An angry service dog owner filmed the moment a Macy’s manager attacked her because he was upset that her dog was running loose.
He TikTok video Posted in June, it shows a black Labrador lying on the tile floor of the store in Lake Grove, New York, as the manager approaches the dog’s owner and her friend and tells them: “You can’t have dogs off leash.”
The trainer, Payton, then tries to explain to the manager, who later identifies herself as Ashley, that her dog and her friend’s dogs are service animals.
“I understand, but you have to be on a leash,” the manager tells them.
But the dog’s owner isn’t backing down, explaining: “Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, they are not required to be on a leash if it interferes with their duties.”
A service dog trainer named Payton was filmed confronting a seemingly ignorant Macy’s manager who was upset that her dog was running loose.
When Ashley tries to argue again, Payton can be heard telling her, “federal law trumps store policy.”
Still, the store manager says dogs must be on a leash, but Payton again tries to inform him of the law.
“State and federal law states that they are not required to be on a leash. It’s for their safety and ours,” she said, later explaining in a comment on her video that her dog, Onyx, jumps up to alert her of an impending medical emergency and her leash could get tangled.
At that point, the manager offers to help them shop, but Payton rejects that idea.
“They are trained,” he argues, “and I can explain the law to you if you want.”
“I’m trying to help you,” Ashley says.
“But you obviously don’t understand,” Payton replies.
Payton argued that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs do not have to be on a leash if it interferes with their duties.
She explained in a comment on the video that her dog, Onyx, jumps up to alert her of a pending medical emergency and her leash could get tangled.
The manager then tries again to get someone to help them shop and says he understands what Payton is saying, “but this is the store rule.”
“I understand that these are your dogs and that’s what they’re trained to do,” the manager says, but Payton argues that “they’re medical equipment, they’re not pets” and that “federal law trumps politics.”
The manager then tries to tell Payton and her friend that there are other customers in the store and eventually asks them to go to security.
“Yes, we can go to security,” Payton replies, “because this is against the law.”
The comment seems to anger Ashley, who again offers to help the girls shop.
“We don’t need help,” Payton replies. “That’s why we have them, but forcing them to be tied up is against the law.”
“They can sue you, I can sue you for money,” he warns.
“I understand,” Ashley insists, as she once again offers to help them shop.
“This is ridiculous,” Payton says, growing increasingly angry. “But you don’t understand, because if you did, you’d know the law. Do you want me to explain it to you right now?” she asks.
Still, the argument continues for several minutes as Payton appears to be losing her breath. The video then shows Payton lying on the ground with Onyx by her side.
“And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you chase a service dog,” her friend says. “Thank you Ashley, thank you Macy’s.”
“Payton passed out after this interaction,” he explains, “and I almost passed out too.”
The video cuts to show Payton on the floor of the store after the accident.
In a Update a few days laterPayton said she returned to the store the next day and was told that Ashley “was just uneducated and that she was fine.”
“Obviously it’s still not okay, because we tried to educate her on the video, as you can see, and she just wouldn’t listen,” Payton said.
“It’s clear that she’s still not well and, in my opinion, she deserves to be fired.”
She added that the corporation saw the video and contacted her to say “they are disappointed to hear what happened.”
“But I was obviously talking to a bot because it asked for my information, and I said something like, ‘Before you give me my information I’d like to know what action will be taken,’ and then they just said, ‘We’re disappointed to hear that, thank you for giving us your information,'” he said.
Payton also said she gave the corporation her cell phone number and revealed in a comment that the manager had been fired.
The manager has reportedly been fired from the store in Lake Grove, New York, but many online suggested that Payton take legal action against the company.
But many online said he should take legal action against the company.
“You should contact a lawyer and see what your options are,” one woman commented on her video. “That employee caused you physical harm and Macy’s should be held responsible for compensating you for that.”
Another TikTok user pleaded: “Please sue them and keep us informed. The way they treated you was disgusting,” while a third urged Payton not to speak to the company without a lawyer present.
“Please call a lawyer, because Macy’s is huge and everywhere and they need to train ALL employees at all locations,” she said.
“Get a lawyer. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING, DO NOT AGREE TO ANYTHING,” urged another.
DailyMail.com has contacted Macy’s for comment.
