So I went to 7-11 tonight with Hakki my SD. Yes, he was wearing his service vest.
One of the night managers asked me "what service does he perform?" I told him he was a medical service dog.
Then he asked what type of medical service dog and I just looked at him and said "that is private"
He responds "well there are service dogs for the blind, the deaf, etc." I responded back "there are many different types of service dogs - google it on the internet" He responds that he is in animal services. So I am assuming he works animal control. He then asks me "are you sure he isn't a therapy dog?" I told him "NO, he is a service dog"
He left and the other clerk helped me so I asked him "does he not like dogs" The 2nd clerk said "oh no, he likes dogs - he is in animal services"
I responded back "well it is a private question and there are heppa laws to protect my privacy"
I was taken aback from the personal questions he was asking. People here on this forum know I have PTSD - that is fine but I live in a small town with maybe 4K people at the very most. I don't need my personal business going around town as I will feel that people will look at me and say "oh there is the crazy lady"
I guess it being a small town - the guy felt like he should know every dog in this area and he hasn't seen Hakki before. Well heck I just got him a month ago and this is the first time I took him to that store.
This is the very first time I have been questioned about Hakki. I don't know if I responded appropriately but I don't even tell my coworkers why I have him. I just tell him he is a medical dog. Some of my coworkers have questioned if I was training him to be a service dog as they all know how much I love, love, love dogs and care very much about the dogs on my postal route. Because I keep my personal medical information to myself they are a little bit surprised when I tell them "no, I am not training him. He has been professionally trained and he is for me"
My boss knows and the postmaster knows why I have him - that should be sufficient.
This entire episode took me by surprise and I am a little bit upset to say the least.
How better could I have handled the situation of being asked by a store manager?
One of the night managers asked me "what service does he perform?" I told him he was a medical service dog.
Then he asked what type of medical service dog and I just looked at him and said "that is private"
He responds "well there are service dogs for the blind, the deaf, etc." I responded back "there are many different types of service dogs - google it on the internet" He responds that he is in animal services. So I am assuming he works animal control. He then asks me "are you sure he isn't a therapy dog?" I told him "NO, he is a service dog"
He left and the other clerk helped me so I asked him "does he not like dogs" The 2nd clerk said "oh no, he likes dogs - he is in animal services"
I responded back "well it is a private question and there are heppa laws to protect my privacy"
I was taken aback from the personal questions he was asking. People here on this forum know I have PTSD - that is fine but I live in a small town with maybe 4K people at the very most. I don't need my personal business going around town as I will feel that people will look at me and say "oh there is the crazy lady"
I guess it being a small town - the guy felt like he should know every dog in this area and he hasn't seen Hakki before. Well heck I just got him a month ago and this is the first time I took him to that store.
This is the very first time I have been questioned about Hakki. I don't know if I responded appropriately but I don't even tell my coworkers why I have him. I just tell him he is a medical dog. Some of my coworkers have questioned if I was training him to be a service dog as they all know how much I love, love, love dogs and care very much about the dogs on my postal route. Because I keep my personal medical information to myself they are a little bit surprised when I tell them "no, I am not training him. He has been professionally trained and he is for me"
My boss knows and the postmaster knows why I have him - that should be sufficient.
This entire episode took me by surprise and I am a little bit upset to say the least.
How better could I have handled the situation of being asked by a store manager?