HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WAL-MART OFFEND…?
Jonathan wrote on Sunday about the case of John Runza, a Wal-Mart employee who has Down Syndrome and suffers from irritable bowel syndrome and diabetes. This morning I found this story about Valerie Armour.
From the Mississauga News:
Until Wal-Mart goes to the dogs, Valerie Armour is taking her business elsewhere.
The 59-year-old Sheridan Park resident travels everywhere with her service dog, a four-legged friend that’s specially trained to assist a person who is physically or mentally challenged.
Despite the fact that most grocery and clothing stores have a no-dogs-allowed policy, Armour has always taken her eight-pound Shitzu into Costco, Dominion and other major chain stores. She and her dog have been welcomed with open arms – everywhere except Wal-Mart.
Armour says he carries medical documentation that details why she must keep the dog, named Mitzu, with her at all times. But Wal-Mart staffers at the South Common Mall store have told her twice she cannot enter the store with her dog.
Granted, in this case, the Wal-Mart manager apologized for the misunderstanding and promised that it wouldn’t happen again.
Until it did.
…Armour said, she encountered similar problems when she attended the store on Friday.
“It really isn’t worth the hassle,” she said. “I’ve been a good customer for many many years and if they won’t acknowledge my medical right to have this dog, then I won’t go there anymore.”
Clearly, this is not a typical case of a seeing-eye dog or other traditional helper animal, but it does present some interesting social questions.
Perhaps we should issue placards to hang around animals necks the way we do stickers for handicapped parking.
I have had trouble with our local WallyWorld now for years, regarding their lack of common courtesy to the disabled. other WM stores in our area have plenty of benches, both in the front of the store, as well as scattered through the shopping area. the scooters in other stores are well maintained, kept charged and ready, but 'our' store consistently has a line of out of order scooters, all of them shabby, dirty and in questionable working order even when charged. more than once i had one croak on me while shopping, and I have had to leave the store, dead cart left standing with the basket full of necesities. Because of this lack of maintainance, and lack of places to rest, I can no longer shop on my own, my husband has to go alone to do it. Even if WalMart could not afford to manage to keep scooters in repair, how much can it cost to place benches around in the shopping section of the store? Currently, the one closest to us has a few, at the front of the store, tucked away behind the magazine and book racks. To rest, one must walk all the way to the front of the store to do so. If one is hypoglycemic, this is potentially dangerous, because the stress of walking so far can worsen the situation. I have, of course, brought this to the attention of the home office, as well as the local store, and both have 'assured me that things will be taken care of', and that 'no one else has complained about the location of the benches, so they are fine where they are'…. yeah, right…wonder how they will respond when I pass out or get sick on my way to their benches, the next time I try to shop there. I am damn tired of trying to have a nice outing with my family, and being forced to sit it out on the benches at the front of the store because the scooters are all dead and I have no where to rest when I begin to feel sick.
Shalom SD,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to write a comment. Building our community is all about our conversations.
It sounds to me like it’s time to stop calling the home office and start organizing your friends for a sit-in.
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WAL-MART OFFEND…? Jonathan wrote on Sunday about the case of John Runza, a Wal-Mart employee who has Down Syndrome and suffers from irritable bowel syndrome and diabetes. This morning I found this story about Valerie Armour. Keep reading… digg_url=”http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=5075″; digg_skin = ‘compact’; [...]
Guess who’s playing the poor me card again… This time at a Deli!
Yup, Valerie Armour is at it again (Toronto Sun, August 26, 2008 Page 9)
Below is my letter to the Toronto Sun editor regarding the story
What has our society become? It is unbelievable what some people will try to get away with these days.
She found some quack doctor that signed off on a special needs animal because of panic attacks, but here’s the kicker… She suffers from “crippling panic attacks stemming from a 2003 car crash.” Then says “It was about 28 degrees that day, I wasn’t leaving my dog in the car.” Here’s the question… What happens if she has a panic attack while driving her car? You CANNOT claim special needs and then do something a “special needs” person shouldn’t be doing!
Not to mention the whole concept is ridiculous in the first place. A blind person needs a seeing eye dog and I can accept that in any store or shop. In my view THIS is not a legitimate reason to bring an animal into any premise that animals are not allowed, quack issued paperwork or not!
Whats next? I have a shopping disorder…. my credit card dog senses when I am spending to much, so I’m allowed… here’s my paperwork….
As for the OHRC I can only say…. in the words of Bill Engvall….
HERE’S YOUR SIGN!
I just noticed that in the Toronto Sun article it’s a 2003 car crash, In another article it says a 2006 car crash.
Shalom Dave,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to join the dialog by writing a comment. Building communities is all about the conversations.
A paraplegic drives with hand-operated brake and accelerator controls; Ms. Armour drives with her helper animal at her side.
The principle has been used for centuries. Horse trainers keep helper animals — often goats — in stables with high-strung thoroughbreds to keep the animals calm and from hurting themselves.
Nursing homes have found that keeping cats and well-trained dogs (often Golden Retrievers) around is beneficial to patients and relieves their anxieties.
I don’t know Ms. Armour’s physician or the kennel that trained her helper dog, but the principle is clearly illustrated.
B’shalom,
Jeff
As a retired adult case manager. I take my tiny toy poodle every where, except food places which would include our walmart. She would give my clients something to concentrate on when other problems arise, along with the fact that they just find her very comforting to hold onto, and she loves it too. I can’t imagine not being allowed to have my dog by my side or theirs. It can be like having a best friend with you, holding your hand, when your best friend isn’t always available like your dog is. Most people by nature are very curious and friendly about seeing dogs out and about and have enough of their own issues to worry about, that they normally don’t get offended with whether or not someone has legit paperwork. Most people are naturally very kind hearted and understanding.
Shalom Divabc,
First, thank you for stopping in, for reading and, most importantly, for taking the time to share your experience with us. Building a community is all about its conversations.
In Europe, I’ve been told by friends visiting there, companion animals are taken as a matter of course in all establishments.
We’re just a few decades behind is all.
B’shalom,
Jeff