MILLVILLE — While an argument occurred between a Wawa assistant manager and a Millville resident over his service dog, the dog just stood quietly by his master's side and watched the uproar.

Patrick Stark, a self-employed glass artist, needs his dog Copenhagen, a Queensland heeler, because of his recurrent seizures.

“I just don’t want to be hassled when I’m getting a sandwich,” Stark said.

It was late so Stark and his girlfriend went to the small Wawa on West Main Street to get food. Upon entering the convenience store he was told that he wasn’t allowed to bring a dog inside, Stark said.

While at the Wawa, workers and some customers added to the harassment and, at one point, the assistant manager threatened to call the police on Stark, he claimed.

Even with the special tags on Copenhagen and the paperwork that Stark had for his dog, the assistant manager would not listen to him, according to Stark.

“It’s really upsetting that people can be that rude and not understand, even after he showed them papers,” said Madeline Niederhofer, Stark’s girlfriend.

Niederhofer was outside while Stark showed the assistant manager his paperwork, which is not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“None of that mattered to her, she just didn’t care,” Stark said about showing the paperwork.

During the argument, Copenhagen just sat quietly by his master’s side.

The assistant manager then called the police on Stark for having his service dog in the store.

“The police were great when they got there,” Stark said. “They were so nice to me.”

For Stark, the experience was embarrassing and surprising, since he is allowed to travel all over with his dog. Now he makes sure to avoid the Wawa, not wanting to have another experience.

“It’s made a small town even smaller,” he said.

Copenhagen is trained to react to any seizures Stark may have, warning him before it’s too late.

“He’s my lifeline,” Stark said about his service dog. “Without him I can’t function. Without him I can’t go anywhere and have an independent life.”

Part of that independence includes relying on his glass work instead of disability checks to support himself.

Stark, who received an honorable discharge after serving in the Army from 1998 to 2000, first started having problems with recurrent seizures three years ago when he was hit in the head during a mugging in Seattle. A year after that, he was allowed to have Copenhagen.

“I know that if they’re treating me this way, they’re treating other people this way,” Stark said.

A spokeswoman for Wawa noted that the company does allow service dogs in its establishments, and vowed to look into Stark’s experience.

“Service dogs are permitted in all Wawa stores,” said Lori Bruce. “It is always our effort and intent to fully comply with the law and treat all customers with sensitivity and respect. If for some reason we find out that there was an individual experience that did not reflect that, we will always do our best to look into the situation and address it immediately. We are always committed to doing the right the thing.”

Wawa Food Markets operates almost 600 stores in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia areas.

Contact Don E. Woods at 856-451-1000, ext. 518 or dwoods@southjerseymedia.com

.

