A disabled U.S. Army veteran, who served our country for 19 years, says he was kicked off the North Wildwood boardwalk last night, simply for having his service dog by his side.
Jared Goering served 1 tour in Iraq, 2 in Afghanistan, and spent 19 years as an active member of the Army. Jared said, "I served from 1993 to 2012." He then told NBC40 he couldn't sleep Thursday night because he felt so disrespected by a North Wildwood police officer.
Goering said, "Just like any veteran with disabilities with a service dog, to come back and be harassed and shown no respect, it upset me - it really bothered me. I was up most of the night thinking about it."
A North Wildwood police officer issued Jared and his wife a summons because of the dog. Goering said, “I expected to get more respect from him because of the jobs that we both have to do."
"He mockingly asked if all veterans get service dogs," said Jared’s wife, Sally Goering, “his dog is medically necessary and he is a service dog."
In 2009, Jared was serving in Afghanistan when his vehicle was blown up by IEDs, twice, within 36 hours. Now, Jared uses his 3-year-old service dog, Gator, short for Navigator, to help him walk, and to get up and down stairs.
Jared explained, "I also suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety, depression - and my dog plays a big part in my life. His main purpose is mobility but he also helps me with all my emotional problems from combat."
Jared and his wife Sally say the incident occurred on the 26th street North Wildwood boardwalk. The Goering family said, even after showing the officer the dog's service identification card, he still issued them a summons and kicked them off the boardwalk.
Sally said, "We want the public to be aware that there are different types of disabilities and different types of service dogs - and police officers need to be educated about this."
North Wildwood police officials say there are no pending charges, but that there are other circumstances surrounding the case.
The mayor of North Wildwood says they will issue a formal apology, if appropriate, pending the outcome of the investigation.
I live in San Diego and frequent our cement boardwalk in Mission Beach several times a week. As far as I know all service dogs are allowed on the boardwalk at any time. I say any time because there are times that dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk, between the hours of 9:00am and 6:00 pm. The lifeguards and the police are responsible for enforcing this law. I have been told by the lifeguards that if someone tells the lifeguard that their dog is a service dog, that is all that is required. They are not permitted to see or ask for proof that that the dog is registered as a service dog. I don't know if this law is just for California or nationwide. I do know the dog must be wearing some type of special tag.Lots of people have service dogs to cope with anxiety issues.
ReplyDeleteI assume this article about the vet and the service dog took place in New Jersey. I will look up the service dog laws for New Jersey and get back ASAP.
I could find nothing in New jersey law that would warrant a citation for the vet and his dog. I assume the dog was on a leash and had the proper tags. In fact the law states that no one will prevent the dog and it's owner from any public place.
ReplyDeleteSo Mr. Goering served his country for 19 years, did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, returns home as a disabled veteran, and gets kicked off the boardwalk by some disrespectful asshat of a cop who doesn't understand what a service dog is for. I think Mr. Goering's fellow veterans in NJ need to teach that cop a lesson.
ReplyDeleteIt was brought to the cops attention and paper work proved the dog was a service dog. If he was ignorant of what this means he should have contacted his supervisor and prevented making an ass out of himself, and the city that employes him. He should be given a 2 month suspension without pay, and reduced to doing a desk job where he will never have contact with the public again. The city depends on tourism to thrive so going there to protest would just give them revenue. however if your thinking of going to the jersey shore, make sure you and your family and friends write to the mayor and tell him we will not be coming to wildwood nj and why.javascript:grin(':twisted:')
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