Wallis Brozman and her service dog, Mork, developed a strong bond over two years as he assisted her in daily life. Brozman, a manual wheelchair user, has relied on service dogs like Mork for 15 years to help her with tasks such as navigating, retrieving items, and opening doors. In her role as a communications and advocacy coordinator for Canine Companions, she traveled across the country with Mork, a golden retriever and Labrador mix, to advocate for service animals.
However, their journey was marred by a series of dog attacks on Mork, which eventually led to his retirement from service. These attacks occurred in various public places, including restaurants, supermarkets, and retail stores, and they left Mork fearful and on high alert around other dogs when in public. The breaking point came in 2018 when Mork even became wary of a retired service dog kept as a pet by Brozman.
Brozman’s experiences with Mork in public places where pets were not allowed led her to understand the significance of Publix, a Florida-based supermarket chain, posting signs reminding customers of its no-pets policy.
“It’s a significant issue for service dog users,” explained Brozman, who is currently awaiting her next service dog. “We encounter this daily.”
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