entrusted to protect our rights are held accountable for their actions and do no further harm to the victims of such abuses by further violating them.</div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130;">THERE IS NOW AN UPDATE TO THIS HORRIFIC STORY -- UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT GOOD AT ALL -- THE BATTLE GOES ON AS NOW THE MARYLAND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION MUST BE BROUGHT TO FULL LEGAL JUSTICE FOR TOTAL VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WITH SERVICE ANIMALS</span><br />
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READ THE NEXT ARTICLE TITLED: MARYLAND COMMISSION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ITSELF VIOLATES CIVIL RIGHTS OF THOSE WITH SERVICE ANIMALS.</div>
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RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-25182499101744278422012-01-10T09:33:00.001-08:002012-01-10T09:33:53.104-08:00THE HOMELESS DISABLED WITH SERVICE DOGS<br />
<b>Written By: Renegades Foundation</b><br />
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<b>Homelessness is a growing dilemma in the United States. When we think of people becoming homeless we envisioned individuals who are addicted to drugs, addicted to alcohol, sex offenders unable to find work or place of residence, and other criminals in the same situation. Rarely do we even contemplate the growing number of individuals and families who have lost everything from layoffs, jobs ending, lack of employment, an economy failing, a country more interested in GREED, than its people. Rarely do we even imagine the huge population of homeless Disabled Individuals and Veterans with specialized equipment such as Wheelchairs, Powerchairs, Mobility Scooters and their Service Dogs. Rarely do we image the increasing homelessness being created by Landlords, Property Managers, Management Companies simply because they dislike a tenant fighting for their accessible rights, fighting for repairs, and fighting for other Landlord / Tenant issues. No, these images do not come to mind to the general population and is ignored by those in position to assist in either stopping the madness or in resolving it with positive solutions.</b></div>
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<b>Below are two stories about such a situation. The first story is about a Homeless Veteran with a Service Dog and how the System is further abusing him be disallowing entrance to a homeless shelter and all because he has a Service Dog. The second story is about two Multi-Disabled Individuals, one a Veteran with a Mobility Scooter and Service Dog, the other Physically and Mentally Challenged in a Powerchair and a Service Dog about to become Homeless because a Property Manager and its controlling Management Company is refusing to renew their lease out of spite as they have fought long and hard for the accessible modifications and accommodations they now have and were about to continue to receive from Habitat for Humanity.</b></div>
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<b>First Story Written By</b>: <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Susan Hutchison</b></span><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">According to an Asheville Citizen-Times article, Corey Bracken, 32, a Navy vet was involved with a dispute with the Veterans Restoration Quarters, an overnight shelter for homeless veterans. The shelter refused to admit Bracken in with his dog, offering to find a kennel instead. Bracken refused to be separated from his dog.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">"The VRQ can accommodate service animals that are properly registered, but having dogs at the shelter, located in a former motel off Tunnel Road, can be problematic because men initially are sharing a room with three or four other veterans," said Scott Rogers, executive director of the Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, which operates the VRQ.</span></span></b></span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the ACT article, Americans with Disabilities Act says service dogs are not required to carry registration papers. From the ADA FAQs “...such documentation generally may not be required as a condition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability." Facilities can exclude an animal when its behavior poses a “direct threat to the health and safety of others.”</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bracken, hurt his knee and back in a work accident while working in maintenance at a truck stop 17 months ago and has a card showing his dog is registered as a service dog with United Service Animal Registry. He says he showed this card to shelter staff, the VRQ disputes that version of events.</span></b></div>
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<b>Second Story Written By: Renegades Foundation</b></div>
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<b>This story is equally despicable as these two Multi-Disabled Individuals (ONE A VETERAN), with Power Driven Devices for ambulation and Service Dogs, still, at present, have a home, a meticulously clean and organized apartment. However, by the end of this very month they will be among the homeless. They will loose everything they owned...everything. The streets will become their new abode, where they will die. Why? Because their property manager has threatened them over and over again that if they complained about needing accessible accommodations and/or accessible modifications to anyone then property management would not renew their lease. These Disabled Persons needed an Accessible Sidewalk Crub Cut for their Powered Mobility Devices, they needed a mail box by their apartment door as the building mailboxes were not accessible to them, they needed a more accessible path from their patio to the sidewalk (70 to 90 feet worth of a path) so that during the snow, management would shovel back there and not keep them trap in the apartment during the winter months as in the past and during the rain the power driven devices would not sink into the grass, while trying to get to their medical transportation or to the Shopping Plaza across the street from the apartment complex. </b></div>
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<b>Well, the promise was kept by the property manager and upon learning that Habitat for Humanity had received funding and the now the actual paperwork process was to begin, requiring a lease renewal, she handed a letter to the Multi-Disabled Individuals which stated that the lease would not be renewed with no further explanation. When questioned, she became quiet hostile in her attitude and hung the phone up on them.</b></div>
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<b>At the end of January, two Individuals with multiple disabilities and power driven mobility devices and Service Dogs will join the ranks of the the Homeless with absolutely no place to turn and thus surely die in the streets nearby. They have informed Social Services who also turned them down for any assistance as they have power driven devices and Service Dogs and did not qualify for any help, not even a hotel/motel or shelter. They were told they were on their own. Yes, you heard me right...they were told they were on their own, NO HELP AVAILABLE for them.</b></div>
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</div>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-3263473040280803112012-01-03T14:47:00.000-08:002012-01-03T15:18:38.417-08:00TO THE NEW YEAR!!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Written By: Renegades Foundation</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, we have been through a great deal in the past year, which was like yesterday. We have a growing following on our FACEBOOK page (over 500 right now). We have advocated for numerous individuals with disabilities and their service animals. Have spoken with various Police Departments, Hospitals, Businesses, so as to educate them to the rights of the disabled community and their service dogs plus alternative service animals. Won on some points and lost on some others, BUT SAVE OUR SERVICE ANIMALS WAS THERE.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Now we are looking forward to the new year. We are excited about the immense possibilities and we hope that you will join us, because together we can make a difference in this world. Together we can right wrongs, together we can enlightened those who are unaware, together we can grow as the caring community we know we can be.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Again, Happy New Year and come join us at SAVE OUR SERVICE ANIMALS!</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-69816231762413074332011-07-22T17:14:00.000-07:002011-07-23T17:48:08.776-07:00Mc DONALD'S HAS SERVICE ANIMAL ISSUES<div style="color: #741b47;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNg3AnB0jkQ/Titp8T0PGvI/AAAAAAAAAyw/rcllwQnlrj8/s1600/RonaldMcDonald-arrested.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNg3AnB0jkQ/Titp8T0PGvI/AAAAAAAAAyw/rcllwQnlrj8/s400/RonaldMcDonald-arrested.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN THE INFORMATION AGE WITH CABLE, INTERNET, SATELLITE, MOBILE DEVICES, INTRANET, STORIES LIKE THESE CONTINUE TO SURFACE ON A DAILY BASIS -- THE TOPIC OF SERVICE ANIMALS / HELPER DOGS / ASSISTANCE ANIMALS / WORKING DOGS ARE INTRODUCED TO US IN SCHOOL, ON THE JOB, ON TELEVISION, ON THE INTERNET, ON THE RADIO, IN NEWSPAPERS -- YET, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISABLED WITH SERVICE ANIMALS IS A CONSTANT DILEMMA -- HERE ARE JUST TWO STORIES AT A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT SO WELL KNOWN TO ALL OF US, McDONALD'S -- WE ALL HAVE BEEN THERE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER -- SOMETIMES MANY TIMES -- EXCEPT NOW, IT IS JUST MORE THAN DISCRIMINATION, NOW YOU CAN GET SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR UTILIZING A SERVICE ANIMAL -- WHAT A CRYING SHAME -- WHAT ARE WE BECOMING -- WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE</b></div><b><br />
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<b>STORY ONE:<br />
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<center style="color: #990000;"><b>MOM PUNCHED AMID SERVICE DOG DISPUTE AT MCDONALD'S</b></center><b></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="postbyAuthor">By</span> <span class="postAuthor">Shaun Heasley</span></div><b> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jennifer Schwenker and </b><b>Tiffany Denise Allen</b></td></tr>
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When a Georgia mom took her twin boys with autism to McDonald’s, she probably never imagined she would be punched in the face. But that’s just what happened and it allegedly hinged on the boys’ service dog.<br />
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Earlier this month, Jennifer Schwenker took her sons out to lunch at McDonald’s where she was approached by a restaurant manager who indicated that the boys’ service dog could not be inside.<br />
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Schwenker explained that the dog was a service animal and was legally allowed in public places. However, that did not appease the manager, Tiffany Denise Allen, who surveillance video shows proceeded to follow the family around the restaurant.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2EYitiqWIg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.co...</a><img alt="" class="brImage" src="http://img1.meetupstatic.com/img/clear.gif" width="0" /></center><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tiffany Denise Allen, McDonald's Manager</b></td></tr>
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<b>When Schwenker lost track of one of her sons, she threw her drink and some splashed on Allen who ran after the mom and punched her.<br />
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Allen, who was off duty at the time of the incident, has been charged with battery assault and disorderly conduct. Owners of the McDonald’s location say she is no longer employed there...<br />
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STORY TWO:<br />
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<center style="color: #990000;"><b>DISABLED VET BEATEN BY MCDONALD'S EMPLOYEES</b></center><b><br />
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A disabled Iraq War veteran who relies on the assistance of a service dog claims he was beaten by employees at a McDonald's in Sunset Park after being repeatedly kicked out of the fast food joint for bringing his pooch.<br />
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Luis Montalvan — whose service dog Tuesday has helped him overcome physical tasks and "social fears" since suffering post traumatic stress disorder and wounds to his head, legs and spine in Iraq — claims that after being kicked out of the Fifth Avenue eatery last year for bringing the dog, he sent a letter to McDonald's informing the corporation it was violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. In response, McDonald's posted a sticker at the shop stating “Service Dogs Allowed."<br />
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But when Montalvan went back with the dog, he says workers threw him out again. So he tells the NYU publication Live Wire that he planned to send another letter including a photograph of the sticker, but when he arrived at the restaurant and pulled out a camera, he claims that men from the shop asked him why he was taking pictures, then punched him and hit him with garbage cans, leaving him with a neck injury.<br />
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"That is absolutely no way to treat a combat disabled veteran, let alone a disabled person," said Montalvan, who is suing the company for assault and battery, discrimination, and violating the statutes of the American's With Disabilities Act. For its part, McDonald's issued the following statement: "We take these matters seriously. It is McDonald's policy to permit service animals to accompany disabled persons into our restaurants."</b>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-28404617274816540792011-07-18T21:47:00.000-07:002011-07-18T21:47:49.108-07:00NICE TO MEET YOU...<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><cite id="captionCite">Story and photo compliments of <a href="http://www.vvdailypress.com/sections/article/gallery/?pic=1&id=21147">VV daily press.com</a></cite></b></span></div><cite id="captionCite"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STAFF PHOTO BY PETER DAY</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<b>NICE TO MEET YOU: Nicodemus the service rat meets Riley the service dog as owners Dani Moore, left, and Rainette Lopez supervise...</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u style="color: #990000;"><b>POSTING NOT YET COMPLETED -- THANK YOU </b></u></div><cite id="captionCite"><br />
</cite>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-53165245066159116302011-07-13T04:25:00.001-07:002011-07-13T04:25:25.495-07:00ABC NEWS ERRS ON STORY OF ROSIE, THE THERAPY DOG<b>This story was discovered on the internet and as it turns out ABC News has made a mistake in classifying the type of working dog that Rosie is. They have misinformed the general public by saying that Rosie is a Service Dog. While the story is beautiful and inspirational, Rosie is not a Service Dog. To demonstrate this we shall have you read the beginning phase of the story, and then, provide you with the legal definition of Service Animals, and Therapy Animals.</b><br />
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<center><b>Dog in New York Court Takes the Witness Stand</b></center><br />
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<b>By CHRISTINA NG</b><br />
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<b>It was a tense moment in a Poughkeepsie courtroom when a 15-year-old girl who had been the victim of sexual abuse for four years was asked to point out the man who had violated her. The girl seemed to freeze.<br />
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Then a furry snout and wet brown nose came up over the stand and nudged her arm. The girl's demeanor changed and she was able to point out the man in the courtroom and continue with her testimony. The man was found guilty and is facing 25 years to life in prison.<br />
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The snout that helped the girl overcome the difficult moment on June 13 belongs to Rose, affectionately called <i><span style="color: darkred;"><u>Rosie, an 11-year-old golden retriever service dog whose specialty is comforting people.</u></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: darkred;"><u>This is the first time in New York State that a service dog has sat on the witness stand during a trial.</u></span></i><br />
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"My heart was in my throat," said Sherry Cookinham the unit supervisor for the Children's Home in Poughkeepsie that has been helping the teenage girl. "I knew at that moment that Rosie was doing her job and the little girl was going to be okay."</b><br />
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<center><b>LEGAL DEFINITIONS</b></center><br />
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<b>What Is a Service Dog (Animal)?</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: darkblue;">According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990), a dog is considered a "service dog" if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." Also according to the ADA, a 'disability' is a "mental or physical condition which substantially limits a major life activity" such as:</span></b><br />
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<center><b><span style="color: darkblue;">• caring for one's self<br />
• performing manual tasks<br />
• walking<br />
• seeing<br />
• hearing<br />
• speaking<br />
• breathing<br />
• learning<br />
• working<br />
• disabilities that may not be visible</span></b></center><br />
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<b><span style="color: darkblue;">To be considered a service dog/animal, the dog/animal must be trained to perform tasks directly related to the person's disability.</span></b><br />
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<b>What Is a Therapy Dog (Animal)?</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: darkblue;">A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations, such as disaster areas.<br />
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Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily.<br />
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A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging animals; adults usually enjoy simply petting the dog. The dog might need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an individual's lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there. Many dogs contribute to the visiting experience by performing small tricks for their audience or by playing carefully structured games.</span></b><br />
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<b>What Rights Do These Dogs Have?</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: darkblue;">Therapy Dogs are not Assistance Dogs. Assistance dogs are used to assist humans and are allowed in most public areas. Assistance Dogs are legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, Therapy Dogs do not provide direct assistance to humans and are not mentioned in the Americans with Disabilities Act. An institution may invite or prohibit a therapy dog from entering their facilities and usually have rigorous requirements for therapy dogs who are allowed to enter.</span></b>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-72474368094027334202011-07-10T19:35:00.000-07:002011-07-10T22:24:39.334-07:00SERVICE ANIMAL EDUCATION<h3 class="post-title entry-title"></h3><div class="post-header"></div><div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"><b>By: Elizabeth Winchell</b></div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"><b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM4OV0QPEBL6l5_8usGtQ3ikuF8Enz3aNdexywIrMuefVHO6fG2oxuacT9eBEqeXTFUpjJWUNO8t1EerbXB3ByM3zdG2LBXvTi0RIdVweIm8sW4TCXvFGqKtZVNNaue8XlLyKpxYG4rlC/s1600/DSC_4427A.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM4OV0QPEBL6l5_8usGtQ3ikuF8Enz3aNdexywIrMuefVHO6fG2oxuacT9eBEqeXTFUpjJWUNO8t1EerbXB3ByM3zdG2LBXvTi0RIdVweIm8sW4TCXvFGqKtZVNNaue8XlLyKpxYG4rlC/s400/DSC_4427A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bambina Bambi (Service Dog)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"><b>I think the incident on July 7, 2011, at a Hospital in Towson, Maryland has teaching value, not naming any names, but just explaining that the handler of a service animal has the discretion to decide who pets a service animal and when. I think non-disabled people sometimes expect service animals to be more like robots than animals. Many of them don't understand that service animals will work in exchange for love. They don't know that the handler has the responsibility to decide when the animal goes on break, and during break time who can pet the animal or squeak the animal's squeaky toy. We put patches on our animals that say "please don't pet me," but if a doctor or nurse who treats the disabled person all the time develops some relationship with the service animal from being in the room together frequently, the handler has the right to decide the animal may have a reward at the end of the medical appointment, and that reward can be getting pets from the nurse. Letting a nurse pet a service animal does not change the fact that the animal in question is a service animal. I think this can be part of SOSA's education campaign. We can say if you see this in a hospital, you're still seeing a real service animal who is getting "good work" petting as a reward from the nurse.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGrTZEL5eqsGETeyBKhkpSBX_rA5JYbl37eBiCaphY81Ixvtay3CryxqLx2UBnx3_CFgA1jBYhAAMbIEM37ylG9ccjd-z6SLwUvwusVpT218L4bRXTLSCCQkBjDW59VUyzg8LaIpzocQ/s1600/DSC_4027A.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGrTZEL5eqsGETeyBKhkpSBX_rA5JYbl37eBiCaphY81Ixvtay3CryxqLx2UBnx3_CFgA1jBYhAAMbIEM37ylG9ccjd-z6SLwUvwusVpT218L4bRXTLSCCQkBjDW59VUyzg8LaIpzocQ/s400/DSC_4027A.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bambina Bambi (Service Dog) and George</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"><b>My Rheumatology nurse Barbara (now retired) used to see Sacha every two weeks, and at the end of the appointment, if he had been a good boy, she would get to pet him. She got very fond of Sacha and used to say she was Sacha's "Auntie Barbara." But the fact my nurse built a nice friendship with the service animal she saw every two weeks for my shot, does not make him a fake service animal. I think the uneducated person at the hospital did not know that a real service animal can sometimes get petted by hospital staff, if the animal's handler decides the petting is a reward for working well in the appointment.</b></div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"></div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"></div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"></div><div class="content" id="18083796f5ba4d528c85d383e1309256"></div></div>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-51262263557564318342011-07-02T11:58:00.000-07:002012-11-29T22:05:43.757-08:00Allergies & Alternative Service Animals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>By: Rainette Murphy</b> </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">EveryI hold firm to my original statement that an Alternative Service Animal takes importance over me. As a person, personally, I am deathly allergic to cats. I carry Epi-Pens since the age of 14. I have them all over my house and in each bag I carry. On a daily basis, I carry a cross body bag and a tote for all the items I need and at all times I am prepared for when I go into any type of allergic reactions including the deadliest one, Aliphatic Shock. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 14px;"><span style="cursor: pointer;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH000" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu</a></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH000" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">bmedhealth/PMH000</a></span></b></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>Everyone in my family, my friends, and anyone I travel with is trained by me as to how to use an Epi-pen should I come across something I'm allergic to. It is not brain surgery.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>In my humble opinion, people need to get over themselves and realize it is not all about them. There are times that others can and do come before their / our personal needs. </b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace;"><b>I did not co-found Save Our Service Animals without a lot of thought as to where this could go and what was being under taken. </b></span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Enough with the politically correct, laws to protect people who are just plan paranoid etc!</b><br />
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</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-40213526338363319892011-07-02T05:44:00.000-07:002011-07-02T06:21:57.952-07:00HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY<center><b>WE LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO WISH EVERYONE AND THEIR SERVICE ANIMALS AN ENJOYABLE AND SAFE FOURTH OF JULY</b></center><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xyftjW1794/Tg8ZmZwuqqI/AAAAAAAAAxc/jrpeZtABjOM/s1600/happy-independence-day.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xyftjW1794/Tg8ZmZwuqqI/AAAAAAAAAxc/jrpeZtABjOM/s400/happy-independence-day.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOVENSCryf0/Tg8ZXUs1BLI/AAAAAAAAAxU/hmeT-8X3_GA/s1600/FOURTH%2BOF%2BJULY%2BIMAGE%2B--%2B001.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOVENSCryf0/Tg8ZXUs1BLI/AAAAAAAAAxU/hmeT-8X3_GA/s400/FOURTH%2BOF%2BJULY%2BIMAGE%2B--%2B001.gif" width="325" /></a></div>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-16959631767756733342011-06-28T12:12:00.000-07:002011-07-10T19:23:30.730-07:00SERVICE ANIMALS AFFECTED BY NEW ADA LAW<h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;">By: Renegades Foundation</span></h1><h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;"> </span></h1><h1 class="headline">But what happens to Service Animals that are not Dogs or Miniature Horses and are presently assisting their Disabled Owners?</h1><h1 class="headline"> </h1><h1 class="headline" style="text-align: center;">Service Rat</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='350' height='300' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ylGltUhjXk4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;"> </span></h1><h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;">Redefining the Americans with Disabilities Act definition of "Service Animal" to mean only "dog" or "miniature horse" is an injustice, and a grave erosion of the civil rights of Disabled People. The new definition of Service Animals makes no provision for Disabled People who are allergic to dogs, or who need an alternative species, and as such is government-sponsored discrimination against many Disabled Americans. Reclassifying hundreds of existing monkeys, and other non-canine Service Animals as "pets" is unconscionable.</span></h1><h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;"> </span></h1><h1 class="headline"><span id="letter_trunc" style="font-size: large;"> </span></h1><h1 class="headline" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Service Snake</h1><h1 class="headline" style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='350' height='300' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELCS3HPnWQg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></h1><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We believe:</b></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That the new service animal law (recognizing only dogs as service animals) is unfair and too restrictive;</b></span></li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That there needs to be an alternative species of service animal for disabled people who are allergic to dogs, physically unable to care for or walk dogs, or just too afraid of dogs;</b></span></li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That war veterans using service cats for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other Anxiety Disorders must be allowed to continue using their service cats, and also civilians with PTSD or Anxiety;</b></span></li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>That service monkeys for paralyzed people deserve full legal protection as service animals in the event of emergency evacuation of their homes, and that the monkeys and their people must be allowed to remain together; and</b></span></li>
</ul><ul><li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That hearings on Capitol Hill would be appropriate so our legislators can hear testimony from disabled people who use service animals</span></span>.</b></li>
</ul><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELCS3HPnWQg"></a>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4782074682203404432.post-56140811931637914312011-06-27T20:01:00.000-07:002012-01-07T13:17:46.785-08:00NEW ADA SERVICE ANIMAL LAW <b>By: Renegades Foundation</b><br />
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<center><b> </b></center><center><b> CHI-CHI ZAPATA (SERVICE DOG)<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">"EDUCATION AND BEING INFORMED</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Is SOoooooo Important</span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></center><center><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></center><b></b><br />
<b>SIGNED JULY 2010, EFFECTIVE MARCH 15, 2011</b><br />
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<b>Service animal means 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. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler´s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal´s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.<br />
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Also, here is the public access rule update, please note that they are allowing the use of miniature horses while they have excluded all other animals with the exception, of course, of canines:<br />
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{A}. Add § 35.136 to read as follows:<br />
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§ 35.136 SERVICE ANIMALS<br />
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(a) General. Generally, a public entity shall modify its policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability.<br />
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(b) Exceptions. A public entity may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if--<br />
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(1) The animal is out of control and the animal´s handler does not take effective action to control it; or<br />
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(2) The animal is not housebroken.<br />
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(c) If an animal is properly excluded. If a public entity properly excludes a service animal under § 35.136(b), it shall give the individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the service, program, or activity without having the service animal on the premises.<br />
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(d) Animal under handler´s control. A service animal shall be under the control of its handler. A service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal´s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler´s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means).<br />
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(e) Care or supervision. A public entity is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal.<br />
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(f) Inquiries. A public entity shall not ask about the nature or extent of a person´s disability, but may make two inquiries to determine whether an animal qualifies as a service animal. A public entity may ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. A public entity shall not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal. Generally, a public entity may not make these inquiries about a service animal when it is readily apparent that an animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability (e.g., the dog is observed guiding an individual who is blind or has low vision, pulling a person´s wheelchair, or providing assistance with stability or balance to an individual with an observable mobility disability).<br />
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(g) Access to areas of a public entity. Individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of a public entity´s facilities where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go.<br />
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(h) Surcharges. A public entity shall not ask or require an individual with a disability to pay a surcharge, even if people accompanied by pets are required to pay fees, or to comply with other requirements generally not applicable to people without pets. If a public entity normally charges individuals for the damage they cause, an individual with a disability may be charged for damage caused by his or her service animal.<br />
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(i) Miniature horses. (A) A public entity shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.<br />
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{B} ASSESSMENT FACTORS<br />
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In determining whether reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures can be made to allow a miniature horse into a specific facility, a public entity shall consider--<br />
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(1) The type, size, and weight of the miniature horse and whether the facility can accommodate these features;<br />
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(2) Whether the handler has sufficient control of the miniature horse;<br />
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(3) Whether the miniature horse is housebroken; and<br />
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(4) Whether the miniature horse´s presence in a specific facility compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation.<br />
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{C} OTHER REQUIREMENTS<br />
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Paragraphs 35.136 (c) through (h) of this section, which apply to service animals, shall also apply to miniature horses.</b><br />
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<h1 class="headline">
But what happens to Service Animals that are not Dogs or Miniature Horses and are presently assisting their Disabled Owners?</h1>
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<a href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/ht_woman_rat_spasms_nt_110531_wg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PHOTO: One of Dani Moore's former service rats." border="0" height="224" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/ht_woman_rat_spasms_nt_110531_wg.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Photo Courtesy of Dani Moore</b></div>
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<b>One of Dani Moore's former service rats.</b></div>
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</h1>RENEGADES SOSA-LORM (formerly 1. Renegades Foundation / 2. Save Our Service Animals / 3. The Life of Riley Michelangelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10336240111904614341noreply@blogger.com