Chloe - A Pitbull Ambassador

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership, Pitbull and Service Dog
Education, and Chloe as a Positive Pitbull Ambassador

1.
Wal-Mart Apologizes to Chloe the Pitbull
CA State Review, Peace Offering, and Apology Letter
 
We are trying to allow this unfortunate, and not so uncommon situation, to be turned into a positive and proactive voice joining the millions of others that have been fighting this fight before us. Hopefully, this will help further educate business and the public on the rights of Service Dogs and also the positive promotion of Pitbulls as well.  Thank you for the opportunity to hear our story and your support!  Let us know any other information that might be helpful.

Wal-Mart's Acknowledges Illegal Treatment of Pitbull Service Dog

•California Regional Manger stepped in and acknowledged the recent illegal treatment of local Pitbull Service Dog at HB store and re-emphasized Wal-Mart’s position that no service dog should be discriminated against because of breed. They have taken the following measures:

  1. 1.Reviewed with all California store top management the proper treatment of service dogs and their owners
  2. 2.Worked with the two local managers who handled this situation so poorly
  3. 3.Sent a written apology and also a box full of dog goodies as a peace offering to Chloe for their prejudice and illegal treatment of her because of her breed.
  4. 4.Working with the Corporate office to better ensure the proper training of employees across the company - Apparently, there are 8 open lawsuits across the nation and we have been receiving so many similar stories as well (our intention is not to sue at this time, even though there is a large out cry.) should note that Wal-mart is not the only business struggling with this. Sears is having a large problem and other businesses as well.

NOTE:  We are going to keep our petition going until we receive assurance that tangible measures are being taken across the corporation. We are pleased with the State / Regional Manager's  actions and are hopeful with the corporation to follow the same. Again, we want to take this unfortunate situation and turn it as a positive platform for education and awareness of service dog owner rights, positive promotion of Pitbulls, and the real issue – responsible ownership.

 
2.National Out Cry – Over 3,500 Sign Petition within 3 weeks – Many Similar Stories
•Since the incident, we have done what exactly the Local Manager said we needed to do:  Educate the public! And put in a formal complaint to Wal-mart to ensure this does not happen again.
– Have receive media coverage so far – ABC7 news, 3 radio programs, OC register/Wave, and hundreds of internet newsgroups, myspace, etc. Website has receive over 40k visitors
•We are finding that there are many similar stories around the nation – many just given up

HOW YOU CAN HELP    Keep Going Until Corporate Wal-Mart Ensures Review/Change at a Corporate Level

1)    DO YOU WANT UPDATES OR TO HELP???  Contact us - live2thefullest04@yahoo.com

  • Say Hi and sign-up to be updated on any future events, coverage, also would love to hear your own stories, positive and negative experiences. And of course all your support and personal comments and pictures of your own dogs is definitely inspiring!!!
  • Looking for ORGANIZATIONS and HELPERS to partner with to support the positive promotion of Pitbulls - keep the education going!

2)  Sign our Petition  (We will be using this for Corporate until we receive assurance of change at a corporate level) http://tinyurl.com/27oyoe  Some key points:

  • What you feel about Walmart's ILLEGAL treatment according to the ADA 1990 because of Pitbull discrimination!  - similar experiences around the nation - 8 open lawsuits (no, we are not intending to sue)
  • What it means to you as a shopper and what you want from them - training across ALL stores for all their employees ensuring the rights of the Disabled, Service Dogs, and the Pitbull Breed

3)    Send Corporate Walmart online feedback  (keep going until we receive assurance of change at a corporate level - can copy & paste from your petition).  Scroll to the form on the bottom: http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=221 

4)    Keep educating and promoting positive Pitbulls www.chloethepitbull.com to your newsgroups / and other supporters for coverage

5)    Post Your Thoughts at http://tinyurl.com/ytwap7-- the newspaper missed the major points and white washed the issues Orange County Register Fountain Valley View 2-21-7

  NEW - CUSTOM APPAREL - Shop and support the cause - Pitbull Proud! Our mission is educate through positive promotion of the Pitbulls and also Service Dogs.  Wear this quality apparel for the opportunity to help support and voice our story.  Profits will go towards the education and positive promotion of Pitbulls Thank you!

BACKGROUND --- We had an experience at Walmart that was very disturbing considering there so many similar stories around the nation. Here are the key points of interest:
 
1.Walmart’s Illegal Treatment of Service Dogs
•Two Walmart managers requested myself and my Service Dog to leave because of her breed stating there were children in the store and she is an unstable and vicious breed - They continued to asked us to leave EVEN AFTER being informed of our Service Dog legal rights and what they were asking was illegal!! Walmart employees were brief in a meeting afterwards by their management reinforcing their position - when we came back two days later (as we shared we would on the phone) several employees talked with us and with a full range of feedback including , i.e., 'did you break her from her craziness? you know, the craziness on killing people?'
 
2.Legal rights of people depending upon Service Dogs and the uniqueness of Service Dogs - NOTE:  California provides the same rights for a Service Dog "in training" as a "graduate/certified" Service Dog 
  • •Legal rights of people depending upon Service Dogs access to all public facilities, with no discrimination of treatment, etc which is established to preserve their the dignity, freedom, and rights.
  • •Thousands of dollars in fines for not only the individual people breaking the ADA law, but  also thousands for the company they represent
  • •Service Dogs come in all sizes and breeds - Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, American Pit Bull Terriers , etc. -- Many people only think they are for blind people, but they are also used for medical alerts, balance dogs, hearing dogs, etc) might mention there are monkeys and miniature horses that are used as Service Animals as well
3.Increasing public fear is fed by ignorance and prejudice – The American Pit Bull Terrier bad image overshadows the positive long history of this amazing breed and great value to society
  • •There are American Pit Bull Terriers providing valuable services today - Search & Rescue (Recovery of the 2003 Shuttle Astronaut Remains), Drug Detection (Largest drug bust found by a American Pit Bull Terrier), Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs, etc.
  • •Amazing pets -  Petey from Our Gang, Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Michael J. Foxx, etc. Millions now happy owners
  • •Sad Realities - prejudice similar to Racial Profiling, Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), shrinking rights of owners & dogs (banned from different cities, home insurance coverage, etc) and its NOT solving the problem which comes down to Responsible Ownership!
NOTE: Have been receiving questions and want to provide clarity:  In the state of California, Service Dogs "in training" have the same full access and treatment rights as "graduated/certified" Service Dogs.  Chloe is enrolled in a professional Service Dog training organizaiton that has stringent evaluation and training criteria we are following and will graduate in approximately 2 1/2 years (no dog is certified under 3 years old). For those inquiring minds who feel the need to make a judgement whether I am disabled enough to own a Service Dog, not all disabilities are immediately visible and I do have medical needs that meet the State of California qualifications. This is a personal issue and appreciate the respect of privacy and sensitivity. As a side note regardless of medical condition, a training handler does not have to be a disabled person to train a Service Dog.  Chloe is my dog and being trained for me. The last comment, is that I am truly doing this for the education of public and businesses on the rights and uniqueness of service dogs, and also the positive promotion of pitbulls.  I no intention to sue or make money from this, but rather truly allow this unfortunate and not so uncommon situation to be turned into a positive and proactive voice joining the millions of others that have been fighting this fight before us.  Thank you for the opportunity to hear our story and your support!  Let us know any other information that might be helpful as well (pls email, live2thefullest04@yahoo.com if you would like a response)
 
BACKGROUND OF INCIDENT
On the evening of February 8th, I was shopping at the Huntington Beach Walmart with my Service Dog (Chloe) and daughter for approx 1/2 hour. Chloe was extremely well behaved.  The Customer Service Manager approached us and asked us to leave because “there are children in the store and we can't have a vicious breed in here.” I was stunned and went over Chloe's training, that she was an Ambassador for her breed, and emphasized what she was asking me to do was illegal according to 1990 American Disability Act 1990.  The Walmart Customer Service Manager said that she represented the Store Manager's position as well, and she still did not feel comfortable with the dog in the store and asked us to leave. I again emphasized what she was asking was illegal and to carefully consider what she was asking me.  She again asked if we could go, and then when I pressed her for it in writing, she said to finish my shopping quickly and not to linger.  I told her I wanted to talk to the Store Manager and followed her upfront.  After checking out, I asked her when he was coming - she said he look for us and is now busy. She confirmed it was his decision also and they just got off the phone. I said I would wait and to call him again, she said it would be a while and to go because “it won't matter.”
 
I left and called our OC HUGS Service Dog president. and then called the Store Manager with her conferenced in.  I first confirmed his position that he wanted us to go because of Chloe was a Pitbull even though she is a Service Dog in training.  He as very strong in his prejudice opinions, stating they were an 'unstable and vicious' breed and banned from different cities. He said he was aware of the Service Dogs and their rights, but he had never seen a Pitbull Service Dog in his 20 years.  He also emphasized that it was our responsibility to educate the public and we shared that is what are trying to do starting with him.  He was closed minded in his opinions, rude and insensitive, and finally apologized when pressed for one.  A complaint of incident has been filed with with Walmart and should have never happened if their employees were trained properly. - We still have not been contacted, by Corporate, Regional, or District Management requesting to talk with them.
 
We went back to the store two days later (we told the manager when talking on the phone that we would and wanted to make there was no problems).  Approximately 6 to 8 employees approached asking if the Chloe was a Pitbull and if she was there before - apparently they said there was a big meeting the night we were asked to leave and the manager went on about how vicious the breed to all the employees.  One employee said he couldn't believe how blown out of portion it was.  Another employee even asked "did you break her of her craziness?" and then went on to say how he heard how the breed had a 'crazy' gene that made them go crazy and hurt people --- UGH!!!  I was as polite as possible and informed him about the temperment test and the difference between human aggression and dog aggression, along with socialization and training, etc...
 
MEDIA COVERAGE - WE ARE LOOKING FOR COVERAGE TO: 1) Help preserve the dignity, freedom, and rights of people depending upon Service Dogs through educating Businesses and the general Public on their ADA 1990 legal rights and the uniqueness of Service Dogs 2) 2.Help remove ignorance and prejudice by positive promotion of the American Pit Bull Terrier value and merits We want to thank the below Media for the coverage so far:

•

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!  On the behalf of Pitbulls and Service Dogs everywhere!!!

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

For the rights and dignity of the disabled and the love of Pitbulls,

Gina Pettrow & Chloe
www.chloethepitbull.com - live2thefullest04@yahoo.com - California

Chloe Watching ABC7 News Coverage Video - http://www.youtube.com/v/8THxqv9AcmI

See complete news coverage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuQ7RmMWWu0