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Service Dogs Educate Maryland Mall Staffers

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Denise Portis talks to a gathering of FSK Mall employees during an ADA compliance session and demo of tasks service dogs provide. In August, Portis was asked on two occasions by two different mall security guards to leave the mall with her service dog, Chloe. Photo by Graham Cullen

By Karen Gardner for Frederick News Post

Francis Scott Key Mall security guards and staff got a lesson on service dogs Sunday evening from representatives of Fidos for Freedom.

The Laurel-based organization has dogs all over Maryland, including Frederick. Sunday’s program was to educate mall staff that service dogs are always allowed into a store or restaurant at the mall. In fact, service dogs are allowed anywhere the public is allowed to go, according to the Americans With Disabilities Act, passed in 1990.

Last month, Denise Portis was told that her dog could not accompany her while she shopped at the mall. Portis wears a cochlear implant to help her hear, but she needs her dog to pick up on sounds she may miss.

Portis was confronted by mall guards on two separate days and asked to leave the mall.

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  • guest

    Education is the key. People need to learn it is a federal law that allows service dogs to go anywhere with their owners. They do a wonderful job and deserve all the praise they get, Do not try to pet the dog when it is working but do compliment the owner on his/her dog. I have therapy dogs and I love it when someone praises my babies for the job they do. They are to be petted when they are working.

  • http://www.emgsecurity.com/ security guard service

    Service dogs are a huge part of our lives. I have a service dog also. My dog is trained in PTSD. I can really feel this woman’s pain as my dog just underwent ear canal replacement which costed me $2600.00. I feel your pain and I will drop off a donation for Lottie. Another thing for all you folks out there, these dogs are our life support!! THEY ARE NOT PET’s!!! They are covered under the ADA which is administered by the Department Of Justice and enforced by the FBI. There are casino’s and businesses in the Wilkes-Barre area that discriminate against people with “service dogs”.

Sep 9, 2010Comments: 2