# Walmart Staff Denying Service To Customers With Service Animals **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258 "2012-09-29T22:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/41 "2012-09-30T18:51:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > [MODERATING] > > Not in this forum. Stop discussing it, all of you. > > RickJay > Moderator My apologies for the smiley. My helper monkey is supposed to stop me from doing shit like that. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/42 "2012-09-30T21:54:14Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Only dogs are recognized at the Federal level. > [From here.](http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm) > > However, states can use a broader definition. Actually, the ADA does recognize service horses, and has a four-step checklist for buildings to determine access allowances. From the pertinent section: "Entities covered by the ADA\*\* must modify their policies to permit miniature horses\*\* where reasonable. " (emphasis added) From the [ADA webpage](http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm). (scroll to the bottom) (Manager of an ADA-compliant building who lives in hope of seeing a service horse there someday.) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/43 "2012-09-30T22:26:13Z")
I would just LOVE to see someone going into this Walmart with a service horse. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/44 "2012-09-30T23:55:28Z")
Thread title changed at OP’s suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/45 "2012-10-01T03:13:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Thread title changed at OP’s suggestion. Heh.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/46 "2012-10-01T04:19:08Z")
At a Safeway near “Dogpatch” in SF, people routinely come in with their pet dogs and lie about them being “service animals”. One even peed in the produce section while I watched. The dog, that is. So, yeah, there is a rather fuzzy definition of exactly what makes a “service animal”, but unless it’s rather obvious, i agree with the store. Even if it is Walmart. Too many liars. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/47 "2012-10-01T04:47:45Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > (Manager of an ADA-compliant building who lives in hope of seeing a service horse there someday.) I read that as “ADA-Complaint apartment” and my first thought was “Someone is _really_ going to hate their upstairs neighbor” ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/48 "2012-10-01T05:17:13Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I would just LOVE to see someone going into this Walmart with a service horse. I would just love to see a service horse in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/49 "2012-10-01T05:20:48Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I would just love to see a service horse in real life. They have one in Tijuana. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/50 "2012-10-01T07:41:39Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > They have one in Tijuana. And it’s surprisingly cheap – free if you’re willing to go on stage with it and put on a show. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/51 "2012-10-01T12:14:08Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I would just love to see a service horse in real life. In the mean time, if you can think of it, there’s [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4mene2tHA) of it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/52 "2012-10-01T14:00:49Z")
> [@misterW](#): > > It is on it’s way to the owner. And what’s the difference between a dog’s mouth and the hands of random Walmart shoppers? Unlike a dog’s mouth - and contrary to popular belief - the hands of most Walmart shoppers do not have regular contact with dogs’ anuses. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/53 "2012-10-01T14:02:22Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I would just LOVE to see someone going into this Walmart with a service horse. Greeter says “welcome to Walmart! Why the long face?” ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/54 "2012-10-01T14:16:49Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > One of the things that really bothered me was that I just love Golden Retrievers and it mad me so angry to imagine anyone mistreating one of those magnificent dogs - let alone some WM staff who are supposed to know better! It would indeed be disturbing - however there is no indication whatsoever that the animal itself was mistreated in any way. > [@](#): > > I wonder just what you all might think about Walmart behaving this way and what it is that we can do about it. I am afraid that just boycotting Walmart may not help very much since there are so few of us compared to the total number of WM customers. It seems to me that they just might not ever get the message that sales are down owing to this story. > > Does anyone have any better ideas? I would love to do something to hit home the point that we do not appreciate this kind of B.S. I think Walmart corporate is well aware that we do not appreciate this kind of B.S. , and I think there is lis little that you (or any of us needs to do. Although there have apparently been problems with this particular store, the correct policies exist at the corporate level, and steps are being taken to ensure that the staff at this particular store are getting properly trained so that this kind of nonsense doesn’t happen again in the future. Quoting from the article you linked to: > [@www.thestar.com](#): > > Walmart Canada used the Star’s 2010 story “as an opportunity to re-educate and re-communicate the policy on service animals, which is very clear,” according to Andrew Pelletier, vice-president of corporate affairs and sustainability for the company. > > Service dogs are allowed in the store if they are properly identified. If they aren’t, the staff is supposed to ask the customer if they have documents proving the dog’s guide status. > … > Pelletier said he was surprised to hear about Di Marco’s ordeal, because the company implemented a program specifically designed to teach its employees about dog guides this past summer. There are still some employees who have yet to undergo the training program, he said, adding that **there would be a “special communication” with employees at the Rexdale store beginning this week in order to drive the point home.** (bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/55 "2012-10-01T14:24:50Z")
Most guide horses are particularly small mini’s, they’re about the size of a large dog. Proponents argue they are less distractable than dogs because they have no chase or prey drive, and they don’t care that much about petting and human attention. However, the particular advantage of a mini is that their useful service life is 30-40 years. Since it takes a long time to train a guide animal, that’s huge. Miniature horses must be housebroken and under control at all times, just limke a dog. Photos of a guide horse at work: > **[Helping Hooves: Training Miniature Horses as Guide Animals for the Blind (Equine...](https://www.amazon.com/Helping-Hooves-Training-Miniature-Focus/dp/0974448605)** > > Buy Helping Hooves: Training Miniature Horses as Guide Animals for the Blind (Equine In-Focus) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders You may now return to your regularly scheduled horse-related sexual innuendos and jokes. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/56 "2012-10-01T14:30:05Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Greeter says “welcome to Walmart! Why the long face?” “Neigh, cough cough. Ahem. You’ll have to excuse my voice. I’m a little hoarse.” ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/57 "2012-10-01T16:43:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, yeah, there is a rather fuzzy definition of exactly what makes a “service animal”, but unless it’s rather obvious, i agree with the store. Even if it is Walmart. Too many liars. Because if that woman brought in a dog that was dressed like a service dog, and helped her like a service dog, but wasn’t actually a certified service dog, where would we be then?? Oh, the horror. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/58 "2012-10-01T16:45:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Unlike a dog’s mouth - and contrary to popular belief - the hands of most Walmart shoppers do not have regular contact with dogs’ anuses. Dog’s mouth versus Walmart shopper hands – which one is more likely to carry a contagious pathogen? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/59 "2012-10-01T17:13:19Z")
> [@misterW](#): > > Dog’s mouth versus Walmart shopper hands – which one is more likely to carry a contagious pathogen? :rolleyes: Which one is more likely to drool on the packaging and puncture/deform it with teeth marks? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258/60 "2012-10-01T17:40:45Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Which one is more likely to drool on the packaging and puncture/deform it with teeth marks? Been in a WalMart? At least around here, I’d say dog, but only by a 60/40 margin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-staff-denying-service-to-customers-with-service-animals/636258.md?page=4)