Mother elaborates on McDonald’s incident
Jennifer Schwenker has spoken publicly for the first time since she, her autistic twin sons and their service dog, Barkley, were bullied out of a Marietta, Ga., McDonald’s last month.
Schwenker said she was just trying to leave the restaurant when she accidentally spilled some of her drink on the off-duty manager who had ordered them out.
“I accidentally dropped the drink just trying to get out the door frantically,” she told 11Alive News in an exclusive interview Monday.
The drink splashed on several people, including the off duty manager, who followed Schwenker outside and, out of the view of cameras, slapped her, police said.
The manager, Tiffany Denise Allen, 25, was fired and faces misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
Schwenker was having lunch with her twin 8-year-old sons, Ben and Sam, and their autism service dog, Barkley, a Labrador and bloodhound mix who was trained at “4 Paws for Ability”, of Xenia, Ohio, when the off-duty manager insisted the dog had to leave the restaurant.
“Most of the time people don’t understand about autism dogs and what they do,” Schwenker said.
She said Barkley joined their family two years ago, and helps calm her sons, as well as keep track of them.
As a result of her McDonald’s experience, Schwenker has created a web site called “Animals in Service for Children” and is using it to tell her family’s stories and those of others that may have had similar problems.
Posted by jwoestendiek August 30th, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: 4 paws for ability, animals, animals for children, animals in service for children, assault, autism, barkley, disabilities, discrimination, dogs, georgia, jennifer schwenker, manager, marietta, mcdonald's, pets, refused service, restaurant, service dog, service dogs, sons, surveillance, tiffany denise allen, twins, video
Comments
Comment from Anne’n'Spencer
Time August 30, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I’m beginning to think the world is filling up with petty, snotty, officious, meddlesome busybodies. It’s too bad this nice family had to meet up with one, and I’m glad something good has come of it.
(Incidentally, the young employees at our local McDonalds are as nice as they could possibly be–cheerful, pleasant, helpful, and you can hear what they’re saying through the drive-through speaker. I think it speaks highly of their–well, their manager.)
Comment from leas50
Time September 6, 2011 at 7:58 am
It’s the more recent class of “service dogs” — emotional support and psychiatric service — that are muddying the waters. There is a tenant in my “no pets” building with a”service” dog who barks incessantly in common areas, rears on its hind legs and lunges at people and she does NOTHING to try and control it. I love dogs and the wonderful ways they benefit people, but irresponsible dog owners make things bad for others
Comment from Anonymous
Time September 6, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Hope the judge sentences her to working with service dogs/people who benefit from service dogs so that she might learn a valuable lesson!!
Comment from Denise
Time August 30, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Oh WOW!!! I am SOOOOOOOOOO glad that you’ve made something positive about this ugly incident. I too, use a service dog, and support you 100% in your new website!! Kudos~
~Service Dogs save lives~