Wow, that is not good. I'm in the process of training my dog to use as a service dog. I have PTSD also. I can't take her everywhere with me yet but when I get home she is glued to me. Keep us up to date on what you find out...

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...

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

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.

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!

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.