United Airlines staff asked disabled veteran if he was '********,' kicked service dog - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

retrofan05 · 07-23-2012, 11:01 AM

Disgusting.

By Laura Hibbard Posted: 07/22/2012 11:47 am Updated: 07/23/2012 9:05 am

Jim Stanek, a disabled veteran and Paws and Stripes cofounder, claims United Airlines staff physically abused his service dog, Sarge, and verbally abused him during an unexpected 3-day layover at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C.

In a video posted to YouTube detailing the abuses, Stanek says the "nightmare" began on July 15, while he was at the ticket desk.

"Some United Airlines employees were moving by and one of them was startled, turned, and kicked my service dog," Stanek says in the video. "Didn't kick her hard, but ... they kicked her."

Stanek continues, saying he chalked it up to an accident and let it go -- even when it happened a second time by a different United staffer.

The Daily Mail reports Stanek has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI) following three tours in Iraq, which makes standing in loud crowds and reading difficult. In the video, Stanek states the most traumatic part of the ordeal occurred when, while trying to get a hotel voucher after his flight was canceled for a second day in a row, the man at the ticket counter asked if he was "********" -- referring to his inability to stand in the line with everyone else, and read the paperwork.

"I completely lost all composure at that point," he said in the video. "I started yelling, I used four letter words ... and I've worked very hard not to be like that."

According to the blog Reduced Mobility Right, the U.S. Department of Transportation has opened an investigation into the incident, with the cooperation of the airline.

"We are reaching out to the customer directly to discuss the events that he described," a spokesperson for United told Reduced Mobility Rights on July 21.

What you can do:

Support Stanek through his nonprofit, Paws and Stripes, which provides service dogs for veterans with PTSD.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1692951.html

old grouch · 07-23-2012, 01:28 PM

Hmmm, not a nice way to treat someone who served our country...

phoebe7165 · 07-23-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

Hmmm, not a nice way to treat someone who served our country...

Not a nice way to treat ANYBODY, especially somebody with a disability.

Brad Russ · 07-24-2012, 01:04 AM

That is sickening. I'm so glad I wasn't there to witness this, I'd probably be in jail. To treat anybody this way is wrong, but a veteran? That is just down right disgusting! I hope the parties involved are fired quite frankly!

spunkygirl · 07-24-2012, 09:29 AM

not just the vet, I'm more outraged for the poor dog who got kicked.

Family Ties Forever! · 07-24-2012, 12:48 PM

That is terrible. They mistreated his dog and him. What happened to showing people and animals respect? I agree, the fact that he served our country makes it even worse that he was treated so poorly.

OH Nuts! · 07-24-2012, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

Hmmm, not a nice way to treat someone who served our country...

Amen to that. There should be a special place in hell for anyone who'd treat a veteran that way. Shame on them.

spunkygirl · 07-25-2012, 07:00 AM

I can't believe no one is concerned about the dog. I'd be kicking someone hard if they did that to my pet. The person has legal resources the dog doesn't

07-23-2012, 11:01 AM	#1
retrofan05 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,111	United Airlines staff asked disabled veteran if he was '****,' kicked service dog Disgusting. By Laura Hibbard Posted: 07/22/2012 11:47 am Updated: 07/23/2012 9:05 am Jim Stanek, a disabled veteran and Paws and Stripes cofounder, claims United Airlines staff physically abused his service dog, Sarge, and verbally abused him during an unexpected 3-day layover at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C. In a video posted to YouTube detailing the abuses, Stanek says the "nightmare" began on July 15, while he was at the ticket desk. "Some United Airlines employees were moving by and one of them was startled, turned, and kicked my service dog," Stanek says in the video. "Didn't kick her hard, but ... they kicked her." Stanek continues, saying he chalked it up to an accident and let it go -- even when it happened a second time by a different United staffer. The Daily Mail reports Stanek has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI) following three tours in Iraq, which makes standing in loud crowds and reading difficult. In the video, Stanek states the most traumatic part of the ordeal occurred when, while trying to get a hotel voucher after his flight was canceled for a second day in a row, the man at the ticket counter asked if he was "********" -- referring to his inability to stand in the line with everyone else, and read the paperwork. "I completely lost all composure at that point," he said in the video. "I started yelling, I used four letter words ... and I've worked very hard not to be like that." According to the blog Reduced Mobility Right, the U.S. Department of Transportation has opened an investigation into the incident, with the cooperation of the airline. "We are reaching out to the customer directly to discuss the events that he described," a spokesperson for United told Reduced Mobility Rights on July 21. What you can do: Support Stanek through his nonprofit, Paws and Stripes, which provides service dogs for veterans with PTSD. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1692951.html

07-24-2012, 01:04 AM	#4
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	That is sickening. I'm so glad I wasn't there to witness this, I'd probably be in jail. To treat anybody this way is wrong, but a veteran? That is just down right disgusting! I hope the parties involved are fired quite frankly!
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

07-24-2012, 12:48 PM	#6
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	That is terrible. They mistreated his dog and him. What happened to showing people and animals respect? I agree, the fact that he served our country makes it even worse that he was treated so poorly.
	__________________ Jenny

07-23-2012, 01:28 PM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Hmmm, not a nice way to treat someone who served our country...

07-24-2012, 09:29 AM	#5
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	not just the vet, I'm more outraged for the poor dog who got kicked.

07-25-2012, 07:00 AM	#8
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I can't believe no one is concerned about the dog. I'd be kicking someone hard if they did that to my pet. The person has legal resources the dog doesn't