Mom, 6-year-old son, service dog asked to leave Greensburg craft store

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A Greensburg woman is upset after she said a local craft store asked her, her son and his service dog to leave the store.

Lisa Roberts told Channel 11’s Courtney Brennan that she went to Jo-Ann Fabrics in Greensburg on July 16 with her 6-year-old son and his service dog to get a bandana.

Roberts said an employee of the store asked them to leave even after she explained the dog was a service animal.

"We got about five steps in the door, and a lady, she came running over to us and screamed at me, 'Get out.' And I said, 'Excuse me?'  She goes, 'Get out of the store with that dog,' and I said, 'I'm sorry.  She's a service dog. You can't legally make us leave,'" Roberts said.

Roberts said the woman continued to give her a hard time, so she asked another employee for help.

"I didn't know about different materials, sizes and if there was a pattern that could be cut or whatever, and she stood there and stared at me.  She didn't say a word.  She just stared at me," said Roberts.

Eventually, Roberts found a pink bandana and bought it but called the store's corporate headquarters about how she was treated.

Roberts said a woman took her information and said someone would get back to her.
 
"Well, it has been two weeks now, and I haven't heard a thing, so I put the post on Facebook just to kind of let them know I'm still here. I haven't heard from you what's going on," said Roberts.
 
Roberts' Facebook post on the company's page about her experience now has 5,000 likes and more than 900 comments.  She says she wasn't trying to stir up controversy. 
 
"The only thing I want out of this is a sincere apology and education for the employees so this doesn't happen to again," said Roberts.

Jo-Ann Fabrics released this statement Monday afternoon:

"At Jo-Ann, all aspects of customer service are important to us.  We are committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the service animal requirements, as indicated by the signage on our doors stating 'service animals welcome.'  We sincerely apologize if the reported events happened as described, and will continue to educate our Team Members with regard to our expectations."

WPXI