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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks Ken. Good Job. Tell Velvet and Edison
Hi!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>JC and M </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kenvolonte@comcast.net href="mailto:kenvolonte@comcast.net">Ken
Volonte</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=cagdu@nfbcal.org
href="mailto:cagdu@nfbcal.org">Cagdu</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, April 14, 2008 1:31
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Cagdu] guide dog access</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<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>
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