Department Of Justice Is Taking My Case Against Costco For Discrimination.

[Barberian]

Sorry, brain isn't working very well today. I hope this is readable. I've re-read it many times, and I know it doesn't flow well, but can't figure out how to say it better. :( I've edited it enough I think it works now.

Today I received a letter back from the Department of Justice in regards to being discriminated against and harassed by Costco employees (membership, large warehouse store chain). I was confronted and harassed about my service dog and refused entry with the dog by the membership checkers at the entrance twice, 7 days apart on two different visits. The DOJ agrees I was discriminated against and harassed by a few of their employees. Even though I complained to management on the first visit, Costco did not train their employees to prevent a second occurrence. On the first visit I I complained to the senior manager at the time.The manager said "I will make sure this doesn't happen again" or something to that effect. It happened my next visit 7 days later and it was even worse.

The preliminary investigation is done, now the case goes to mediation. I will be represented by the DOJ if I read the letter right. Generally if the DOJ gets involved, the plaintiff (me) wins. They won't take the case unless it's pretty solid.

I didn't want it to go this far, but I also don't like being walked on and treated like :poop:. I also don't want others who need service dogs to feel so overwhelmed when they just want to shop, or just to stay at home instead or leave the dog at home when they have a legitimate reason for having it in the first place. I'm overly anxious when I go shopping, not having my sd with me makes it exponentially worse.

 

[Sammyiam]

Good on you, more people need to know more about PTSD and what helps, it is people's ignorance that makes things a lot worse

 

[Joan]

Good for you!! I too have a service dog, but so far have not been denied entry anywhere. I am amazed by the ignorance and the questions that people ask. Thanks for taking a stand!

 

[shimmerz]

@Barberian, you post is very well written so please don't worry over that. I am excited for you that you have come this far! Getting so far with the DOJ is quite a victory! Think of all the people you have helped but bringing this issue up and keeping on it!

 

[Barberian]

If anybody is interested here is what I wrote about it in my trauma diary on Sept 14th 2013. It is a long read, I have OCD characteristics when it comes to writing.

[DLMURL]https://www.myptsd.com/c/posts/595853/[/DLMURL]

 

[Eedara]

People are extremely rude and down right mean sometimes about service dogs. Mine is a 2lb Chihuahua and sometimes people refuse to believe a dog so small (and cute) could be a service dog. I have an id card that looks like a drivers license which states my name, her name, her photo, and "Autism Service Dog" on it along with the laws pertaining to it being illegal to deny her access to any public area. Ever since i got that card its been a lot easier. I just show the card and people shut up. Before we got the card people bothered us incessantly and it really was stressful. Those idiots don't realize what life savers our dogs are. I hope you win, those people can be really hostile sometimes, it doesn't matter if you're polite or rude back, they make me feel bad from the first syllable they utter and often actually seem to enjoy doing so. Hope you show them what heartless morons they are.

 

[scout86]

Your writing looks just fine to me, in both places.

Good for you for following through with this! Obviously they learn rather slowly. This might get the point across. Good luck with the mediation.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I am so glad that you are standing up for the rights of service dog owners everywhere!

I think the common perception is that service dogs are only used for people who are blind, but this far from the truth. I know that in addition to PTSD sufferers, service dogs can be trained to alert someone when a seizure is about to happen, amongst other things. It is important for companies to train their employees about service dogs, especially since little foo-foo yippy-yap dogs are now the latest fashion accessory, and of course businesses are clamping down on those who bring non-service dogs into their stores. But, the flip side of this is that legitimate service dogs are being denied entrance as well.

Your case will likely have a chain-wide effect on Costco. Businesses hate this sort of negative press, and hopefully they will do everything in their power to change policy so that this doesn't happen again. I read part of your journal. It is unbelievable what happened. I love (sarcasm) how the one guy who was rude to you tried to throw it back on you for the likelihood of him losing his job....I am guessing that's why he continued to approach you after the fact? He had every opportunity to make things right, but instead decided to be a jerk because he assumed that you were lying about your service dog status and just wanted to bring a regular pet into the store.

If you could handle it, I'd say go to the press. The headline "Costco discriminates against veterans" would probably cost them millions. I'm not saying that you should do it for that desired effect, rather it would make companies country wide see that service dogs shouldn't be discriminated against! That is, it could cause major changes.

I realize you don't want to be a poster child for this cause, but know that you are making the world a better place for others with service dogs. You deserve much credit for this!

 

[aka]

Good for you @Barberian, Costco defiantly needs to train its employees about laws pertain to Service dogs. I do know that stores can ask a service dog handler certain questions by law but cannot ask for papers or certification since there is no national registry. Over the past year I have figured out that I cannot train a service dog for myself since I get so anxious in public. I have contacted a couple of programs which are willing to train a dog for me. My one "hang up" in say yes is I don't know if I can handle being harassed by the general public. I know that most people will just me curious but I really don't want to make my life harder. Thanks for doing your best to make a difference for other service dog handlers. :)