FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jahinnslerth “Joe” Orozco
1265 Newton St. NE
Washington, D.C.
Phone: 512-787-8616
Email: jsorozco@gmail.com

Blind Man Forced to Sit In the Back or Put Seeing Eye Dog Under Bus

Washington, D.C. – January 4, 2007 – While attempting to travel to New York City, NY from Washington, D.C. Jahinnslerth Orozco was told repeatedly that he could not take his Seeing Eye dog onto the shuttle bus. The employees of Today’s Bus told him that there was no law that they were aware of that would require them to transport a dog, even after being shown proof of the dogs training. They laughingly told him that he would have to call the police, otherwise the best they could do is put him under the bus with the luggage. The city police were called and resolved the situation in D.C.

Although the D.C. office had been told that Mr. Orozco would be returning the next day using their service and being accompanied by his Seeing Eye dog, no one was notified in New York City. After missing the first bus because the employees refused to board him and his guide dog, his ticket was snatched from his traveling companion by an employee. The police were once again called but had not yet arrived by the time the second bus was going to pull away. Eventually, a male employee agreed to take the both Orozco and his Seeing Eye dog, under the stipulation that the two sit in the very back row of the bus, next to the restroom. In order to prevent delaying the trip even further, they boarded the bus.

Attempts have been made by Mr. Orozco to contact the local and main offices of Today’s Bus. The only response he received was from what is believed to be the owner, Mr. Ming Yu, who said that the company was within its rights to refuse service because despite being on both leash and harness, as well as completely controlled under the seat, there was still the potential for the fully trained Seeing Eye dog to cause harm to others. When questioned why the staff were not instructed on the laws governing accessibility of disabled customers, Mr. Ming Yu simply replied that his business was too small to be responsible for such training.
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