airline employees abuse veteran and his service dog

[Drache]

Paws and Stripes founder and disabled veteran Jim Staneck is seeking support from fellow dog lovers after he and his service dog were insulted and assaulted by United Airline employees.

Staneck and his service dog Sarge spent 48 hours stranded in the Dulles Airport after numerous flight cancellations and delays. Wounded in battle, Staneck suffers from a brain injury that makes it difficult for him to concentrate under stress. When he struggled to understand changes to his itinerary an employee at the ticket counter insulted him.

"He said, 'Just read it' and I said, 'Sir I can't read it,' and he said, 'What are you retarded?'" Staneck recalls. "Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I'm a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help."

To make matters worse, Staneck says Sarge was kicked twice by United employees. He said the second kick was so hard that it sent her flying.

"(He) kicked her so hard on the rib cage, that she flew into my lap... He said he was afraid of dogs," Staneck said. He and Sarge literally hid in a corner until they were able to board a flight home.

Staneck is asking fellow animal lovers to contact United Airlines and let the company know that our veterans and the dogs they rely on deserve better. He describes the incident in the following video.

http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/07/airlines-employees-abuse-disabled-veteran-and-his-service-dog/



Vet says airline kicked his service dog, insulted him

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -

One New Mexico disabled veteran said his service dog was kicked twice by airline employees this week and he was called a slur.

Jim Staneck said he reached his breaking point earlier this week. He's the founder of Paws and Stripes, which pairs disabled vets with service dogs.

In the course of 48 hours at Dulles Airport, he said his service dog, Sarge, was kicked twice by United Airlines works -- once at the ticket counter and then on a shuttle.

"(He) kicked her so hard on the rib cage, that she flew into my lap... He said he was afraid of dogs," Staneck said.

Staneck was dealing with a canceled flight and delays. He served three combat tours in Iraq and has PTSD and a brain injury. He said the stress was overwhelming, and asked a customer service representative for help because he had trouble reading a reservation email.

"He said, 'Just read it' and I said, 'Sir I can't read it,' and he said, 'What are you retarded?'" Staneck recalls. "Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I'm a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help."

Staneck and Sarge eventually sought refuge in a corner.

"Honestly I thought I was done. I thought I would have to get another training dog," Staneck said.

Staneck said he has a challenge for the CEO of United Airlines.

"Call me. I'd be glad to talk to you. This is all about education," Staneck said.

http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/Vet-says-airline-kicked-his-service-dog-insulted-him/-/9153728/15620570/-/tht257z/-/index.html#ixzz21QD1aKmr

[twodko]

People at Dulles are going down. Well within his right to litigate until they freakin' bleed money to provide for him the rest of his life. If this is true.......

I'd want to hear the other sides story and see surveillance vids.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

I'd want to hear the other sides story and see surveillance vids.

This.

[hatersaurusrex]

Yeah, It sounds a bit over the top to me.   I could see a single person having a bad day and calling someone retarded, but usually it's one person, not a bunch.  I find it really hard to believe other emplyees then kicked his dog so hard she went flying.  I call BS.

[bordin34]

I don't believe it. Dulles airport is just outside DC and sort of part of the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum. I assume they deal with veterans and servicemen all the time and that something like this would have made actual news.

[Drache]

I find it really hard to believe other emplyees then kicked his dog so hard she went flying.  I call BS.

She didn't go "flying" the dog jumped back from the force of the kick.

[TK73]

I'd want to hear the other sides story and see surveillance vids.

This.

Check