Vet denied service due to service animal

[gilesmt]

I called a few companies to get transportation from MCO to SOG, I was denied by three companies, two of them stated that it was due to the size of our party 6, and they did not have a vehical available for our size, which is 4 going to the hotel and 6 going back to the airport.

I believe it was due to having a service animal but at least they were nice about it and did not say so.

Another company sent an email stating they refuse service due to the service animal. In explaining the law to him he became threatening and stating he would sue me if I pushed the issue.

Here is a vet who went and served his country, became disabled and now can not get transportation offered to the public from a business because he has a service animal.


Someone sent me a private message that they knew of a company that would help us. Since I am visually impaired and my husband is deaf I would love to find a company, we had the same problem in Disneyland last Aug, but finally found a wonderful company that originally said no to us, but reread the law and then said yes, and I wrote a wonderful review of them on there web site. We would do the same to another company. If this person could write me again, evidentally I can not send PMs to anyone yet.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just pm'd you his information. I really hope that he's able to help!

Let me know if I can be of any help!

 

[gilesmt]

Thank you for the information.

This guy is threatening me and harrassing me so just to make sure I am not telling you anything he did not say. Here is word for word what I asked and what her respond with. My question for him was,

I had a few questions, first, we have a service animal, a well trained dog for the hearing impaired, is that any problem. Second on the way to hotel we are a family of 4, going back to the airport we are a family of 6, can we use a town car and then an SUV for a round trip??? Thank you for your help.


His response was,
Sorry, we unfortunatelly can not transport animals in our vehicles.

From there he went on and stated that he was not a business to the general public so did not have to follow laws. He then stated that he was not public transportation so did not have to follow laws. Both times I pointed out not just federal laws for ADA but Florida laws. He then pointed out calling me many names that he would deny me service because of my attitude. He then stated that he denied me service because he was saving every one with allergies from having to breath in dander from the dog, although he did not use those words. He then made references to Disboard and had a lot of bad to say about them. I have asked him to stop harrassing me.

I will make copy of any and all emails between this company and me, to show I was only a consumer trying to get my rights obviously from a company that does not care about the law.

Again I ask Vet and Disabled and any one who wishes to do business with law abiding businesses to boycott this company.

 

[bumbershoot]

Contact the BBB, just to get that info on their online records.

Maybe contact the ADA? I'm pretty sure every business needs to accommodate the law, and the law is that a service animal isn't an *animal*, it's a member of the family. Just like a member of the family, if it acts up and causes problems, it can be booted from a place, but you can't consider it an animal.

 

[msmayor]

Not excusing the attitude of the company rep at all, but have you considered any of these possibilities as to why you might need to adjust expectations:

* How big is the dog? If its anything larger than a lap dog, its doubtful that a towncar can safely transport four people AND a dog. My family of four has been in a towncar and I seriously doubt a dog would ever fit in the back seat with three other people safely.

* What restraints (if any) are necessary for a limo/taxi to transport a service animal? I honestly don't know if anything is required - I don't have nor do I know anyone with a service animal, but I HAVE driven with dogs in a car and sometimes they need to be restrained.

*Allowing for the fact that future passengers may indeed have allergies to pet dander, it may be reasonable to assume that some type of extra fee may be involved because once transporting the animal, the interior needs to be fully cleaned to get the pet hair out. Some dogs are notorious shedders.

Again, not defending the behavior or attitude at all...but genuinely curious about what accommodations can be required for a limo company in this type of situation.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been on Disney buses with service animals....in fact, there have even been dogs in training to be service animals for vets!!! The bus driver didn't even blink...just welcomed them on the bus.
To the best of my knowledge, service animals are allowed to go everywhere a human being can go...plain and simple.
Please let us know how things work out with the company you end up going with.

Oh, and Mike??? You oughta know better. Sorry to have to delete your post.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Here is a vet who went and served his country, became disabled and now can not get transportation offered to the public from a business because he has a service animal.

Why a person needs a service animal is irrelevant.

This query would probably get more answers if you posted it on the Disabilities Board.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Not excusing the attitude of the company rep at all, but have you considered any of these possibilities as to why you might need to adjust expectations:

* How big is the dog? If its anything larger than a lap dog, its doubtful that a towncar can safely transport four people AND a dog. My family of four has been in a towncar and I seriously doubt a dog would ever fit in the back seat with three other people safely.

* What restraints (if any) are necessary for a limo/taxi to transport a service animal? I honestly don't know if anything is required - I don't have nor do I know anyone with a service animal, but I HAVE driven with dogs in a car and sometimes they need to be restrained.

*Allowing for the fact that future passengers may indeed have allergies to pet dander, it may be reasonable to assume that some type of extra fee may be involved because once transporting the animal, the interior needs to be fully cleaned to get the pet hair out. Some dogs are notorious shedders.

Again, not defending the behavior or attitude at all...but genuinely curious about what accommodations can be required for a limo company in this type of situation.

Service animals are permitted to sit at the owner's feet per ADA law. No additional fees are permitted to be charged.

 

[Lewisc]

The OP wants a vehicle for 4 going but for 6 returning. It's really not a R/T if you want to reserve a different size vehicle in each direction. It's possible a towncar won't be big enough for 4 people with luggage. A dog means there will be limited floor space available for extra luggage. It might be a space issue.

Your points aren't valid.

The dog isn't required to be restrained.

Charging a cleaning fee, or refusing to accommodate a service animal due to potential allergy issues is illegal.

Not excusing the attitude of the company rep at all, but have you considered any of these possibilities as to why you might need to adjust expectations:

* How big is the dog? If its anything larger than a lap dog, its doubtful that a towncar can safely transport four people AND a dog. My family of four has been in a towncar and I seriously doubt a dog would ever fit in the back seat with three other people safely.

* What restraints (if any) are necessary for a limo/taxi to transport a service animal? I honestly don't know if anything is required - I don't have nor do I know anyone with a service animal, but I HAVE driven with dogs in a car and sometimes they need to be restrained.

*Allowing for the fact that future passengers may indeed have allergies to pet dander, it may be reasonable to assume that some type of extra fee may be involved because once transporting the animal, the interior needs to be fully cleaned to get the pet hair out. Some dogs are notorious shedders.

Again, not defending the behavior or attitude at all...but genuinely curious about what accommodations can be required for a limo company in this type of situation.

 

[Lewisc]

You might check with Mears. In addition to shuttle service they also offer towncar.

At a minimum file a complaint with the part of the MCO airport that permits ground transportation.

I'd like to know the name of the company. PM, if you don't want to post.

Being a Vet is not relevant. When I saw this thread I thought he meant a veterinarian refused to treat your animal. Made no sense.

Thank you for the information.

This guy is threatening me and harrassing me so just to make sure I am not telling you anything he did not say. Here is word for word what I asked and what her respond with. My question for him was,

I had a few questions, first, we have a service animal, a well trained dog for the hearing impaired, is that any problem. Second on the way to hotel we are a family of 4, going back to the airport we are a family of 6, can we use a town car and then an SUV for a round trip??? Thank you for your help.


His response was,
Sorry, we unfortunatelly can not transport animals in our vehicles.

From there he went on and stated that he was not a business to the general public so did not have to follow laws. He then stated that he was not public transportation so did not have to follow laws. Both times I pointed out not just federal laws for ADA but Florida laws. He then pointed out calling me many names that he would deny me service because of my attitude. He then stated that he denied me service because he was saving every one with allergies from having to breath in dander from the dog, although he did not use those words. He then made references to Disboard and had a lot of bad to say about them. I have asked him to stop harrassing me.

I will make copy of any and all emails between this company and me, to show I was only a consumer trying to get my rights obviously from a company that does not care about the law.

Again I ask Vet and Disabled and any one who wishes to do business with law abiding businesses to boycott this company.

 

[gilesmt]

Thank you everyone, I had a wonderful response from someone who refered me to a company that has no problem transporting a service animal. I will not name companies since I am not sure if any are allowed, but if so I would be happy to name the company.

As to the one wondering if I considered other things. Yes, I usually have a service animal myself, they are trained to sit on the floor of the car and we are trained to put them in a place and then where to put our feet. So his lab would be okay on the floor. My lab is real big but he is trained to roll up in a ball for a car ride. As for allergies, I realize that, and I realize it is a balance, but the law does not allow that as an excuse, as a matter of fact I am allergic, thank goodness not real bad so I have to take allergy bills, but to me the dog is so important that I have to do it. I do realize that it is a dilemma, since I have bad asthma and know perfume sets me off real bad, but that does not allow me to tell everyone in the world that they can use it, it is a dilemma as I say and we are trained to brush and groom the dogs often to cut down on dander for others sake.

Hope this comes across right, I am not saying there is no reason to not allow a service animal, there is, one who barks in a movie would be told to leave, also I have always in my training told not to bring one to the zoo, for all animal safety, and of course you are not allowed one on a roller coaster, although I think my lab would love it.

I just answering to hopefully educate you or others that may have the same questions and I am not trying in any way to be harsh about it, please do not take me that way. Im just in a little rush.

 

[msmayor]

The OP wants a vehicle for 4 going but for 6 returning. It's really not a R/T if you want to reserve a different size vehicle in each direction. It's possible a towncar won't be big enough for 4 people with luggage. A dog means there will be limited floor space available for extra luggage. It might be a space issue.

Your points aren't valid.

The dog isn't required to be restrained.

Charging a cleaning fee, or refusing to accommodate a service animal due to potential allergy issues is illegal.

Just for the record, because I don't want to be misunderstood...they weren't really "points" but things I thought 'might' have been an issue. I honestly didn't know as I have no experience with service dogs - just throwing things out there.

I appreciate the information gained.

 

[vicki_c]

That company - mention of them - is actually banned on the DIS. Don't know the reason, but they are. If you tried to type their name, it will be asterisked out by the filter.

 

[gilesmt]

That company - mention of them - is actually banned on the DIS. Don't know the reason, but they are. If you tried to type their name, it will be asterisked out by the filter.

Yes I realized he was banned, although you should see what he emailed me about this post when I mentioned that to him. Not only that, if you go to the other disney board, you will see that I had posted asking them for suggestions and all day long her posted the emails, with my address and everything on them on the post but he deleted out of the emails, all his negative comments to me.

I can see why he is banned, I am totally shocked that he is sponsered by the other board, but I also have an email from SOG that states they do not endorse him at all, but he wrote on the other board that they endorse him.

Anyway, I will be turning all my emails over to BBB and to an agency hopefully in Florida that can teach this man about privacy laws and emails and also about service animals.

Thank you all for your support, please boycott this company if at all possible and if I am allowed to say the other companies name I will, they have been great so far and look forward to letting you know how well it goes. Just so you know, they have no problem with a service animal because the private company's son has a service animal, which is a plus. I just wish I did not have this problem everytime we travel. Our state laws must be great because I have never been told no anywhere I go.

 

[mom2brooke76]

The company that I referred you to has been spoken of on here several times in the past, so there shouldn't be an issue. Did you get to speak with John? I had no idea that his son had a service animal.

 

[gilesmt]

No I did not talk to John, but someone did email me back and told me no problem, so all I am waiting for is everyone in the party to say yes, then I will set it up tomorrow. I am so happy that I have now found a company in FL that will allow service animals and one in CA, if anyone ever needs the names of either company please just let me know.

Just a brief history, in Aug we went to CA, we were told no to the service animal by several companies. We had gone before and used a towncar but they did not like the service animal and the man was quiet rude about it. So I challenged one company that gave me excuses, like allergies and such. He must have asked his lawyer because within a day he emailed me back and asked me to please try him and give him another chance. I did, and then I wrote a great review for him and his company, and he stated that he was happy that I challenged him to find the law and than gave him a chance to prove that I could be reasonable and use him and forgive him for his faults. I did and it worked out great.

My head spins at how many people just do not understand the law and still discriminate.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I just can't believe he threatened you. The way I see it, if this company had a vehicle that could accomodate the amount of humans but the dogs taking up room was the issue, you should have been offered 2 vehicles. Honestly you're probably better off just going with a different company but at the same time this company shouldn't be getting away with it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay...I've tried to be understanding and flexible here. BUT...it is my job here to uphold the board owners wishes. He makes the rules, I follow them and see to it that the rest of you do as well.
It is expressly against board guidelines to discuss a banned company. I'm not sure how many ways I have to put this. The vast majority of you know better..in fact have mentioned that guideline here. I'm just not sure why the discussion regarding a banned company has continued.
Perhaps the poster will keep us informed as to the results of her experience with the company name she has now been given. Other than that, there will be no further discussion.
Done.