I don't always write stories that go viral, but when I do they're about autism and pit bulls.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tom’s Farms faces backlash from discrimination against autism service dog

Shorty Rossi, of Animal Planet’s Pit Boss and non-profit, Shorty’s Charities, requests a formal apology to family of autistic daughter whose service dog was asked to “leave the premises”

Corona, California, US September 16, 2013

It started off as any other day in the life of a parent raising a child with autism.  This particular woman, wife to guerrilla marketing strategist adviser and a weblebrity, Rock da Mullet, and mother to two, works daily as her daughter’s guardian, protector, therapist, diligent parent, and simply wants to go about her day without apologizing for a developmental disability that affects one (1) out of  88  children.  Autism Spectrum Disorders are only as disabling as the limits set upon them by society.  Compound this by their chosen trained and certified service dog being the most discriminated against breed of dog in America; the pit bull terrier.  As Mrs. Ed Santos states, more often than a mother with a child who requires having a service animal should have to: "This is a service animal. It is allowed anywhere my daughter goes as she needs it…

When an animal becomes an animal of service the breed is no longer recognized, rather the service they provide. So this is not a pit bull this is an autism service dog."

Tom’s Farms’ website states:

“Today, the property … include(s) a variety of shops, restaurants, and attractions for family entertainment. Staying true to Tom's original core values,… visitors are always welcome. Tom wouldn't like it any other way.”

But Tom would not come when requested as his staff subjected the Santos family when they were repeatedly asked to step outside.  These visitors in August, 2013, were not welcome; in fact, they were asked, repeatedly, to leave.  The following is a recounting of the day, in their own words:

This is my 2nd post to Tom's Farms FB page. I am still waiting for a reply from anyone from Tom's Farms regarding this matter:

“This correspondence is a follow up in regards to an injustice that took place in the sweet shop on Saturday August 3rd. While my family and I were shopping we were approached by a woman who stated she was the assistant manager and told (not asked) us to leave. When I inquired as to why, she stated that dogs were not allowed in the store. We informed her that the vested dog was a service animal, offered appropriate identification for the service animal and offered to answer any

questions she may have had. Due to my willingness to clear up any lack of understanding that she may have had, I am at a loss as to why she then decided to call security on us all while yelling at my family and repeating "leave".

“I cannot even begin to express to you how hard it is for a mentally handicap child to be aggressively cornered in the way we were, you see, not only is my daughter mentally handicap she has various other issues as well. Issues that we tried to explain to the assistant manager, however I assumed she could not hear us over her yelling. I would like to assume that any employee of Tom's Farms would have the basic understanding that if a person has the need for a service animal their lives are hard enough already without being placed in position to feel as if they are less than anybody else.

“We try our best to provide our daughter with the independent freedom she deserves all while not bothering the world around us and the situation that I speak off took that opportunity away from her. While I could continue with "he said she said" I am choosing a different path in regards to this scenario. There are an excessive amount of laws that pertain to service animals and the disabled. It is painfully apparent that Tom's Farms is not aware of them and I would like to assist with rectifying that.

“So at this time I come to you and offer my assistance in regards to the proper training of ALL employees. I can assist you in the training of service animal identification as well as sensitivity training to ensure that my family is the only family that is discriminated against on your property. I sincerely hope you take the above situation seriously and strive to not only set but reach a new standard of equality not only for your patrons but for your employees as well. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Shorty Rossi faces similar discrimination throughout his travels on the Shorty Rossi and Hercules’ tours. One of his primary goals with Shorty’s Charities Inc., a newly approved 501(c)(3) charity in the state of California, is to keep pit bulls in their homes where they belong, as well as to educate, enlighten and inform individuals, and companies, about responsible Bully Breed Guardianship.

Tom’s Farms owes the Santos family a public apology and to be informed enough to improve their business’ practices in regards to service dog rights. We are simply asking for the opportunity to enlighten them, because discrimination bites.

END###

If you would like more information or to schedule an interview, please call Julie Hernandez at 818.850.2310 or email julie@shortyscharities.org

Julie Marie Miller-Hernandez

Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Secretary, Shorty's Charities Inc., a nonprofit corporation
www.shortyscharities.org

To show support for my personal friends and family subjected to this set of circumstances, please like
www.facebook.com/PupcakePitBullServiceDog

Downloadable versions of our press release on behalf of our client, Shorty's Charities

To donate to Shorty's Charities, visit www.shortyscharities.org/help-us-help-them

BLOG POST AUTHORED BY: Julie Miller, President of Lady Luck Consulting
 

To continue to receive updates, please "like" us on Facebook
#smallbusiness #charity #nonprofit #success #patience #shortyrossi #pitboss #autism #advocacy #discrimination #servicedog #pitbull

"It is difficult to be patient but to waste the rewards for patience is worse." ~ Abu Bakr

Here at Lady Luck Consulting we write press releases regularly.  We write website content, we write slogans, marketing campaigns... you name it, we write.

Slogans are something that are intended to be catchy yet I usually end up attaching great meaning behind my short, three to five word quips.  I wrote one three years, seven months ago after speaking with a gentleman who had faced discrimination his entire life, compounded by self-inflicted struggles leading to him becoming a felon and, on top of it, he decides to add a service dog to his life for his back problems; he couldn't pick a Golden Retriever, but went with a bully breed.  More discrimination.  It didn't take long to have this short slogan pop into my head "Because Discrimination Bites."  He loved it. Seemingly everyone did but I wonder if people let it sink in?  I wonder if they understand the depth of emotional turmoil this man has gone through in his life that lead me to come up with this after hearing his story for the first time?

It doesn't matter. It stuck.

I try to celebrate even the smallest of victories with my small business - a story going viral, the media contacting me to ask "what's up? got any good story leads?" - but when something this profound happens, it isn't just a moment to celebrate it is a genuine victory, it's a moment to pause and be thankful for the future of the cause with which you've fallen deeply in love.

So with this I offer the following press release that I have written an hundred times in my head over the past three years, seven months:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shorty Rossi, Pit Boss, receives designation as nonprofit

Shorty’s Charities Inc.

Los Angeles, California, US  September 6, 2013

Since 2010, you've known Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi as the Pit Boss on Discovery Channel's Animal Planet.

Shorty Rossi has subsequently become the national spokesperson and unwavering ally for bully breeds and a voice against breed specific legislation.

It's been three (long) years in seeking this designation and recognition but we moved forward with our pursuit to help injured, homeless and abandoned bully breeds in our efforts to provide financial, physical and monetary support to the smaller, local pit bull rescues across the nation. We have not wavered from this goal, holding true to our mission statement:

"Creating a strong voice against stereotyping and stigma. We do not seek your pity and don't appreciate your prejudice. We are here to help one discrimination case at a time through education, enlightenment and to fight, if necessary, for the underdogs of the world."

It is with great anticipation and pride that I am pleased to announce, as of September 4th 2013, Shorty's Charities Inc has been approved and is now recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity.

At this time, I'd like to take the opportunity to formally introduce to you, Shorty Rossi the philanthropist.

END

###

If you'd like more information or to schedule an interview with one of our corporate officers, please call Julie Hernandez at 818.850.2310 or email julie@shortyscharities.org


Julie Marie Miller-Hernandez
Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Secretary, Shorty's Charities Inc., a nonprofit corporation

BLOG POST AUTHORED BY: Julie Miller, President of Lady Luck Consulting
 

To continue to receive updates, please "like" us on Facebook
#smallbusiness #charity #nonprofit #success #patience #shortyrossi #pitboss

Tell a Story Day

Tell a Story Day is celebrated on April 27th each year.

Tomorrow is National Tell a Story Day.

I love National "Whatever" Days, mostly because they give me creative ideas to write about, especially if they're relevant to one of my clients' businesses.  But some of them are quite silly: Pig in a Blanket Day, Make Your Bed Day, National Cream-Filled Doughnut Day, Felt Hat Day yet others have great meaning and impact, like Autism Awareness Day.

People write every day; texting, status updates, tweets, the old-fashioned letter sent via US Postal Service, maybe even in your journal.  We write. We read.  We inform each other of things that are important to us.

I believe everyone has a story. I believe in paying it forward. I spend a lot of my time writing; sometimes offering advice, sometimes in the form of a vague ecard, but not a single day passes that I don't write.  I can't imagine many others go a day without writing. But it's not National Writing Day (that's January 29th and to be accurate it's National Handwriting Day) it's National Tell a Story Day.

Everyone has a story. We tell them to our children, our friends, sometimes anyone who will listen.  Storytelling predates writing.

"Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images, and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation, and to instill moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include plot, characters, and narrative point of view." (source: nationalwhateverday.com)

Our staff writes stories all the time in the form of press releases, website content, blogs (obvious, I know), promotions, proposals, emails... so do you!

Your business has its own story.  Is your "About Us" section full of information about your operating hours, locations, directions?  But does it tell YOUR STORY?  I'm sure you've told it a dozen, maybe a hundred times if it's funny, clever, interesting or if it was a difficult challenge and although "oral stories continue to be committed to memory and passed from generation to generation..." maybe your customers want to know more about you?

• Are your competitors more expensive?
• Do you have a unique product, service?
  
• Are you the best at what you do? 

What's so special about YOU?  Cause there is...

Today's the day. Don't wait.

Tell your story.