FW: Service Animal Hotline Marks Bittersweet Achievement
Margie Donovan
From: Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP) <advoc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 2:02 PM
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Subject: Service Animal Hotline Marks Bittersweet Achievement
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Service animal hotline marks bittersweet achievement
On March 15, 2022, Advocates for service Animal Partners launched the only 24-hour service animal hotline in the United States. On July 25, 2024, ASAP211 received its 500th & 501st call!
“It is a bittersweet accomplishment,” remarks Marion Gwizdala, ASAP’s CEO and the organization’s lead advocate. “Today we commemorate the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities act and yesterday two service dog handlers faced the discrimination this law prohibits!”
The 500th call the hotline received was from a disabled woman in the Florida panhandle who had been turned away by several homeless shelters because of her service dog. The 501st call was from a woman in the Los Angeles area who was standing outside a hospital while her father was being resuscitated in the emergency room because the charge nurse told the security officers that no pets were allowed. In both cases ASAP’s advocates were able to resolve the callers' access challenges within one hour!
According to state and federal laws, disabled individuals accompanied by their service dogs must be allowed access to any area open to the general public, with very few exceptions. No special gear or identification can be required as a condition of access but businesses are allowed to inquire about what tasks the dog is trained to perform. Service dogs must be under the control of their handlers and be kept on a leash or tether unless a leash or tether interferes with the work the dog is trained to perform. Service dogs that are out of control, pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others, are disruptive to the business, or are not housebroken may be removed from a business. Allergies or fear of dogs is not a reason to exclude a service animal. In several states, misrepresenting a pet as a trained service dog is a criminal offense.
Advocates for Service Animal Partners (ASAP is the only organization in the United States whose sole mission is to support, protect, and enhance the civil rights of service animal handlers and the businesses we patronize. ASAP operates a 24-hour service animal information and resource hotline – 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211). This one-of-a-kind hotline offers guidance to apply state and federal civil rights laws concerning service animals to specific situations. ASAP also provides educational workshops and webinars to the general public, policymaking services, protocol implementation, and in-service training concerning service animals to the healthcare, hospitality, transportation, and retail industries. For ongoing information about advocates for service Animal Partners and to support our work, please sign up for our advocacy insider's group.
You may also contact our business office at 386-ASAP411 (386-272-7411) or email us at
Marion Gwizdala, President/CEO
(He/His/Him)
Advocates for Service Animal Partners Inc. (ASAP)
Office: 386-ASAP411 (386-272-7411)
Hotline: 855-ASAP211 (855-272-7211)
ServiceAnimals.info
Facebook.com/asap411/
“Forward together!”