Dear Editor
I recently went to Grocery Outlet in Oakdale with my service dog and my son to get some groceries and I was in the store literally no more than five minutes before we were asked to leave because dogs were not allowed. I explained that Ike (my service dog) was a registered service dog. I said that I had a card showing he’s a registered service dog and I was told that only seeing eye dogs were allowed. I tried to explain it’s the law to allow Ike in the store with me. Ike is a seizure alert service dog. I frequently have been having seizures, especially under stress.
I told the owner I would never shop there again, which this store is where I shop for my groceries, he laughed and said that’s fine. When I left the store there was a lady also leaving and she approached me and asked if she could ask me some questions on how to get a service dog and how to go about training one because her father has grand mal seizures. While we were talking the owner of the store came out and yelled at me saying how he didn’t appreciate me standing outside his store talking bad about him. I was never talking bad about him. I was informing the lady on how I went about getting Ike, because it took me almost a year of research until I finally was able to get a service dog and if I can help someone in their search to make it easier for them I am more than happy to.
I believe it was more than just Ike being a service dog in the store, it was because Ike is a Blue nose Pit Bull. I feel the store owner was being prejudiced against Ike because of his breed. He is 11 months old and the sweetest thing ever. When we’re out everyone loves him.
Discrimination against a disabled person is the worst thing anyone could do.
Sheri Medeiros and Ike