Jo W.
Whole Foods/Cold Heart
I have been shopping at WHOLE FOODS Sarasota since they opened over 10 years ago.Needless to say,I should be recognized by now but with the constant turnover in employees, guess that is too much to ask for.I am disabled and I bring my service dog in in a dog stroller.I use the stroller as stability to walk but I also suffer from seizures and PTSD.He is a 9 lb yorkshire terrior who is very calm/quiet.Today as I walked by an employee who was stocking shelves she informed me that only service dogs were allowed in the store.I told her my dog was a service dog which his bright red collar clearly stated. Instead of simply saying OK and getting out of my face, she proceded to tell me just because I SAID he was a service animal didn't mean he was. This power hungry employee clearly does not know the ADA rules for service animals.She insisted in engaging me in a harassing conversation of which I was not going to give her the satisfaction of upsetting me.I promptly went to CS and asked to speak to a manager and guess who it turned out to be?Beth as it turns out was happy to come to CS to once again be rude to me in front of customers.When I asked CS for the corp. phone # Beth taunted me further telling me please call them and tell them I am doing my job. What is wrong with these big companies that hire these incompentant young people who are so disrespectful to customers?The guard on the front door when I entered the store talked to me when I approached and admired my well trained animal.I am so tired of being disrespected for my disabilities.I am not responsible for what other people do and this employee had no business talking down to me and embarassing me in public.If there is one thing those of us who have legit service animals know is that we know our rights.Needless to say,WHOLE FOODS will not be getting my business anymore and I am filing a complaint w/ the ADA.

