Tiny Miette stood patiently at the mall kiosk as owner Janet Koglin examined some earrings.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
The 11-pound shih tzu stood as tall as her eight-inch height would allow, patient and attentive.
Koglin, 57, of Stanwood was on a late holiday-shopping trip at the Everett Mall, a place she would never go without her companion, Miette.
The 31/2-year-old dog is not a pet, as the vest the little animal wears proudly states. It says “service dog.”
Suffering from a bipolar disorder and agoraphobia (fear of public places), Koglin relies on Miette for emotional support, as well as loving doggy reactions that signal a time for more medication to control Koglin’s psychological problems.
“I think of her as an incredible friend, somebody who would never let me down,” Koglin said. “Like a family member.”
The recent shopping trip went off without a hitch.
Folks glanced at Miette as they walked by on the mall concourse. Children asked permission to pet her. Grown men bent down and tickled Miette behind the ears.
Koglin maintained mental stability, engaging in pleasant banter with clerks and mall customers.
Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly.
Koglin recites a long list of confrontations she’s had with store “greeters,” people in restaurants and officials in public buildings – all who wanted to deny Miette access.
Koglin uses the little dog for a reality check when her episodes become extreme and when she begins to hallucinate.
“She knows what should be there and what shouldn’t be there. If she doesn’t react, I know everything’s OK,” Koglin said.
As for her fear of public places, “I need to take a piece of my world with me,” Koglin said. “She’s a piece of my world.”
Under both state law and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, Miette and Koglin are allowed to enter places where pet owners are not typically allowed to bring their animals.
Koglin is not alone in her frustration.
The state Human Rights Commission, which enforces laws against discrimination, gets numerous complaints from people whose service animals are barred from places.
More education may be needed.
“There’s very little information about service animals,” said Idolina Reta, commission deputy director. “Where it really comes up most often is in places of public accommodation like restaurants and hotels.”
The law recognizes service animals as just that – not pets. It means that a landlord can’t charge extra fees or deny access to a renter with a service animal, Reta said.
In short, people are entitled to ask owners such as Koglin only if the animal is trained and if it provides a service for her because of a disability.
However, it is possible for someone to lie about a pet being a service animal, Reta said.
The state has a certification process for guide dogs that help the blind, but nothing like that for other types of service animals.
The number of complaints is rising so much that Reta predicts the issue of service animal certification will be taken up by the Legislature, “because we’re getting more questions from businesses and landlords,” Reta said.
Problems frequently arise because a lot of people don’t know the law.
An Arlington judge even had to bone up on the law in September when Koglin tried to enter Cascade District Court in Arlington with Miette and was denied entry. Judge Jay Wisman went back to the law books and changed his mind.
However, the judge said he still believes the law ought to change to require people to prove that an animal has been trained to provide a service.
In a way, Miette can be a two-edged sword for Koglin. Yes, the dog is a comfort to her when she’s out in public. But when the dog’s presence provokes a confrontation, that adds to Koglin’s feelings of stress and induces psychological reactions, she said.
Koglin once had to call 911 when a restaurant shift manager tried to kick her and Miette out. The police came and patiently told the manager to ease off.
“He told her, ‘You’re lucky she doesn’t have a service pig,’” Koglin said.
Once in a grocery store, a security man came up to Koglin and asked about the pup.
“He looked at me and said I don’t look like someone who needs a service dog. I said to him, ‘It must be working, huh?’” Koglin said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
