McDONALD'S HAS SERVICE DOG ISSUES

DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN THE INFORMATION AGE WITH CABLE, INTERNET, SATELLITE, MOBILE DEVICES, INTRANET, STORIES LIKE THESE CONTINUE TO SURFACE ON A DAILY BASIS -- THE TOPIC OF SERVICE ANIMALS / HELPER DOGS / ASSISTANCE ANIMALS / WORKING DOGS ARE INTRODUCED TO US IN SCHOOL, ON THE JOB, ON TELEVISION, ON THE INTERNET, ON THE RADIO, IN NEWSPAPERS -- YET, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISABLED WITH SERVICE ANIMALS IS A CONSTANT DILEMMA -- HERE ARE JUST TWO STORIES AT A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT SO WELL KNOWN TO ALL OF US, McDONALD'S -- WE ALL HAVE BEEN THERE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER -- SOMETIMES MANY TIMES -- EXCEPT NOW, IT IS JUST MORE THAN DISCRIMINATION, NOW YOU CAN GET SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR UTILIZING A SERVICE ANIMAL -- WHAT A CRYING SHAME -- WHAT ARE WE BECOMING -- WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE


STORY ONE:



MOM PUNCHED AMID SERVICE DOG DISPUTE AT MCDONALD'S

By Shaun Heasley




When a Georgia mom took her twin boys with autism to McDonald’s, she probably never imagined she would be punched in the face. But that’s just what happened and it allegedly hinged on the boys’ service dog.

Earlier this month, Jennifer Schwenker took her sons out to lunch at McDonald’s where she was approached by a restaurant manager who indicated that the boys’ service dog could not be inside.

Schwenker explained that the dog was a service animal and was legally allowed in public places. However, that did not appease the manager, Tiffany Denise Allen, who surveillance video shows proceeded to follow the family around the restaurant.

http://www.youtube.co...




When Schwenker lost track of one of her sons, she threw her drink and some splashed on Allen who ran after the mom and punched her.

Allen, who was off duty at the time of the incident, has been charged with battery assault and disorderly conduct. Owners of the McDonald’s location say she is no longer employed there...


STORY TWO:


DISABLED VET BEATEN BY MCDONALD'S EMPLOYEES

Luis Montalvan and Tuesday (Service Dog)

A disabled Iraq War veteran who relies on the assistance of a service dog claims he was beaten by employees at a McDonald's in Sunset Park after being repeatedly kicked out of the fast food joint for bringing his pooch.

Luis Montalvan — whose service dog Tuesday has helped him overcome physical tasks and "social fears" since suffering post traumatic stress disorder and wounds to his head, legs and spine in Iraq — claims that after being kicked out of the Fifth Avenue eatery last year for bringing the dog, he sent a letter to McDonald's informing the corporation it was violating the Americans With Disabilities Act. In response, McDonald's posted a sticker at the shop stating “Service Dogs Allowed."

But when Montalvan went back with the dog, he says workers threw him out again. So he tells the NYU publication Live Wire that he planned to send another letter including a photograph of the sticker, but when he arrived at the restaurant and pulled out a camera, he claims that men from the shop asked him why he was taking pictures, then punched him and hit him with garbage cans, leaving him with a neck injury.

"That is absolutely no way to treat a combat disabled veteran, let alone a disabled person," said Montalvan, who is suing the company for assault and battery, discrimination, and violating the statutes of the American's With Disabilities Act. For its part, McDonald's issued the following statement: "We take these matters seriously. It is McDonald's policy to permit service animals to accompany disabled persons into our restaurants."