| MOORE LOSES IT As I continued to request Moore allow me to shop with Tammi, he suddenly grabbed Tammi's leash in the middle (one end was wrapped around my wrist), and literally started to drag Tammi and me toward the exit door leading to the parking lot. At this point you need to know some more facts. Moore is, 6'1" tall, 43 years old , 185# and lifts weights. I am 5' 6 1/2" tall, 64 years old and 155#. Laurel is 5'1", 50 years old and 103#. Moore was dragging Tammi and me toward the exit door so Laurel ran to him shouting for him to let go from behind and started to pound her hands on his back. Laurel said, "I thought (David) was going to have another heart attack. Then I remembered Leo and thought (Moore) was going to throw Tammi into the traffic area of the the parking lot. I was thinking only to protect my husband and Tammi." |
| OUR HOME DEPOT EXPERIENCE |
| Tammi's story has a startling and frightening resemblance to that of "Leo", the 10-year old Bichon Frise who was snatched from the lap of his human mother by an irate driver after a slight fender-bender, thrown into traffic and killed in a fit of "road rage" which gained national attention due to the henious nature of the crime. The sick male (I can't call him a "man") who did this was sentenced to 3 years in jail for killing Leo. Click here for the full story of Leo, including how, after being convicted and being sent to prision, the killer sued Leo's "mother" for his distress. Read here how the Home Depot employee is suing my wife and I after what he did to my Service Dog. In this incident, my "Service Dog" Tammi (a Miniature Poodle) who carries heart medication needed by me after a quad-bypass and two subsequent angioplasties, was literally "hung" by an irate Home Depot Service Manager, Perry Moore, of West Hills, California. From this point forward, he will be referred to as "Moore" since he doesn't deserve the title "Mr." As with Leo, this story is hard to believe, but it's absolutely true. On May 10, 2003, my wife Laurel, myself and Tammi went to Home Depot in Woodland Hills, California to do some shopping. I had been there literally dozens of time before with Tammi. For the first time ever, we were told by a Home Depot Associate that Tammi was not allowed into Home Depot since she was not a "Seeing Eye" dog. This is an absolutely incorrect statement of the law. I said Tammi was a Service Dog but the Associate did not seem to understand so I asked to see a manager and went to the plumbing department. Shortley thereafter, Moore came to us and said pets were not allowed and I told Moore Tammi was a Service dog, but Moore would not listen as I tried to explain the law to him. He said company policy was clear that only "Seeing Eye" dogs were allowed in the store and that was posted on the entry door. I tried to explain further but Moore insisted we leave. He then "escorted" us to the exit door and Tammi and I went out. But then I came back in since other Home Depot employees had gathered and I said again, Tammi was a Service Dog and allowed in with me by law. Yes, it would have been easier for me to just leave, however, like Rosa Parks, the black woman who on December 1, 1955 in Montgomery Alabama, wouldn't go to the back of the bus, I wasn't going to be treated like a second-class citizen by someone who of all people should abhor discrimination. . So I peacefully stood my ground and demanded service as any other customer. Apparently being challenged did not sit well with Moore, judging by his actions which followed. |
| THIS IS TAMMI, WHO IS MY CERTIFIED AND LICENSED SERVICE DOG. |
| TAMMI'S HOME DEPOT EXPERIENCE |
| By: David (her Daddy) |
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| At this point, Moore turned around to Laurel and pushed her, causing her to fall into a display rack and onto her back on the concrete floor, hitting her head on the floor. Then, Moore lifted Tammi off the ground about 2 feet by her leash and continued "carrying" her as she yelped in fear and pulling me toward the door. It was then I moved forward and pulled down Moore's arm so Tammi would be on the ground. With this, Moore seemed to regain control of himself, let go of the leash and walked a short distance away. Had it not been for the fact that Tammi's leash was attached to a style of harness usually worn by Service dogs, she may well have been strangled. |
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| Moore (above) was reallly a good actor at his deposition, especially in his new suit. |
| As of five months after this incident, this sign still is in use at Home Depot stores nationwide despite it being 100% contrary to Federal law. |