dillards dept store stinks
HURST, Texas -- A North Texas veteran said Dillard's department store asked him to leave the store because of his service animal on Tuesday.
Alex Gonzales, a two-time war veteran, said he was Christmas shopping when a store manager asked him to take his service dog out of the Dillard's at Northeast Mall.
"I get choked up because I am upset, very hurt," he said.
The 36-year-old Army vet said he is appalled by the service he received.
"In front of a whole staff of shoppers, I was asked to depart with my clearly marked service dog," he said.
Gonzales suffers from a combination of spinal and back injuries. He said he relies on his service dog, Mason, to maintain his balance.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, private businesses are required by law to allow people with disabilities to bring service animals onto their property.
Gonzales said he and Mason have never been kicked out of a store before.
"I felt embarrassed, low," he said. "I'm over here accepting my disability in public, and you are going to mock and harass me."
Gonzales said he received an apology Wednesday from a Dillard's district manager, but said he will not shop at the department store again.
NBC 5 tried contacting Dillard's on Wednesday night for a comment, but had not heard from the company.
If they do this to our Vet's I'm not shopping there anymore.
Alex Gonzales, a two-time war veteran, said he was Christmas shopping when a store manager asked him to take his service dog out of the Dillard's at Northeast Mall.
"I get choked up because I am upset, very hurt," he said.
The 36-year-old Army vet said he is appalled by the service he received.
"In front of a whole staff of shoppers, I was asked to depart with my clearly marked service dog," he said.
Gonzales suffers from a combination of spinal and back injuries. He said he relies on his service dog, Mason, to maintain his balance.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, private businesses are required by law to allow people with disabilities to bring service animals onto their property.
Gonzales said he and Mason have never been kicked out of a store before.
"I felt embarrassed, low," he said. "I'm over here accepting my disability in public, and you are going to mock and harass me."
Gonzales said he received an apology Wednesday from a Dillard's district manager, but said he will not shop at the department store again.
NBC 5 tried contacting Dillard's on Wednesday night for a comment, but had not heard from the company.
If they do this to our Vet's I'm not shopping there anymore.
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Nor I.
What's "Dillard's" ??
Doug0 -
[:(!][:(!]NEVER DOD LIKE THAT STORE[:(!][:(!] 0 -
It doesn't stink if you walk near the perfume section. It's the only place that carries the Shalimar perfume that I buy Shari. It's the only perfume I allow her to wear. [:p][}:)]
He'll get some money out of the deal before it's over.0 -
I highly doubt it has anything to do with Dillards...More than likely it was the decision of the manager and not the store..
We have Dillards all over the place here, and you see service animals in them all the time....0 -
Can you say "Lawsuit"? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
It's the only perfume I allow her to wear.
Didn't they make a movie about you? Sleeping with the enemy.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tacking1
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
It's the only perfume I allow her to wear.
Didn't they make a movie about you? Sleeping with the enemy.
Wrong, it was called "What Women Want". Besides, when you're a real man, who has time to sleep?0 -
I hate Dillards. Has nothing to do with this, I've always thought Dillards was a dark, unwelcoming store, sort of a junked-down version of JC Penney. 0 -
We cut up our Dillard's credit card about 20 years ago over a very ugly scene. My father in law had a stroke and we had to travel over 200 miles to attend to his needs. While we were gone, our current Dillard's bill went past due. (that I have no problem with, it happens). I called the company and explained the situation to them and got a "too bad" response. Not only would they NOT forgive the late fee (again, I'm ok with that although I think that's a bit cold), but the kicker was after faithfully paying our bill ON TIME, EVERYTIME for over 20 years, they turned in that one late payment to the credit bureau and it almost blew my mortgage loan application. After several weeks of writing, calling, complaining and demands, they finally relented and withdrew that late payment filing.
Dillard's NEVER AGAIN.0 -
This story evokes strong emotions in the reader, but neglects to include some important details I've seen in other media accounts.
This wasn't actually a certified service dog. It was a 7 mo. old pup that Gonzalez obtained on his own and says he's in the process of training as his service dog "using a DVD and on-line resources".
He attracted the attention of store management due to the dog causing a disturbance by barking and being uncooperative with Gonzalez as he was trying to get it to go up an escalator inside the business. Gonzalez's disability is not apparent (injured discs in his back) and store management says when they contacted him he didn't inform them of his status, only that he was training a service dog. They say they told him in order to use their business for training such dogs he should contact management ahead of time so the best time could be established for both parties. Note that this occurred at 5:00 pm, when this store was crowded with Christmas shoppers.
The American's With Disabilities Act states:
Any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If the animal meets that definition, it is considered service a animal regardless of whether is has been licensed or certified by state or local government. Service animals are used by people who are blind, deaf, use wheelchairs or have balance impairments.
An assistance animal in training has the same rights as long as long as the trainer is an agent of an organization generally recognized by agencies involved in the rehabilitation of animals and their handlers.
Animals may be excluded from a facility if the animal's behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of other people. The animal can also be excluded for disrupting a business if drastic changes to the business would have to be made to accommodate the animal.
I'm also a veteran, have family members who are disabled and sympathize with anyone in Gonzalez's position, but I also see it from the store's viewpoint. Someone who has no training as a dog handler bringing an untrained and disruptive young dog into their crowded business creates a bad situation, particularly when the dog demonstrates a lack of control by barking and acting in an uncooperative manner.
Under the ADA, due to this dog not being certified and him not being an agent of an organization involved in training of service animals, Gonzalez actually has no right to bring this dog inside a business without the consent of management.
Gonzalez says this incident caused him to feel discriminated against, disrespected and that he's "...not looking for money, at this point".0 -
I am deeply offended by this display of contempt for our no doubt wounded Warrior.
I am so upset, that I have decided to sue these unfeeling law-breakers of "Dillards".
They must have money, and because of their actions against me - also disabled, and also a Vet - I am entitled to some of it.
I should be able to net no less than $3.40 (before legal fees). I'm sure my personal damage is worth that.
Perhaps the rest of you can join in and we can make it a class-action suit, and each of us can get $3.40??
Doug0 -
As BR said, I'm also sure it was a single incadent....
But just to make sure I'll never shop at Dillards, that is if they ever bring one out to California I'll never shop there.0
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