Dismayed

Dismayed? Absolutely, when hostess at Oak Creek Brewery in Sedona strongly suggested that I was faking disability to bring in dog. She told us that a real service dog required an official vest, which is totally false and contrary to ADA. 


Dante  wears a perfectly obvious assistive walking harness with bright yellow/red badge. A vest would be rather awkward what with the handle, purse, pouch, key ring and other tack. Staying just within the letter of the law, the hostess did not directly ask, "Are you really 
handicapped?" but made it quite clear that she thought I was a fraud.


But we were seated without too much further unpleasantness, and I wanted to drop the matter. We were all hot (it is Arizona) and upset and we all wanted a good beer. After we placed our orders, I took off for the rest room as usual, with my dog, of course. 


Before I could emerge,  I was confronted IN THE RESTROOM by a person who might have been a manager, although she did not identify herself.  I felt she wanted to have me cornered and separated from husband, friends and other patrons, as she informed me of company policy. I refused to have the conversation in a restroom, and moved to reception area. There the ?manager ? proceeded to tell me that they had to enforce their policy because SO MANY people fake disability just to bring their dogs in. I tried to explain that their policy violated federal law and asked, "Are you going to listen to anything I say?"  She said "No."

At that point I left the Oak Creek Brewery in the Tlaquepaque shopping center in downtown Sedona, AZ.

The management of Oak Creek Brewery stayed just shy of violating the letter of the Americans with Disabilities Act, while making it abundantly clear that disabled persons with service animals are NOT WELCOME in their establishment. They repeatedly implied, without direct accusations, that I was faking disability.

I sincerely wonder how they would verify a "real" disability. Did they expect me to display leg braces beneath my clothing, reveal scars or bring a permission slip from a doctor?

I also wonder whether Oak Creek Brewery requires wheelchair users to prove disability, or if they only challenge those of us with service animals.


Do I have a legal case? Probably not. Our party was seated, I was not directly accused of fraud and no one demanded that I prove my disability or produce any documents certifying anything. They only implied and suggested, corralled and harassed, and made it very clear that my dog and I were not welcome. 
So I am hoping that the fools at Oak Creek Brewery make the mistake of pushing someone else too far - someone with a famous name, with lots of media savvy. 


And I am writing a lot of letters, articles and reviews. No one messes with my dog.