I will no longer be updating Iron Guide (see below). Instead, I am now writing at my new, personal blog. Though that will be about some of the newer things I'm doing in life, if you want to see updates about Louie, Lester, and now Dusky, add me on Facebook -- there's enough ridiculously cute pictures to go around.

These last couple weeks have been a little odd. I've been refused entry to three restaurants. Another asked me to sit outside and a final one asked me to enter through the back. Today, just a few minutes ago, I got into an argument with the driver of the bus I've been taking for the past two years.

Why?

Well, basically: Lester.

We all know the uneasy, is-that-dog-going-to-pee-on-my-carpet look we sometimes get at restaurants. It's usually not a big deal. I just put Lester in his most proper, dignified sit position possible and cheerfully ask if I can bring in "this little puppy I'm training to be a guide dog for the blind." Most hostesses take one look at cute ol' Lester and that's that. Places that don't, well, I've come up with a pretty heuristic for them: if someone can understand the difference between pet and guide dog, they can usually make the mental leap to guide dog in training. If they don't understand the subtleties of the English language well enough to make that first distinction, well, you're probably not going to get in. Thankfully, even though I go to a lot of "ethnic" restaurants, I have my favorites that I regularly hit up, all of whom now recognize me and my dogs, and I can once again get all my favorite foods.

So what's up with these few other restaurants? Not sure. Even though I live outside the city, most of my friends still live in downtown and so I usually eat there. The one common thing, however, among these restaurants is that, out of the five, 3 were in Kirkland. Maybe they just don't see guide dogs very much? That's a little surprising, since I think there actually is a dedicated Kirkland raising group. Regardless, they were all pretty small restaurants, and two seemed genuinely apologetic and trying to be helpful, so I didn't make a fuss.

But this bus incident is different. More so, because I once actually got kicked off a bus with Louie. The issue in both cases was that the bus drivers didn't know official county policy. Service animals obviously ride free under the ADA but King County also allows service animals in training to not only ride but also ride free:

Must a government office let in the service animal that I am training?

No. The ADA and Washington state nondiscrimination laws do not address service animals that are not yet trained. While they might choose to allow these animals entry, they do not have a legal obligation to do so. However, King County policy allows individuals and their service animals-in-training equal access to facilities, "subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to individuals with disabilities and their service animals."

So, what's the problem? Sounds perfect, right?

The last time, after getting on the bus, scanning my bus pass, and heading back to find a seat, Louie and I were stopped by the bus driver: "What about for the dog?" I laughed -- thinking it was a joke -- and made some kind of a witty retort. Turned out he wasn't joking. A couple blocks down, he stopped the bus, got up from his seat, and walked back to demand Louie's fare. I didn't have any change (I use a bus pass, exactly so I don't have to carry change), was a little taken aback (this guy wasn't exactly the nicest guy), and wasn't sure of King County policy myself, so I just got off and walked the rest of the way.

This time, after we had reached my stop and I had paid and was about to get off, the bus driver stopped me.

"What about the dog? I need full adult fare."

Huh? He's a guide dog in training. I'm training him for the blind.

"So?"

I've been taking this exact bus for the past two years and I've never once been asked for fare for these dogs.

"So? That doesn't make it right."

To make a long story short, the driver and I spent a good two minutes going back and forth. At one point, a passenger even jumped in: "He's a guide dog!" But, the driver and I weren't getting anywhere, and he seemed grumpy enough to actually want to make a point of things. I could just see it in my head: "Next on the 6 o' clock news! Kirkland resident arrested for refusing to pay bus fare... for guide dog he's training for the blind!" I happened to have the few dollars in change, so I just paid the fare and walked off. The driver wouldn't give me his name but I did get the bus number.

So, now, here I am, firing off an email to King County Transit asking that they please send a memo clarifying the issue with their drivers. I'm willing to forgive some small, mom-and-pop restaurant... but, really, this is just getting ridiculous. I take the bus several times a week and, next time, I won't have fare and it'll just devolve into some nasty situation.

Labels: Lester, Louie

Permalink | Written at 5:31 PM | Post a comment | 6 comments | Trackbacks

Awe, I'm soo sorry. Pretty much the whole population of Oregon are dog lovers so I've never had a problem. Those who aren't dog lovers usually aren't the business owners so it works out :)
I hope you atleast get your bus situation resolved.
Permalink   | Posted by  Anna at September 15, 2007 8:37 AM

How horribly frustrating! I think I'd cry if that had happened to me. Our pups in CO not only have legal access to public places and transportation, but the bus system has also given us free rides whenever we have a pup in training with us. With that said, I've never found a driver aware of the policy so carry a copy of the memo to the drivers with me. Nonetheless, every driver seems totally skeptical, but let me on anyway. I hate confrontation so sometimes I just pay the fair (for myself, not the dog!) and skip the conversation and showing of the memo. Good luck!
Permalink   | Posted by  Emily, Ellis, and Angel at September 15, 2007 12:46 PM

I am so sorry! I have only ever been refused at restaurants and that is frustraiting enough! Good luck though in getting something done about the bus fare thing.
Permalink   | Posted by  Brittany, Hobbs, and Patriot at September 15, 2007 6:12 PM

Found your blog by accidenttoday. You may be interested to read mine, it is also about a guide dog puppy, in the UK. Our pup is called Pickle and he is going in for his training next Wednesday, so it will be a sad day for us. We get our next one the same day, so back to house training again. The address for my blog is pickle-theguidedogpuppy.blogspot.com
Permalink   | Posted by  Pickle at September 16, 2007 12:24 PM

Weird. Back when I would take Foster on the bus, I'd frequently go to pay for her and the driver would just wave me off. Go figure.
Permalink   | Posted by  Kim at September 16, 2007 9:09 PM

I feel for you man. For the first six months I lived in Seattle I took the bus to work everyday and I felt really good about saving the environment and reducing traffic congestion. Ultimately though capricious bus drivers ended up being a major contributor to my decision to stop riding the bus. That coupled with Seattle's inconsistent pet/transportation policies made it a no-brainer for me to stop taking the bus.

My usual driver on the 355 express from Greenwood would let Sadie ride for free. If we were a bit late the next driver would charge 50 cents (since Sadie was under 18 years old) which was fine (especially given the humor value of applying the 18 year age limit to a dog). If we were later still Sadie would have to pay full fare.

What really burns me though is that my dog sits quietly under the seat and does not reduce the people carrying capacity of the bus. By this standard she really shouldn't be charged at all. I mean kids under age six occupy a seat but aren't charged any fare.

Further complicating the issue is the fact that when it comes to driving in a car Sadie is not considered a passenger for the purposes of using the HOV lanes. I don't get it. Bus: Sadie = full fare passenger. Car: Sadie = not a passenger.

Anyway, ultimately I just gave up on the bus given that I couldn't anticipate what was expected with respect to the fare for Sadie. I'm sure that all the people on the 355 bus miss Sadie (they all knew her name even if they didn't know mine).
Permalink   | Posted by  Jon J. at September 18, 2007 8:33 AM