KING OLLIE HOUSE of BULLDOG
Well-known member
I feel defeated. We had to go to Orlando to take care of some family business. We went up Weds. and got a hotel in Winter Park, the lovely step back in time 1920 Park Plaza Hotel. That's the only good part of this story.
I have a heavy cold. So anyway, we had some time to kill. I decided we should take the boat ride through the canals by Rollins College. We have Ollie, because hey, he's my Service Dog now. I am spending 1.5K on his specialized training. He has his vest. He is on a special leash that goes around my waist because I can''t use my hands. He wears saddle bags. It's all very ugly and very obvious. He has a letter from my doctor. I have versed myself in ADA FEDERAL laws.
So we stand in line to get tickets. Ollie is glued to my side as he ia trained to do. When I stop, he sits, as he is trained to do. We finally move up to ticket window. I kneel down and get in Ollie's bag to get my credit card. I stand up (people behind me) and say 2 tickets please."" The man says, "You can't take that dog." I point out the obvious, "He's my Service dog." The guy says, "Everybody says that. The owner says no dogs." I say, "I'm not those people. I don't have to do this, but do you want to see the letter I have from my doctor?" He says "No." He says, "what's wrong with you?' I say, "Under Federal Americans with Disabilities Law, I don't have to tell you that." anyway, to cut to the chase, instead of holding everyone up any longer, I said, "Tell your owner, I am filing a complaint with The Justice Department, ADA Compliance Division. He'll be hearing from them." Then he let us buy tickets. I really no longer even wanted to go on the damn boat, but it had become so much bigger than just a boat ride. After the boat ride, back at the hotel, I cried. What a Wuss.
The next day, we have to go to an Orange County government office. Everyone is behind glass with speaker things. This officious person behind the glass call us over and it's the same deal. I go through the same song and dance except I add, "you're a government entity, you of all people should be trained in ADA Compliance. I want to see your supervisor." She leaves, comes back and says, "The supervisor says you can have the dog." I lost it. I said, "NO! Federal law says I can have this dog, not your supervisor." I mean she came to a gun fight armed with a knife. Ollie and I sat down.
I don't want to be disabled. I'd rather be dead. I struggle every day. I can't dress myself, I'm having more and more trouble feeding myself. I only have the use of one finger. I can't pull down my own pants to take a pee. My husband is 82. He isn't going to live forever. I need this dog to fetch and carry for me. I should not have to beg or call attention to myself in public.
I wonder if part of the problem is because Ollie is a bulldog, shortish, chubbyish, smoosh faceish and doesnāt fit peopleās preconceived notion of like a Golden Retriever or Lab leading a sight impaired person. Not sure I fit peopleās preconceived notion of disabled, no wheelchair, no obvious disability until I try to use my arms or hands. Iām so proud of Ollie for breaking the stereotype of Service Dog.
Sometimes life is hard...
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I have a heavy cold. So anyway, we had some time to kill. I decided we should take the boat ride through the canals by Rollins College. We have Ollie, because hey, he's my Service Dog now. I am spending 1.5K on his specialized training. He has his vest. He is on a special leash that goes around my waist because I can''t use my hands. He wears saddle bags. It's all very ugly and very obvious. He has a letter from my doctor. I have versed myself in ADA FEDERAL laws.
So we stand in line to get tickets. Ollie is glued to my side as he ia trained to do. When I stop, he sits, as he is trained to do. We finally move up to ticket window. I kneel down and get in Ollie's bag to get my credit card. I stand up (people behind me) and say 2 tickets please."" The man says, "You can't take that dog." I point out the obvious, "He's my Service dog." The guy says, "Everybody says that. The owner says no dogs." I say, "I'm not those people. I don't have to do this, but do you want to see the letter I have from my doctor?" He says "No." He says, "what's wrong with you?' I say, "Under Federal Americans with Disabilities Law, I don't have to tell you that." anyway, to cut to the chase, instead of holding everyone up any longer, I said, "Tell your owner, I am filing a complaint with The Justice Department, ADA Compliance Division. He'll be hearing from them." Then he let us buy tickets. I really no longer even wanted to go on the damn boat, but it had become so much bigger than just a boat ride. After the boat ride, back at the hotel, I cried. What a Wuss.
The next day, we have to go to an Orange County government office. Everyone is behind glass with speaker things. This officious person behind the glass call us over and it's the same deal. I go through the same song and dance except I add, "you're a government entity, you of all people should be trained in ADA Compliance. I want to see your supervisor." She leaves, comes back and says, "The supervisor says you can have the dog." I lost it. I said, "NO! Federal law says I can have this dog, not your supervisor." I mean she came to a gun fight armed with a knife. Ollie and I sat down.
I don't want to be disabled. I'd rather be dead. I struggle every day. I can't dress myself, I'm having more and more trouble feeding myself. I only have the use of one finger. I can't pull down my own pants to take a pee. My husband is 82. He isn't going to live forever. I need this dog to fetch and carry for me. I should not have to beg or call attention to myself in public.
I wonder if part of the problem is because Ollie is a bulldog, shortish, chubbyish, smoosh faceish and doesnāt fit peopleās preconceived notion of like a Golden Retriever or Lab leading a sight impaired person. Not sure I fit peopleās preconceived notion of disabled, no wheelchair, no obvious disability until I try to use my arms or hands. Iām so proud of Ollie for breaking the stereotype of Service Dog.
Sometimes life is hard...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk