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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm always surprised when a call comes in that
someone with a guide dog has been denied access to a restaurant. I'm
surprised because guide dogs have been a part of the American scene for so long,
so today, Velvet and I went to the Mekong cafeteria to check it out.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> The Mekong is a little place
located in mid town. Blue collar workers of all kinds eat there.
It's quiet and cool. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Sure enough, the manager came up
to us and asked that I put my dog outside. We just kept on walking to a
table. "It's ok", Velvet said. "This is a guide dog", I said.
"You don't understand", he said. "Some of my customers get mad when they
see a dog. They ask for their money back. If that happens, you'll
have to pay me". "His logic is wrong", this from Velvet.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We got our plates without incident. Velvet
had her pork chow mein and I had spicy chicken with broccoli and beef. All
the while, the manager was nervous, but he didn't call the police. Neither
did we. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I got up to use the
bathroom. Edison wanted to go into the kitchen, but we made a quick turn
and up two steps. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> When I returned to the table, a
young Asian man was leaving. Velvet beckoned him over. "Did you have
a nice lunch"? Velvet wanted to know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> "Yes", said the young man, I eat
here all the time".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Did you object to my husband's
guide dog"?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> "Where's the dog?" I
gestured to the corner under the table. "Oh! I didn't even know he was
there". That was all we needed to hear. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I got up and approached the
kitchen where the manager was chopping onions. "Your food was very good",
I said. "We'll be coming in from time to time to eat", and I stuck out my
hand. He shook it warmly. "You're welcome here any time. Maybe
you could sit in the back room because there are some customers"...
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>He let the sentence trail off.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> "When ever you see a dog in
harness like this, or in a blanket, you have to let them in. It's the law,
and you won't get in trouble." We walked out into the chilly wind. We
were off on other business. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Does this mean that the owner
of a store or restaurant has no rights? Certainly not. If a
guide dog is out of control or if her master is obnoxious, then the
proprietor is well within his rights to not serve, but that's not a blindness
issue. It's a matter of being a good citizen in a world with all kinds of
people. </FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>