Green Beret Kicked Off Campus For Having Service Dog

[JJ_BPK]

I have asked the Chapter XXI pres if we have anyone working on this. It needs a lot of exposure. Share and spread the word.

Green Beret Kicked Off Campus For Having Service Dog - Video

A retired Green Beret and student at St. Petersburg College in Florida was recently ejected from campus on the grounds that his service dog "Lucky" wasn't allowed on the premises. Bill Smith, 63, was retired as a colonel with a 100 percent disability
rating for PTSD in 2011. Smith was present at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks and has multiple combat deployments under his belt.

According to an article in The Tampa Tribune, Smith had provided documentation from a guide dog association that identified "Lucky" as being a service dog, although the canine was already outfitted in obvious service animal attire and shouldn't have needed verification. Campus police ignored
the documentation and Smith was forced to leave.

Alarmingly, Smith and his canine assistant were already registered with the campus's Americans with Disabilities Act office. Yet, when he went to take the matter up with them, after not receiving help from other school authorities, he was told the only way he would be able to return with his working dog was if he supplied a physician's letter to the school describing
the specifics of his disability for which the dog was needed.

There are a few problems with that request, and the first and foremost issue is that it is illegal. The federal law that was being broken was put in place as a part of the updated 2011 version of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was, ironically, the very office that was forcing Smith to disclose the specifics of his medical condition.

The ADA specifically mentions PTSD as a legitimate condition for the use of a support animal, and the following points were taken directly from the Americans with Disabilities Act government website:

http://www.funker530.com/green-beret...ice-dog-video/

[Remington Raidr]

Fvck them. Pay this window.

[MtnGoat]

So if he was blind or had epilepsy would he have to provide a Doctors note? Man that sounds so High School.

I would be call a lawyer and sueing this university and taking to every news media that would do an interview with me. Also since I'm a retired Colonel and SF I would be reaching out to every military contact I have and start hitting that university with every form of social media to get the word out on have they treat their military, retirees and disabled students.

[Richard]

The documentation issue may become the norm at some point because of the growing issues of 'poser' service dogs. There was a news report on it around here this past week. I see a number of service dogs around here bing brought into grocery stores, delis, and restaurants - on the surface and with their behaviors, not all of them appear to be genuine to me and I've wondered about some of the dogs I've seen being touted as service dogs.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fake...ing-sacramento

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4075308.html

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/201...real-problems/

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/healt...-dogs/5254085/

http://www.ehow.com/how_8338423_reco...ce-dog-ma.html

Richard

[PRB]

In Az you pay 250 bucks online and you have a 'service dog'...you should see some of the mangy mutts wearing svc dog attire, or being carried in a purse.
OTOH fvck that school too....different deal.

[echoes]

Here is the link to the Trustees of St. Petersburg College in Florida, and a handy dandy phone number and email address.

What an absolute disgusting way to treat a Veteran!!! I hope these folks feel the heat, and fast!


http://www.spcollege.edu/pages/bot.aspx?id=2147484654

"You can contact SPC's Board of Trustees by e-mail at board@spcollege.edu or by calling 727-341-3241."

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by Richard

The documentation issue may become the norm at some point because of the growing issues of 'poser' service dogs. There was a news report on it around here this past week. I see a number of service dogs around here bing brought into grocery stores, delis, and restaurants - on the surface and with their behaviors, not all of them appear to be genuine to me and I've wondered about some of the dogs I've seen being touted as service dogs.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fake...ing-sacramento

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4075308.html

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/201...real-problems/

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/healt...-dogs/5254085/

http://www.ehow.com/how_8338423_reco...ce-dog-ma.html

Richard

Originally Posted by PRB

In Az you pay 250 bucks online and you have a 'service dog'...you should see some of the mangy mutts wearing svc dog attire, or being carried in a purse.
OTOH fvck that school too....different deal.

I understand that I know that many business tell their employees don't ask just let them come in because of lawsuits being brought onto that business.

I was in the South Post commissary last week and had some woman bring in a small Chihuahua or Pikachu looking dog. It wasn't in her purse, but was on a leash. She just walked in and I said to her. Umm Ma'ma that isn't a service animal. She answered and so with a big smile. I told her she couldn't bring it in. She gave a look as watch me and put it in the cart basket area were a child sit. I proceeded to tell her that you're taking away from the actual service dogs that are authorized to come and what you're doing is improper, in moral and wrong. She turned and walked away. I walk passed her saying your a piece a shit service members wife to take of away from people your ungrateful and your actions. While shopping, I asked one of the managers about it. He said headquarters is instructed them not to ask just let them come in even though you can look and see the dog is not a service animal. This is the same thing that is local businesses and restaurants here in town.

Something needs to be done, yet as PRB stated, it nothing more or different than getting your handicap little tag from any doctor or buying what your state needs or service dog vest off the Internet just because you have $200, $300 or probably $100.

[PSM]

Originally Posted by PRB

In Az you pay 250 bucks online and you have a 'service dog'...you should see some of the mangy mutts wearing svc dog attire, or being carried in a purse.

It might be worth $250 to take my avatar dog on a stroll through Walmart.

Pat

[orion5]

This Veteran had his paperwork in order, with the guide dog association and the campus. It's not like he was unaware or trying to get over on anybody.

Seems like it would have been better if the campus police respected the Veteran status, let him go on to class, and asked him to follow up with the proper campus officials within 24 hours.

It's outrageous they would eject Col Smith, and even more outrageous they would ask him to submit a list of his diagnoses/conditions.

Regarding service animals, my brother worked as a station manager in the airline industry for many years. He said he's had to let service pigs and service monkeys onto planes because supposedly those people wouldn't stay calm in flight without the emotional support of their animals. How did we humans fly or manage any stress before all these service animals came into existence? I can see why it's easy to abuse....

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by echoes

Here is the link to the Trustees of St. Petersburg College in Florida, and a handy dandy phone number and email address.

What an absolute disgusting way to treat a Veteran!!! I hope these folks feel the heat, and fast!


http://www.spcollege.edu/pages/bot.aspx?id=2147484654

"You can contact SPC's Board of Trustees by e-mail at board@spcollege.edu or by calling 727-341-3241."

Thanks

and if you want to make your feelings a little more personal??

Dr. William D. Law, Jr., President
The Board of Trustees
St. Petersburg College
P.O. Box 13489
St. Petersburg FL 33733-3489
727-341-4772
727-341-3241
board@spcollege.edu

[Guy]

Originally Posted by echoes

Here is the link to the Trustees of St. Petersburg College in Florida, and a handy dandy phone number and email address.

What an absolute disgusting way to treat a Veteran!!! I hope these folks feel the heat, and fast!


http://www.spcollege.edu/pages/bot.aspx?id=2147484654

"You can contact SPC's Board of Trustees by e-mail at board@spcollege.edu or by calling 727-341-3241."

The BS presented nowadays....

It took me a mere minutes to read through the link and this caught my attention...

Deveron M. Gibbons, Chairman
Deveron M. Gibbons, of St. Petersburg, has been vice president of Public Affairs with the Amscot Corporation since 2005. Previously, he was senior government affairs advisor at Holland and Knight from 2003 to 2005 and director of government affairs for the Department of Community Affairs from 2000 to 2001. A St. Petersburg native, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1995 and his master’s in Public Administration from the University of South Florida in 2006. His association with SPC began at age 3, when he would accompany his mother to the library on what is now the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus. Originally appointed in June, 2006, Gibbons was reappointed for a term beginning April 23, 2012, and ending May 31, 2014.

[PRB]

Originally Posted by PSM

It might be worth $250 to take my avatar dog on a stroll through Walmart.

Pat

I know..I have a solid black pit bull (that'll kill you by licking you to death) that would be fun in the super market.

This isn't a Veteran's issue, it's an ADA issue.

[MR2]

About 20+ years ago handicapped parking spots started appearing. Because of no/minimal penalty or enforcement those parking spots were abused. In the past decade serious fines have been attached to those parking spots.

Maybe something could be done to make service animal abuse a bit more painful - on those that fake their service animal status and those that abuse legitimate service animal owners.

I'm thinking awareness, special (free) licensing, standard signage, and fines for abuse.


WCH is right - this is a ADA issue.

Originally Posted by orion5

This Veteran had his paperwork in order, with the guide dog association and the campus. It's not like he was unaware or trying to get over on anybody.

Seems like it would have been better if the campus police respected the Veteran status, let him go on to class, and asked him to follow up with the proper campus officials within 24 hours.

It's outrageous they would eject Col Smith, and even more outrageous they would ask him to submit a list of his diagnoses/conditions.

In order according to who?

It's not a "Veteran status" issue.

Documenting need is not outrageous. Posers are everywhere!