A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt. Gilbert K. Chesterton

It's been a whirlwind the past 48 hours, fielding messages, phone calls and writing up additional statements for the family that was wronged as we patiently wait for the right. The right that may never come.

Nonetheless, the staff at Lady Luck Consulting doesn't mind late nights, early mornings and busy days because if you "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius

The hardest part of putting yourself out there, even when it is to right a wrong, you take risks, low blows and hard punches.  All in a day's work. Nothing can deter you from something you wholeheartedly believe in. With this I bring you, press release number two this week from Shorty's Charities:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tom’s Farms responds to accusations of discrimination against autistic child’s pit bull service dog
Shorty Rossi says this is not good enough. All the Santos family asked for was for an apology and to educate, enlighten and inform this business establishment of their discriminatory practices

Corona, California, US September 18, 2013

You have yet to make a public apology to the parents, child and, YES, even to the service animal.  While you state you have changed the policy (without stating said changes) please understand that a policy and a law have nothing to do with each other therefore your said changes are irrelevant. “Clarify(ing) (y)our policies and provid(ing) specific training to (y)our staff” have nothing to do with the fact that you are not above the law.  Mr. Santos came to you over 45 days ago to let you know about how a manager treated his mentally handicap daughter and her service animal with absolutely no response from your company, your managers, your owners nor your staff. The Santos family came to you on a friendly basis (we have well documented communication) to help you understand what you chose to put his daughter through. The Santos family even offered to assist with training your employee during that time (we have well documented communication) yet your business establishment chose to ignore the offer. So alas, we do not see anything that has changed for the better as of today, 46 days later, however we look forward to seeing something soon. 

Statement from the Santos family:

“It has come to the attention of the Santos family that as of late, Tom’s Farms has been provided with an abundance of information in regards to the laws that pertain to the disabled and their Service Animals. We understand that there are many laws/rules/regulations that may be hard to understand and implement.  We fully understand that we cannot force you to want to be better or to do better.  That is a choice; one that is on the shoulders of your business needs to make for itself.  However, always remember that our previous offer to work alongside you in regards to the PROPER employee training on such sensitive topics will always be available to you.  While visiting Tom’s Farms is not something we plan on doing any time soon for obvious reasons, please know that we will do so if it means that we will be helping you train your employees so that we are the ONLY family to every go through such discrimination and humiliation.

“Here is to an open mind and a patient heart.

Signed,
The Santos Family, also known as Pup-Cake’s leash racks”

In summary, Shorty Rossi advised the Santos family that “in the future, just call the police,” since according to California Code - Section 54.1(a)(1)  Access to public conveyances, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, and housing accommodations:

Individuals with disabilities shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to accommodations, advantages, facilities, medical facilities, including … places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, or state or federal regulation, and applicable alike to all persons.

Shorty’s Charities has been assured, since the beginning of its involvement with Pup-Cake the Service dog and the Santos family, that they have not once threatened to file a lawsuit against nor have they sought money from Tom’s Farms. They have consistently sought to educate, enlighten and inform Tom’s Farms’ in regards to service dog treatment and requested an apology from the staff that subjected their daughter to unnecessary distress. The Santos family sees no other choice, at this time, than to contact the California Department of Justice and file a complaint.  All because the human element was removed for public relations’ statements; all because they wanted to hear “I’m sorry. How can we make this better for everyone?”

END

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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

Seems simple enough, doesn't it?

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-Hernandez, President of Lady Luck Consulting
 

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A Short Story

Despite having complete control to do so, 365 days a year, once a year I give myself permission to post something that has not been approved by Mr. Shorty Rossi. That day would be his birthday - February 10.

The way I came to be introduced to Mr. Rossi and his show, Pit Boss, was through a deaf Pit Bull named Ciera.  You see, I've rescued a few dogs in my lifetime - nearly 600 to be more precise - and Ciera was one of those.  She found herself dumped in a shelter I frequented and I was told that she was "very pregnant and deaf" and dumped by her owners.  I took her out of that shelter on a fostering contract straight to my vet where it was determined that she had a "massive uterine infection" - there were no puppies and she was near death requiring emergency surgery to save her life.  Her rescue was sponsored by Pinups for Pitbulls and she became their cover girl for the 2009 Pinups for Pitbulls Calendar.

Ciera was ultimately adopted and her adoptive mom posted a status in early 2010 stating "Ciera is going to be on Pit Boss tonight"... I asked "what the hell is Pit Boss?" then tuned in to watch an episode during which I spent the next half hour yelling at the television screen.  I had spent many years rescuing dogs (from four pound Miniature Pinschers to 140 pound Fila Brasileiro) with many, many Pit Bulls in between.  All I could think was, "who the hell IS this guy? And where did he come from?" So I added him as a friend on Facebook to watch, learn, see what he was all about.

He posted a status asking for help writing a business plan to which  I responded, offering my help and advice.  He called me the next day and we spent an hour on the phone; we became fast friends with a comfort that we both felt instantly.  As I do with all people I have first business meetings with, I Googled him, to discover that he was a felon. When we scheduled our first meeting I asked him "Shall I bring a body guard?"  To which he sent his first of hundreds of responses that simply said "LOL!"

It's been three years now and I am not only blessed to work with someone who I respect and admire, but someone, who in all the years I've personally been involved in rescue, has made such a huge impact on the breed I have come to adore; I couldn't imagine not being part of Shorty's.  A man who takes this platform that I have never before seen receive such attention in all my years of rescue. He has made the word "pit bull" a name that crosses the lips of families in their living rooms. He is changing minds and changing lives.  A man that is hard working, passionate, compassionate and driven that inspires me to work harder. The man who didn't fire me when I refused to be on his show. The man who lets me do what I love, behind the scenes, exactly where I like to be.  A man who treats me, and my children, like family. A man, whose show, despite having raised dozens of pit bull puppies in my own home over the past ten years, who inspires my children now to exclaim enthusiastically "I want to own a Pit Bull!" (rolls eyes and SMH)

On the anniversary of his birth, I give myself the leeway to post the only post that I do each year that involves me simply saying THANK YOU. On the anniversary of his birth, I take a moment to pause and think of all the things that have transpired since that first meeting three years ago.  Things I won't share here but are beyond anyone's wildest dreams... a little shift in the course our lives were taking.

On the anniversary of his birth I want you to know that this man, who many call Pit Boss, is genuine, sincere, giving and kind; the man you see on TV is real, yes, yes he is.  He swears, he smokes, he drinks (too much at times). The Shorty Rossi I know is very kind, generous, loving and committed to his friends, his dogs and his cause beyond anyone's imagination.

Happy 44th Birthday Mr. Rossi.

~Julie for Shorty's

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are today.” ~A. Lincoln