120-Pound Livestock Guardian Dog
New York, NY - We do not know the specific details of this case, but it appears to be an abuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This past summer, the Department of Justice revised the act to better distinguish "therapy" dogs from "service" dogs. These two roles are not one in the same. Specifically, service dogs have more access to public facilities than therapy dogs. This lawsuit shows that a fair amount of confusion still persists between local entities and federal law.
"A woman's lawsuit against the New York City Transit Authority claims her 120-pound dog is protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Estelle Stamm, 65, who won $10,000 in a lawsuit against the city after two police officers gave her a citation for bringing her dog into a subway station, claims in her federal suit against NYC Transit that the livestock guardian dog is a service animal that helps with her post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from childhood sex abuse, the New York Daily News reported Monday.
The suit claims Stamm's civil rights were violated by transit workers who confronted her about the dog. However, the transit authority claims there were no violations as Stamm and her dog were never removed from any buses or trains. Stamm's suit is seeking $10 million in monetary damages and employee retraining for transit workers."
A 65-year old woman with a 120-pound, livestock guardian dog, would certainly raise the ire of any public transit official. The ADA does not require formal training standards for either a therapy or service dog. If something were to "go wrong" on the subway, you can bet the Transit Authority would be sued for triple the amount Stamm is seeking. As soon as those subway doors shut, there's no getting off. If one created a chart of this risk factor, the line would shoot straight up.
Related articles:
07/20/08: Service and Therapy Animals: Changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
07/20/08: Woman Claims Monkey is 'Service Animal'
I guess this person’s level of loony trumps the anxiety or panic others might experience being trapped in tight quarters with Miss Crazy and her 120 lb. crutch. (Or so she thinks.)
Too bad they did not post a photo of the woman. I have noticed all too often many of these pit nutter/dog nutter types resemble livestock. Could have been appropriate!
As I recall what I read in the ADA regulations, “emotional support” animals are NOT considered legitimate service animals. This woman is attempting to stir a pot on a cold stove.
I believe the revised ADA law was PASSED and is in effect. However, it’s unclear when the subway act happened and if the woman falls under the old ADA or the new one. Given that she’s suing for 10 million after already receiving 10 thousand, it’s likely that the “offensive” act occurred under the old law. She seems awfully confident…Then again, so did the Monkey woman…
https://blog.dogsbite.org/2008/07/woman-claims-monkey-is-service-animal.html
It’s also likely that the entire event was a set up, with the goal all along being a $10 million dollar lawsuit.
I think Mahlon Patrick and his bride of Frankenstein might up to the same shenanigans. First they signed over their dogs and now they are suing for them!
PTSD is a medical mental health condition that is over and beyond the realm of "emotional support." That said, a service dog must specifically "task trained" to alleviate symptoms of this disorder which cause her to be legally defined as having an "impairment." Some people with PTSD do not have legally definable "impairment" and others do. Herein, lies heart of the controversy.