No Dogs Allowed: Discrimination Against People Who Use Service Dogs

[HawaiianPilyo]

I've experienced this first hand. A friend had called for a taxi and offered to drop off me and my Service Dog, as it was along the route to their destination. When the taxi arrived the driver flat out said "no" to allowing my service dog to enter his cab and stated to make a big scene about it. Long story short, another cab was called and the establishment where we were leaving, put the cab company on notice that they would be banned from doing business on the property.

[Purrpussful]

Why was this, and a similar, video changed so it can't be viewed on mobile devices? They need to be seen by MORE people, NOT FEWER!! : (

[TigerT003]

People need their dogs for many various reasons. People can't help whatever disability they have. You have to learn that everyone has their differences and if you can't handle that than get a different job or carry around a blanket for the dog... You could probably get a blanket from goodwill for very cheap if you are worried about the price... I use a service dog, and I am not blind, but I have friends who are and that was very offensive what you said...

[friday0408]

I am a cab driver, and a good number of people do not clean and maintain their dogs properly. I also have cloth seats which means no matter what I have to take extra care to clean my cab after a dog. No matter what I have to go clean my cab because the next person who rides might have an allergy. I didn't blind you, and I am not paying for you to inconvenience me.

[hmorr508]

@friday0408 That is possibly one of the worst things Ive ever heard -- "I didn't blind you, and I am not paying for you to inconvenience me." You should not discriminate against anyone and by someone having a service dog you are discriminating. Stop being so selfish, you have your sight therefore you are lucky. Who cares if you have to pay for a bit of cleaning, you should be thankful for your vision.

[dotmacis]

@friday0408 You are breaking the law, sir!!!! By the way, the vast majority of service dogs (my sister's, included) are groomed on a regular basis. It doesn't matter whether or not the next person has an allergy. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you can NOT refuse a service dog for ANY reason, unless you're the one with the severe allergy.

[friday0408]

@dotmacis So like so many people out there, you are more than happy to let me pay out of pocket for the extra cleaning cost, which might be in excess of the fare itself. You want me to be more than a servant, I should pay for the privilege of taking that fare. Next time you go to work make sure to pay your boss instead of them paying you.

[dotmacis]

@friday0408 Your profound ignorance is just amazing. I agree that a lot of dogs are not very well groomed, but one of the requirements of having a service dog is that they be groomed very regularly and if they get a bit of dog hair on the seat, so be it. You can NOT refuse service to a blind person travelling with a guide dog. That's their eyes. A few years ago, a taxi driver in Toronto put a guide dog in the trunk!!!! Guess who rightfully lost his job?

[TheBahaiGirl]

@friday0408 You're a terrible person. That dog (I'm assuming was a guide dog) is her EYES. I'm sorry... maybe next time she should try to not be blind... just to please you... What? Next are you going to ban humans from your taxi because we shed dead skin cells? Plus, we shed hair all the time!

You're a pathetic excuse for a human being.

[friday0408]

@TheBahaiGirl No I only kick dirty nasty people out of my cab. Do you want to sit on a cloth seat that smells badly, and in turn will rub into your clothing and make you smell bad? I keep a clean and well maintained car. I spend 12 hours a day in my cab, how would you like to work in a smelling nasty dirty workplace? You wouldn't.

[TheBahaiGirl]

@friday0408 I've never come across a service dog, guide dog or alert dog that was dirty, smelly or shedding profusely. Unfortunately you are just going to have to suck it up and DO YOUR JOB. Part of the job is to keep up on the car. If it sheds, use a lint roller... if it stinks, use a pet odor neutralizer. Very inexpensive. If anything, if I was in your dirty cab, it would be YOUR fault for not cleaning up after a customer. It's like food service, you have to clean up after your customer.

[friday0408]

@TheBahaiGirl Well I have come across dirty smelling dogs. Unlike a food service industry worker, they do not have to pay for the cleaning materials, they have the right to refuse service, and are not losing money by cleaning beyond the normal duties. At least you can admit that when someone else is dirty in my cab it becomes MY fault.

[friday0408]

@TheBahaiGirl That isn't fair to me, I can't teach the world how to bathe, or properly care for themselves and their animals. Since I can't do that, I merely don't let them infringe upon my right to a clean workplace.

[TheBahaiGirl]

@friday0408 I hope that one day you get discriminated against, so that you know how it feels. You're selfish and have no compassion. You probably just assume that the dog is dirty based on your inferior intellect... When it merely has the odor that any typical well cared for dog has.

You're a discrace. I'm so glad that I have never used a taxi in my life. Because people as low as you would deny me and my reduced allergy dog (She's part poodle making her allergy friendly)

[friday0408]

@TheBahaiGirl I love that all of you people that are attacking me all bring yourself low to insult me, and attack me in ways that aren't true. You say that I am not intelligent, yet I clearly make concise and coherent statements. You never address my main arguments and just present a touchy feely, "the world should be beautiful" case. Sorry but the world isn't and I was discriminated against for the same reason I do it. I have psoriasis. So when I shed it's illegal, but for the blind it's okay?

[dotmacis]

@friday0408 Your psoriasis isn't your eyes. It doesn't prevent you from seeing and getting around in the world. A gude dog IS a blind person's eyes. Nobody asks you to leave your eyes at home when you get into a vehicle. Why would you expect a blind person to do that?!?!

[ssj4goko4]

@dotmacis service dogs are exempt from no pets laws. i worked in a mall and we had a blind guy come in all the time with his dog. if someone did say why do you have a dog and was told it was a service animal that was the end of it.

[DiamondsFaith]

In my area they don't have street side pick up with cabs you have to call one & all they ask is you tell them you have the dog so they can send someone to get you that has no allergies or fears of dogs my dog is for balance & panic disorders so I know how well these dogs are needed & how important they are.

[dolphinwishes]

Great video- seems like it is primarily catering to people who need service dogs because they are blind...Just a reminder that service dogs can be used by people for many other reasons as well and come in many sizes. I think sometimes people forget this so I always try to put in a little reminder :)

[TwitterMouse91]

Ugh. This is so true. It's very hard to get a cab using a service dog.