An angry service dog owner filmed the moment she was attacked by a Macy’s manager who was angry that her dog was loose in the store.
The TikTok video shows a black Labrador lying on the tile floor of the store in Lake Grove, New York, with audio recordings of the dog’s owner and her friend telling him, “You can’t have dogs without a leash.”
The handler, Payton, then tries to explain to the manager, who later introduces herself as Ashley, that her dog and her friend’s dogs are service dogs.
“I understand that, but they have to be on a leash,” says the manager.
But the dog owner doesn’t give up and explains: ‘Under the [Americans with Disabilities Act]They do not need to be on a leash if it hinders them from carrying out their duties.’
A service dog handler named Payton was filmed clashing with a seemingly clueless Macy’s manager who was angry that her dog had been let loose
When Ashley tried to protest again, Payton was heard telling her, “Federal law takes precedence over store policy.”
However, the store manager says the dogs must be on a leash, but Payton tries to remind her of the law again in the clip posted in June.
“Under state and federal law, they don’t have to be on a leash. It’s for their safety and our safety,” she said, explaining later in a comment on her video that her dog, Onyx, jumps up to alert her to an impending medical emergency and that his leash could become tangled.
At that point, the manager offers to help them shop, but Payton turns down the idea.
“They’re trained,” she argues, “and I can look up the law for you if you want.”
“I’m trying to help you,” Ashley then claims.
“But you clearly don’t understand,” Payton shoots back.
Payton argued that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service dogs do not have to be leashed if it interferes with their duties.
She explained in a comment on the video that her dog, Onyx, jumps up to alert her to an impending medical emergency and that his leash can become tangled
The manager then tries again to find someone to help them shop. She says she understands what Payton is saying: “But these are the rules of the store.”
“I understand these are your dogs and they are trained to do so,” the manager says, but Payton argues that “these are medical devices, not pets” and that “federal law supersedes policy.”
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 it’s against the law.”
Ashley seems furious at this comment and again offers to help the girls with shopping.
“We don’t need any help,” Payton replies. “That’s why we have them, but forcing them to be on a leash is against the law.”
“You can be sued, I can sue you for money,” she warns.
“I understand,” Ashley emphasizes, offering again to help them shop.
“This is ridiculous,” an increasingly irritated Payton says. “But you don’t understand, because if you did, you would know the law. Do you want me to look it up for you now?” she asks.
Still, the argument continues for a few more minutes as Payton appears to lose her breath. The video then cuts to Payton lying on the ground with Onyx next to her.
“And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you go after a service dog,” her friend says. “Thanks Ashley, thanks Macy’s.
“Payton passed out after this incident,” she explains, “and I almost did too.”
The video cuts to Payton lying on the floor of the store after the shooting
In a update a few days laterPayton said she returned to the store the next day and someone told her that Ashley was “just uneducated, and that was fine.”
“It’s still not good of course because we tried to educate her in the video, as you can see, but she just wouldn’t listen,” Payton said.
“So it’s still not okay, and as far as I’m concerned she deserves to be fired.”
She added that the company had seen the video and contacted her to say they were “disappointed to hear what had happened.
“But I was clearly talking to a bot, because it was asking for my information. I said something like, ‘Before I give you my information, I’d like to know what action is being taken?’ and they said, ‘We’re sorry to hear this, thank you for giving us your information,’” she alleged.
Payton also said she gave her cell phone number to the company and responded that the manager had been fired.
The manager has apparently been fired from the Lake Grove, New York, store, but many people online have urged Payton to take legal action against the company.
But many people on the internet said she should take legal action against the company.
“You should really get 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 updated. The way they treated you was disgusting,” while a third urged Payton not to speak to the company without a lawyer present.
“Please just call a lawyer because Macy’s is a huge company and they need to train ALL employees in all locations,” she said.
“Get a lawyer. Don’t SIGN ANYTHING, don’t agree to anything,” another urged.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Macy’s for comment.