A woman shopping at a Walmart store in New York claimed that she was followed and harassed by employees because her service dog was not on a leash.
Crystal Pratt stated that workers at the Albany location yelled at her multiple times while she was inside the supermarket, despite having properly registered her golden retriever service dog, Bella.
Pratt, who relies on a mobility scooter and has undergone surgeries recently, had completed all necessary paperwork to prove Bella’s service dog status.
However, the issue arose because Bella, who assists Pratt in reaching items she cannot, was not on a leash while inside the supermarket.
She claimed that at least five workers, who were not wearing ID badges, confronted her before she decided to call the police.
“They just kept yelling from across the aisles that she needed to be on a leash,” she told the Daily Mail. She was escorted out by the police while at the checkout.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs must be harnessed or leashed. However, there is an exemption for individuals who are unable to harness their animals.
In such cases, individuals must use their voice or signal to control their service animals.
Employees at the store are only allowed to ask two questions to individuals with a service dog if it’s not clear what function the animal serves.
The first question is: “Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?”
And the second: “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”
Employees are prohibited from inquiring about a customer’s disability or requesting medical documentation, as per the ADA guidelines.
They are also not permitted to conduct tests to verify the animal’s service duties.
“Walmart values every customer interaction and is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive and respectful shopping experience for all,” a spokesperson told WRGB.
“Service animals are welcome in our stores, and we are committed to following ADA guidelines and applicable state laws.”
