A Canadian woman has sparked controversy after confronting a gas station cashier who allegedly refused to accommodate her service dog, capturing the heated exchange on video.
The incident, recorded and subsequently uploaded to the social media platform Reddit, unfolded at a Co-Op Gas Bar in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. In the video, the woman can be seen entering the establishment with her cellphone camera recording, accompanied by her Great Dane, identified as her service dog.
In the video, the woman vocally expresses her frustration, stating, “This is what happens when someone tells you you can’t have your service dog in a f***ing gas station.” She then directs her camera towards the cashier behind the counter, hurling obscenities at him and questioning his job satisfaction.
Despite the woman’s insistence that her dog is a service animal, the cashier requests an ID, which she vehemently denies exists. The altercation escalates, with the woman asserting her right to film in public as the cashier attempts to avoid the camera.
The video includes a text overlay, originally posted on Instagram, where the woman describes the incident as her third abusive altercation in a year and expresses her determination to advocate for the issues she has faced.
Under the 2007 Service Dog Act in Alberta, while service dogs are not required to wear vests or other identifiers, handlers must carry an Alberta service dog identification card. This card grants service dogs the right to accompany their handlers in public spaces, including hospitals, pet-restricted housing, and public transit.
However, falsely claiming a disability to gain protection under the act carries a penalty of $300 CAD. Conversely, businesses found to be discriminating against individuals lawfully using qualified service dogs face a significantly higher fine of $3,000 CAD.
