"the idea of a rambunctious service dog who doesn't mind is just funny"

Doesn't mind what? Is this a typo, or am I not getting something? Damnit, now I feel foolish.

@bairdwallace: I think they mean "doesn't mind" as in ... "you better mind me, son!"

@bairdwallace: "Mind" in this case is "Behave" or "Listen to its master"

Welcome to the little thing called discrimination...sheesh.

People are idiots, plain and simple.

I am normally always on the side of the service animals and their owners but you may have found the one case I can't support.

If there are any dresses not in protective plastic (and there always would be display dresses), and the dog is shedding (which it probably is this time of year) that could be a lot of pure white expensive dresses with dog hair all over them due to the dog just brushing against them as he walks the aisles.

It could become a big (possibly expensive) mess out of no one's fault other than white wedding dresses are inherently incompatible with shedding dogs. The dog could be perfectly behaved and leashed and still pose a problem to the merchandise.

That's... really, really insulting. And amazingly ignorant.

You know what the store should do (besides retraining its staff)? Make a large donation to either an MS or service-dog-training charity.

That sounds about right. They apologize to the news station if Ms. Troutman believes she was treated improperly.

They should apologize to the old lady for what they did not what she believes happened.

"If she believes she was improperly treated?" Nice way to phrase that letter, Isis Bridal. And a $50 credit? Good one. They're never coming back to your store again.

She wasn't bringing her pet puppy in there, jerks. And service dogs are especially trained to deal with ignorant jerks like you who think they're going to crap all over the dresses.

@Tmoney02: Except that theres no such thing as a bride that buys a dress off the rack (probably worn by a number of brides-to-be) without having it tailored and dry-cleaned first. When my fiancee bought her wedding dress, some of the other dresses literally had dirt and grime around the hems, rips, tears and all sorts of other things because of how often they had been tried on. I doubt a dozen or so loose dog hairs will cost this prissy lady any sales.

I think in this case, the store could have done more. They could have gotten one of the coworkers to help out the lady move about the store. Or they could have went to corner or section of the store where the woman could have been brought the dresses. Was this woman offered options like these? If not, that's a bad store. But if she was and didn't take it, I can't really blame the bridal store on this one.

@Tmoney02: So get a lint brush. Steaming and brushing the dresses seems like normal maintenance to me.

@Tmoney02: Wedding dresses at bridal shops are generally samples only--the "real" dress is then ordered and kept in a plastic garment bag once it arrives. A little bit of dog hair is not going to ruin the effect of trying on a sample wedding dress any more than lipstick smudges and armpit sweat stains would.

@bairdwallace: [shrug] maybe it's a Southern thing? "Mind" as in "obey." I'm from Texas and everyone there would know immediately what I meant. In light of where this story takes place, I think I'll leave it as "mind" to give it some regional flavor.

I just googled Texas's service dog laws and they have to be leashed. Nice one on Isis's part for thinking that adding an "only when on a leash" caveat was some sort of smart face-saving move, not knowing that the state already had that covered. They look stupider for acting like they're revamping their store policy in light of their original f-up, which is more upsetting and makes the apology less sincere than it already wasn't.

I have never seen a service dog that was rambunctious, even the ones that were still in the early days of training. My kids when they were young were always afraid of dogs, except for service dogs who they perceived as just another person who happended to have 4 legs and a tail. The dog was also a good mechanism to introduce the kids at a young age to people with disabilities, and also how they should also never try to pet or aproach a service dog without first asking the owner. In the two circumstances when the kids were able to interact with the dog, the dog was in training, and the trainer made it an educational experience for both the dogs (no matter how much love the kids give you, ignore them) and my children (don't touch the dogs when they are working unless the owner says it is OK).

A Rambunctious service animal that does not obey...that would be called a "Service Cat", and yes, the imagry of possibilities is quite funny.

@lalaland13: Like stabbing someone then apologizing because they might be bleeding.

@Tmoney02: Most of these stores also have a large open area with seating. If the customer was sitting in that area the dog vs. the dresses is not an issue.

@Tmoney02: Those dresses are tried on again and again by patrons before one is ordered specifically for the bride. Unless you're going to a huge chain like David's Bridals, she's not buying one of the off the rack dresses.

@Chris Walters: It took me a second to get it, but I'm from Texas as well, and I'm used to hearing "Mind your manners" or "My daughter just doesn't mind me."

I occasionally have to help customers with service animals. A fellow employee also has a service animal.

I hate hate hate dealing with customers with service animals, due to my fear of dogs. But you know what I do? Same thing I do with a customer with BO, or a bad attitude, or an impenetrable accent. I suck it up and do my job with professionalism. Seems like they could have done the same.

As to the dog shedding (which I think was mentioned in a previous comment)- sucks if the dog sheds everywhere (if that's what they were worried about), but come on. Sure, it's a little more work for you, going over all the dresses with a lint roller, but what are you going to do, that's life in the service industry.

@MaxSmart32: And another thing called the ADA.

@Tmoney02:

I am pretty sure that it doesn't matter what the nature of the business is with a service animal, at least in respect to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

@Chadams28: Most service animals I believe are trained to know that they are "working" when they are in their leash or harness, and that they can do normal doggy play things when they are out of their harness.

No Dogs Allowed
by Wrestlegameshow

Considering how many people I see nowadays walking into stores with dogs without service credentials and sometimes even without leashes, I'd love to know if her dog was actually even a service dog.

I am way more grossed out by the young woman who had come to a bridal store, muddy and sweaty, still in her soccer uniform, and they let her try on dresses (back when I was searching for mine) than I am at the thought of trying on a dress with dog hair on the bottom of it. I agree with others. If you plan on buying off of the rack, you also plan on having your dress cleaned and pressed. It wasn't like they were asking the dog to try on the dress.

@MaxSmart32: This is why service animals should be cross trained as attack dogs.

@lalaland13:

"My daughter just doesn't mind me."

Actually, you probably heard "My daughter just don't mind me."

@jurijuri: "You know what the store should do (besides firing its staff)? Donate their salaries to either an MS or service-dog-training charity."

Fixed :)

@sir_pantsalot: 62 is not that old.

/holy crap, I'm 25 and already saying that.

@Robert Jason Cervantes: Yeah, I'll agree with that. While it's stupid to think that the dog would ruin any of the dresses in the first place, if they had offered her an alternative to not using the dog in the store there would be less room to argue here.

@Robert Jason Cervantes: Americans with Disability Act. Look it up. Actually, Let Me Google That For You: [lmgtfy.com]

@Rachacha: Oh! That last line is just so hilarious. And true.

As someone with MS I am curious as to what a service dog does for someone with MS. This is the first person I've heard of that uses one

@Tmoney02: ADA disagrees with you.

@DanGarion: If you'd watched the video, you'd have seen the dog in question was definitely a service dog.

@conquestofbread:

A store should have aisles wide enough for not only a service dog but also a wheelchair. So, if they overstock their products and can't accommodate someone with special needs, they should find a way (i.e. bring the dresses to the customers.). This is nothing that can't be overcome with customer service.

@renegadebarista: People with MS have motor skill complications and depending on severity, may have trouble gripping items and carrying items from point A to point B. The dog could facilitate carrying things like a blanket.

@DanGarion:
Very clearly a service dog...seriously, why make comments if you can't even be bothered to watch the video? I worked in restaurants for a long time and was always amazed at the people who would just mosey on in with their dogs, and act shocked when I said it was against health code if it wasn't a service animal, so I hear you there. But in this case, watch the video before you comment. The more you know! (cue rainbow)

@CFinWV: Thank you. There is no excuse for denying a customer access because they have a service animal. I don't care if they're worried the dresses may get a dog hair on them. The ADA says the customer and her service animal are welcome in your establishment, regardless of what kind of business you do. It is the law.

@Coach Cal Is My Dream Weaver:

I don't know if your comment was meant to affirm what I said or simply try to be all high and mighty.

I think you are missing the point. The dog could potentially ruin inventory when it brushes up against the merchandise. I'm not saying they shouldn't have denied her. Simply provide her with an alternative so she can shop and nothing gets messed up by the dog.

In fact, if you use my first suggestion, she would be getting super personal attention.

@Chris Walters: I understood you loud and clear.

And no, I didn't spend a large portion of my life in Alabama. I don't know what you're talking about, sir. *whistles*

I had a lady who wanted to bring in a service dog, (for stress), and the dog was dirty, smelly,shedding, and not well trained, went up to other people, sniffed around the floor, etc. But she had a paper saying it was a service dog. She hasn't been back lately, but does anyone know if you have to let them in, even under those conditions. This was in Florida. I was going to tell her the next time, she couldn't come in unless the dog was better trained, and clean.

@Coach Cal Is My Dream Weaver: Kinda snarky for someone who can't spell disabilities right. (Try your own link.)

Besides, it would be more helpful to point directly to a site that has something to say about the issue: [www.ada.gov]

@renegadebarista: Whoops, I'm sorry. I misread your post to be "as someone without MS" so apologies for the redundant speaking on what MS is and all that...and you can probably correct me on things, since I've only known one person with MS and she had motor skill problems. I was led to believe that was fairly common.

@Chris Walters: I got it, don't worry.

@renegadebarista: This website has some info -- I guess they're called "balance dogs": [ms.about.com]

@renegadebarista: I was curious too! There's a nice article on about.com If you Google "service dog for ms" it's the first hit.

[ms.about.com]

@Rachacha: I have met a rambunctious service animal, but he was not working at the moment, but was playing with my dog at the park. The owner and I discussed the discrimination he faces constantly when trying to bring his animal into stores to do his everyday shopping. Even if he puts the little vest on his dog, and keeps a record of the dog's service training (he is trained to predict his owner's epileptic seizures and assist him when the happen), people try to deny him and his dog access. On the bright side, he's gotten hundreds of dollars in gift cards from our neighborhood supermarket by way of apology.