Off duty McDonald's Manager Punches Customer over Service Dog

[KurtNYC]

A mother enters a franchisee's McDonald's in Georgia with her autistic children and a service dog, then Ms. Allen, an off-duty manager became angry that there was a dog in the restaurant.

Schwenker explained to Allen the dog's purpose and told the manager the dog was legally allowed to be inside the establishment.

Allen continued to berate Schwenker, following her around the restaurant and even into a bathroom. During the incident, one of Schwenker's twins disappeared. The mother threw her cup to the ground and ran outside to look for her child, the warrant says.

Allen believed the cup was thrown at her and followed the mother into the parking lot, where she is accused of hitting her in the face.

http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/warrant-mcdonalds-manager-punched-1032595.html?cxtype=rss_news

The concept of service dogs dates back to WW1, nearly 100 years. There is a sticker on the doors of McDonald's stating that Service Dogs are welcome. So how does this happen?

[sakabatou]

1. Gah!

"The concept of service dogs dates back to WW1, nearly 100 years. There is a sticker on the doors of McDonald's stating that Service Dogs are welcome. So how does this happen?"

You can't cure stupid.

[KamaAina]

2. Many clueless people think that service dogs are only for the blind

I had a similar, though far more civilized, run-in when my all-time favorite human being was in town last month. A restaurant hostess told her, "You can't have your dog in here". Sullivan, you see, is a cute little Chihuahua mix, a far cry from the stereotypical Lab or German shepherd. Also her human uses a wheeelchair but isn't blind.

Just before I was about to go into attack mode :grr: , my friend explained that Sully was, in fact, a service dog, and that was the end of it. :-)

[Dappleganger]

17. One of my daughter's clients has a tiny little service dog...

that little mop helps her client with anxiety. Without it she'd probably be a prisoner in her own home.

[mrmpa]

33. Too many stupid pills were given out at birth....

people don't understand the concept of service dogs at all. I live in a condo building, where the average age is probably 68. Most owners are single and the majority are women. We have a no-pet policy, and I am waiting for the first owner in this building who needs a service dog and see how the board and the management company try to keep it out.

[NeedleCast]

3. People Are Dicks

This is especially true in food service. I worked in restaurants many years and anytime someone brougth a service animal into the restaurant I knew that there would be at least one customer complaint, usually more. They ranged from the typical "dogs are dirty and shouldn't be around food" to outright hate of both the animals and the people they serve.

(I won't mention that the worst offender at the restaurant I worked at the longest was a semi-regular customer and self-proclaimed "animal rights activist" and "PETA member" who likened service animals to slavery...)

Oops, I mentioned it.

[Xithras]

4. Poorly trained employees.

I've intervened a couple of times when underpaid/undertrained employees attempted to throw people out over service animals. It's amazing how quickly they'll back off when an uninvolved third party steps in and says, "Excuse me sir, but you're breaking the law. I just want you to know that I'll be acting as a witness on his behalf when he sues you for violating his federally protected civil rights."

[BeeBee]

5. Unrec because of misleading subject line.

"Allen believed the cup was thrown at her and followed the mother into the parking lot, where she is accused of hitting her in the face.

[KurtNYC]

14. I don't think THIS woman, dog or these kids started this

Please have a look at the mother, dogs and boys involved:

http://assignmentatlanta.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/30/

[rhett o rick]

22. Did you get mislead. Wahhhh. Is unrec all you got? nm

[sarge43]

32. Yes, physical violence is always the way to settle a problem.

"Allen believed the cup was thrown at her ..." ie Allen says ...

Sounds like she was off her meds or just looking for a fight.

[MountainLaurel]

6. A friend's doctor's office, of all places

Told her that she could not come in if her service dog (a poodle who alerts when she's about to pass out) was with her. It was a provider at a military installation. I'm not sure if she filed a formal complaint, but the base newspaper recently published an article about how the dog saved her life, so awareness was raised.

[damntexdem]

7. Allen is lucky she wasn't mauled by the service dog.

She should be in jail as well as out of a job.

[Brother Buzz]

13. Patience, Grasshopper

Allen no longer works at the restaurant.

Surveillance video shows several McDonald's employees holding Allen back, according to the warrant.

The warrant for Allen's arrest was signed July 15. She is not listed as having been in custody at the Cobb County jail.

[demosincebirth]

8. What is a service dog 's purpose if no one is disabled or blind? Anyone can

get a vest for a dog that say "service dog" just so they don't have to leave them in the car.

[WinkyDink]

11. Did you not see "autistic"?

[demosincebirth]

15. No I haven't. What does that have to do with my question?

[KurtNYC]

16. please read this

http://assignmentatlanta.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/30/

And yes, people falsely claiming that their dog is a service dog has created problems for the real ones. Many service dogs now carry certification papers. But the service dog in this incident is absolutely real and useful.

[alphafemale]

28. Service dog owners should perhaps carry papers if the need is not obvious.

Seizure alert dogs for example.

I can see people claiming their dog was a service animal fraudulently. And then said dog isn't even properly house-broken and takes a dump in the middle of the floor or maybe even bites a child.

Some type of easily recognizable badge on a vest or carried license would make life easier for everyone.

[KurtNYC]

29. The dog in this incident was properly identified as a service dog

It is illegal for businesses to ask you what your medical condition is though many will do so if your condition is not obvious. Many service dog users will opt to answer the illegal question with something like "he alerts me to a medical condition."

It is my understanding that currently (laws on this are evolving) the service dog qualifier must have an ADA condition. It is a felony to impersonate a disabled person or have your dog impersonate a service dog punishable by fines, jail time and the possible impounding of your dog. Certification varies by state.

Real service dogs have been trained, proofed and tested in a variety of situations.

[alphafemale]

34. Some sort of visible universally recognized symbol or ID should be displayed.

The same as you need a state issued Decal or else you are going to get a monstrous fine.

It would be the simplest thing for everyone. It makes things worse for people who have legitimate reasons for a service animal when people can so easily bilk the system with their ill-mannered dogs because they can.

Because as you said:

"It is illegal for businesses to ask you what your medical condition is"

[Dappleganger]

18. Are you one of those who believes illnesses are only seen?

Service dogs are used for predicting seizures, severe anxiety, autism, etc.

If you don't like it then MYOB.

[KurtNYC]

9. The mother, twins and dog are pictured here

http://assignmentatlanta.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/30/

From that article:

"We had to limit therapy for the boys because the insurance folks decided in the middle of this that they wouldn’t cover bills that had to do with autism.”
...
To help the twins have a boy’s life, the Schwenkers recently acquired Barkley—an 18-month-old Labrador Retriever and bloodhound mix trained to protect and track autistic children. Barkley keeps watch over the boys, especially Ben, who loves to climb fences and can find his way past locked doors.

An Ohio-based nonprofit that provides assistance dogs to children with disabilities, 4Paws for Ability, trained Barkley. Co-workers at Delta and church friends helped pay for Barkley’s training. “Barkley knows his job, and if either of the boys escapes, Barkley can track them,” says Jennifer.

If Barkley doesn't look like a classic service dog I don't know what does.

[WinkyDink]

10. "So how does this happen?" No; you're not seriously wondering about HOW STUPID WE ARE??

[Obamanaut]

12. Shortly after my retirement from the Navy, I worked with a shoe store

chain.

When people came into my store carrying a 'lap dog' and asked if dogs were allowed, I always responded with "It looks like a service dog to me. Of course." or words similar to that.

It was never a problem.

[KurtNYC]

19. Some national chain stores allow well behaved dogs

Mine go to Lowe's, Home Depot and the post office with me. I thank these stores (and YOU) for their confidence and for helping to limit the number of dogs left in hot cars.

[smokey nj]

26. Look at that punim!

:loveya:

[LeftinOH]

20. Did the dog have a sign on it that says "Service Dog"? Like these:

There are many people who seldom see a service dog, and if they see a dog without a visibly disabled person holding onto it, they may not "get it". Certainly, throwing a fit and berating someone is out of line. But for the most part, going out in public with a service dog may sometimes require the aid of 'disclaimer'.

[KurtNYC]

23. in the church photo Barkley is a black lab wearing a red harness

can't tell what patches might be on it. The article is brief but perhaps this woman gets off of her shift, sits down, in walks what she PERCEIVES to be a mother with out of control twins and a dog (!). Maybe she just makes a snap judgement that this mother needs to be read the riot act and proceeds hastily from there.

Use of service dogs has expanded rapidly in the US over the past 20 years and part of the expansion has been new uses -- PTSD, seizures, diabetes insulin shock, etc. And autism is still fairly misunderstood in spite of a steady dialog in the media about possible causes.

Hopefully this incident will raise awareness for both and people will take a moment before jumping to less than generous conclusions.

[demigoddess]

24. Yes, we need more education, there was a time when

retarded children were supposed to be at home not allowed to accompany their parents to a restaurant or anywhere else. My thought might be that the stupid person thought the boys were retarded and not acceptable in public. Some people still think that way. the dog just clinched it.

[onethatcares]

21. looks like it's time to call

Dewey, Cheatum & Howe. Ms. Schwenker should be due some beer and travel money for her travails.

[MadMaddie]

25. This is part of the dumbing down of America

Managers of any establishment should be educated about service dogs.

McDonalds will be paying this family a lot of money, the family will then be able to afford the additional care.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

27. It's like a lottery ticket

One of the few ways wealth is still distributed in America.

[KurtNYC]

31. This was a franchise and the puncher was not on duty at the time of the incident

Legally this may be like any other fight in the parking lot.

[Shagbark Hickory]

30. We're not exactly renowned for our intelligence here.

And contrary to popular belief, this is the rudest metro area that I've ever lived in.

[RebelOne]

35. This has been on the local news channel WSB in Atlanta repeatedly..

I am sick of seeing it. The manager has been fired.