Service Dog denied access at the Post Office
 

I've recently relocated to TX and was just denied access to the local post office with my service dog. They do have signs up that state 'guide dogs only'. Since this is a federal building and I haven't had my SD for very long I'm wondering if they really are allowed to get away with that and what I can do, if anything? I have severe PTSD and cannot leave my house without her. Before her I couldn't go anywhere alone. I find myself a bit dismayed at the thought of not being allowed to go get stamps or pick up packages sent by family....any ideas? I tried giving the postmaster the ADA handout, but she insisted it didn't apply to the post office...:confused:

This is outrageous!!!! Contact your congressman, your senator, the postmaster general and the local media and make the biggest stink you can.

I would also call the cops and ask them what the rules are. All service dogs should be permitted into any federal building. Is your service dog papered or did you train her yourself? Some states have strict rules regarding "what" is a service dog and make you prove it by showing a certificate. Please let us know what you find out.

Nope, after talking to trainers I found out a servcie dog was going to cost about $40,000 for my specific needs (mobility assist and medical assist), plus the waiting list for a dog that could handle the work was going to be at least two years or more. So I trained her myself, but had the advice from many other trainers to help, and of course she passed her CGC test. (Has nothing to do with service dog training other than it's a way to certify that she's good with other dogs and people.) Make no mistake, she's had hundreds of hours worth of training and does tasks that not even a human assistant can do (like alert me to a pending panic attack before I'm aware that I'm getting upset). The federal law allows people to train their own dogs (no certificates required) for this exact reason..who can afford $40,000 when they're disabled and on a fixed income?!

I thought federal law trumped state law with regards to access for disabled people. Isn't the post office a federal building? I sent emails out to the DOJ, and an advocacy agency in my area. I will let everyone know what I find. I will also call the police, but I bet even they won't know the law.

And to anyone even considering a servcie dog, I would ask if you really are prepared to be challenged or denied access every single day you go out in public until all of your 'regular' businesses are familiar with the law. It's frustrating, heartbreaking on days when you're not emotionally ready, and sometimes angering. I'd even go so far as to take a witness with you when entering a new building if you're in an area that seems to be completely unaware of the access laws, like my portion of TX. :D Not that it will help much, but they can keep you calmer and there is strength in numbers. Good luck to everyone that needs a service dog, and I don't mean to be discouraging about getting one, just prepare yourself in case your area hasn't done a good job with educating the businesses about the access laws!

Oh, and I forgot to say that you should check the access laws for your state. Many states have or are going to pass laws that allow you to take your SDIT (service dog in training) almost everywhere so that you can actually train him/her in public. Otherwise, it's a bit hard to expose them to elevators, (never use escalators, their pads can get pinched and will bleed), stairs, crowds, etc. Good luck training your dog!

Just got off the phone with the police. They admitted they have no clue what the access laws are, and apparently neither did the lady's sergeant, since she asked him at my request. They have no idea where I would go to for help on this, but suggested the 'postal police' and gave a phone number. I wasn't aware the postal service had it's own police. Who knew?! So, I'm off to go bang my head against another wall...

Two issues here?
 

First - the Post Office is FEDERAL property. Access cannot be denied, if you've a certified service dog. Call one of your US senators or your US reprepresentative. THIS type of issue is why they have staffs! Ask for the info you need to allow the dog access w/o any problems in the future.
Second - IF your dog was just only a leash, HOW is anyone gonna KNOW it's a service dog? Here is a site to help you:
http://www.servicedogsamerica.org/ce...ion/index.html And:
http://www.servicedogsamerica.org/faq.html
It's not a big site? But a 'jacket' or the like sure can squelch problems before they occur. They also have some very good links to other resources.
I'll bet tho? IF you have that post offices' postmaster's name, and the post offices' phone # when [go the the US post office web site and you should get names from there...] talking to your congressmen or senators [hey call 'em all!] that that ENTIRE post office staff will be very quickly educated to this aspect of the ADA act!
Yes, this all mite take some time and local phone calls or e-mails? But, I'll bet that you have NO problems in the future!
Do let us know what all happens, please. - j

Access in TX
 

Hi I live in TX. We have NO places that are allowed to refuse admittance. The post office as well. Whether it be SDIT or not. Look up Texas Statute title 8 chapter 21, section 121.005(a)
go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statu....000121.00.htm

Also check out titleIII section 4.2300 of the ADA.

Refusual of admitance is a violation of your civil rights as provided for they americans with disabilities.
ADA info line: 800-514-0301

Hope this helps.
Deb

First, the ADA does not apply to post offices, but the Rehab Act does. Second, in response to the poster that mentioned "certified service dogs", in the US, service dogs are not certified in the United States. No certification, identification, or registration is required.

I just had a problem at my local post office. I filed a complaint and the supervisor defended the employee and said, "Well, you said he isn't a guide dog". He isn't, he's a medical alert dog. He said, "Oh, was he leashed?" I replied that he was both leashed and harnessed and he replied, "As long as he was harnessed". WRONG AGAIN BUDDY! In the US, service dogs often do, but are not required to be harnessed. Mine is because he does mild mobility work, but it's not required.

What is required:

1) The handler has a life limiting disability
2) The dog does something to mitigate this disability
3) The dog is trained to behave properly in public!

I think I know this person.

A service dog may not be refused access at a post office period. If you have a problem all the GM of the facility and read him the riot act. It's amazing that in federal facilities federal employees don't know the law.

Yes, Jin, you know me.....

Harley says Hi!

How does the rehab act apply. I looked but I think I missed something. Why doesn't the ADA apply to post offices?

For grins and giggles, while at the PO today, there was a plaque on the wall dedicating the PO to "Richard Nixon and to all whom enter this public place". They also had the good old "seeing eye dogs" only decal on the door.
:rolleyes:

I'm not sure of all the dirty details, but the ADA doesn't apply to Federal buildings (PO, federal courts, IRS buildings, etc...) but the Rehab Act does....and they mirror each other. It's just one more way for the government to confuse the common man.

My husband and I each have our own service dog, home schooled since they were 10 weeks old, they are nearly 4 years old now. Chihuahua mixes for hearing alert and one is cross-trained to alert to hubby's highs and lows in blood sugar since he is a diabetic.

Since moving to Washington we have had very little trouble taking them anywhere. The dogs are often called by name when we go to Denny's. Wal-Mart and several other places. They are quite friendly and love kids, Munchie is a bit more reserved than her brother and is a Daddy's Girl, preferring to stay as close to him as possible. Bearbear, is a Mama's Boy and literally goes everywhere I do, he won't let me out of his sight. I don't hear sirens when I am driving and he alerts me to them. People come up behind me and on my right side and he lets me know they are there. If I need to use the rest room when we are out, he sits patiently till I finish and wash my hands..he likes to stand under the hand dryer and let it blow on him!!

I saw some small kids run up to a large standard poodle that was a service dog the other day and the dog tried to run from them, and in the process, almost knocked his owner over pulling on the leash!! Some dogs fear fast movements by them....I can snap open a trash bag by Bearbear and he looks at me as if to say, "you done yet?" He's never run in fear of anything, and he's never offered to bite, even with his leg severely broken in 4 places. He was a little trooper through the nearly 4 months of splints, surgeries, pins put in his leg and finally amputation. The leg was not to be saved.

I had problems in Arizona getting the dogs into places but not here!

Had same problem
 

Hi just happened to see this post I am usually in the MS forum. In addition to MS I have insulin dependent diabetes (& a few other things).

Just over 4 years ago I got a puppy; part Bichon Frise & Part Poodle. She was initially being trained for emotional support when then my diabetes got worse & I had to go on insulin. Because of the cognitive problems from the MS I do not always test as I should. Esperanza started training as a Diabetic Alert Dog. She has been specifially trained in these 2 areas but I have taught her mobility tasks as well. Despite her small size (12 lbs) if I am using my rollator walker in a store she guides me to the perimeters of the aisles where I am close to shelves to hold on to if I lose my balance; she prevents me from going off curbs when I do not realize there is no ramp & once I took a bad fall in the parking lot of my condo & Esperanza was able to bark & cause enough comotion to alert help. She has been in the finest restaurants, theaters, etc. (I could not get on stage to personally great Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary but Espy at my command went up to him & gave him lots of kisses - he was thrilled).

Then I moved to East Meadow here on Long Island & like you they HAD signs stating NO DOGS ALLOWED EXCEPT GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND. I was REFUSED SERVICE because I had Esperanza despite her wearing a vest & my having ID attached to my walker. I took the matter all the way to Washington where I learned that ALL POST OFFICES were instructed YEARS AGO to REMOVE THOSE SIGNS & REPLACE THEM WITH NEW SIGNAGE ALLOWING SERVICE DOGS AS WELL AS GUIDE DOGS. MANY like yours, the one in East Meadow & several more on Long Island FAILED TO COMPLY. I began a campaign to make them comply & have had many of the signs corrected.

The BEST (WORST) ONE was when I went to Social Services to get a new benefit card & was REFUSED ADMISSION because of Esperanza. I DID NOT argue with the police who man this Social Service office I just kept repeating the law. They shouted, screamed got within inches of my face & when I got a chance to walk away from them & get online an officer grabbed my walker & spun me around. Long story short when it was all over (well it is still not completely over) I was PHYSICALLY MANHANDLED by 2 officers & REFUSED ADMISSION by the police supervisor. He FINALLY let me in when I said I was planning on taking crimminal & civil action against the other 2 officers & if continued to prevent me from entering I could include him. He DID let me conduct my business but not before telling me that he DID NOT believe what I stated about the law was true but he was going to let me in while he checked it out. When I sent my complaint into the DA I INCLUDED a copy of the Federal Service Dog Laws PROVING I WAS RIGHT - still pending.

Largely from these 2 instances & from other minor ones as well as witnessing how many disabled people are unaware of their rights or afraid to stand up for them I am creating a non profit - EsperanzaEnterprises. This organization will promote Service Dog & Disability awareness as well as act as a "hub" for information for people with disabilities & there caregivers.

YOU NEED TO FIGHT THIS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF BUT FOR ALL THE DISABLED PEOPLE WITH SERVICE DOGS THAT COME AFTER YOU.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"

Good luck to you. Stay strong & REMEMBER even one small voice can move a might mountain.

I have heard strange things about changes this year: such as only guide dogs are allowed into federal buildings. I can't find any evidence of this. On March 15 2011, the ADA will be changed to only allow dogs and small horses to be considered service animals. Two years ago, I was denied entrance into a major post office in Colorado with my service dog. It started out with screamed "get that dog out of here", and went down hill from there because I resisted and stated the ADA laws. I got no help from anyone in any position in the Postal Service. So I went across the street to Congressman Salizar's office (who had previously helped me on V.A. issues). A few days later I got an extensive apology from the top Postal Service guy in Colorado. They also put-up a sign at the entrance which said: Service dogs welcome, pets not allowed. I had only a leash on my dog, which I trained myself. I had no real certification, registration, or special licensing. My dog then and my new dog is a medical alert dog warning me of Post-Concussive Syndrome onset (I also have P.T.S.D. and physical problems). I was a dog handler and trainer in the Army; I now use Adam Katz's wolf instinct methods: with astounding results. I was told by disability lawyers and Comet service dog trainers that A.D.A. laws apply to all places in the U.S., except in surgery rooms. I've had my dog staying in a VA hospital (3 days on the foot of my bed), getting a free seat on Amtrak for long trips, several hospital emergency rooms, etc. Yesterday I was denied entrance into an IRS building; that is, until a local TV station and police showed-up. Suddenly the security and IRS supervisors, who had been so loud and vicious to me before, came out smiling, asking me sweetly to come inside with my dog, and helped me get my forms in 5 minutes. I still reported them to the Feds & higher IRS officials. IN the past, I have found that the nasty lawbreakers of the ADA always lie about the events when confronted by superiors or police, so now I take a small tape recorder with me and turn in on when it looks like something is going to happen...it also helps me not to get so upset. Most places around here are very nice about service dogs; I wonder why it is often junior management at federal places who are so nasty.

I had a similar problem which I resolved by contacting my Congressman, John Salizar.

Now I see that federal buildings and properties are not covered by the A.D.A.; of course these federal places are also not covered by state laws; however, service dogs are strongly covered by Title 40, section 3101 of the U.S. Code.
This has very strong wording for the disabled person's rights with service dogs in federal buildings and on federal property.
The Rehab Act of 1978 seems stronger than the Rehab Act of 1973 in favor of the disabled person's with a service dog rights...and especially addresses the US Postal Service & its properties: check 504 (A) under this.......
Access rights are preserved under the General Services Administration Federal Management Regulations.
It is possible that the ADA does not apply to federal property because disabled people with service dogs are previously and better covered by these acts and regulations.

Postmaster General
 

Contact the Postmaster General. The old rule was Guide Dogs only, there is a new rule in effect that permits all service dogs. Many post offices around the country have not updated their policies, but they need to.

In my experieince and with recent laws passed the ADA enforces the ability of service animals be allowed in any public area, including restaurants. It is against ADA law to be asked for your animal to perform the duty, for you to divulge what your disability is and to what extent the animal assists you. Read the new news on the ADA website. Any animal can be a a service animal. Like the previous posts you and your animal were treated wrongly and there are huge penalties that can be sited to any business that breaks ADA law...