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Sarah Garvin hangs out with her service dog, Satin.
Satin, a service dog, helps Sarah Garvin in many aspects of her daily life, like picking up objects, opening doors and learning
Sarah plays with Satin in the backyard |
Satin is pretty well known. She's been in The Miami Herald, and she's been in parades, but she is not allowed to step paw into H.H. Poole Middle School with her 16-year-old mistress.
Satin is a service dog that accompanies her mistress to restaurants, stores and just about every place there is to go. She can open and close drawers and doors, and she right now is helping her mistress, Sarah Garvin, with communication skills.
Sarah has Down syndrome and childhood arthritis, and as a result, she has trouble being understood and her movements are slower.
Sarah's parents, John and Melodee Garvin, got the dog placed with their daughter through an organization called Canine Companions for Independence years ago.
"I know the dog has helped Sarah," Melodee Garvin said, adding that her daughter has problems enunciating words, and is forced to improve her pronunciation through the dog.
"We want her to learn to do vocal commands," said Melodee Garvin, a paraprofessional.
The Garvins wanted to incorporate Satin into Sarah's educational program. Sarah and Satin attended Winding Creek and Kate Waller Barrett elementary schools in Stafford County. But officials at H.H. Poole Middle School have said no.
The Garvins say they were told the dog would cause problems for other students allergic to the dander.
John Garvin says his daughter's rights are being violated. He has appealed the decision to the School Board and spoken with the state Attorney General's Office. Thus far, he's been unsuccessful, but the family is not giving up the fight.
Daryl Nelson, Stafford County Public Schools executive director of administrative and legal services, said he could not talk about a specific case, like the Garvins'.
However, he did say that service dogs were not automatically admitted into the school, although he does know of at least one instance where a dog is admitted to Stafford County schools.
"There is an application process," he said. "It is decided based on how much it is needed by the child. We have to do the right thing by all the children. Some children might be allergic or fearful."
Not too long ago, the county created a brochure warning area businesses that service dogs were to be admitted based on the Americans With Disabilities Act. The only time a service dog could be removed from the premises was when it acted aggressively, the brochure states.
The Stafford County Attorney's Office said it could not comment on Sarah's situation, and it does not advise the public schools.
But Nelson said a school is a bit different from a restaurant or a retail establishment, in that all children have the right to attend, and are not free to leave.
To the Garvins, all this means is Sarah is not being treated fairly.
"All I want is the opportunity for Satin not to be excluded from a large chunk of Sarah's life," Melodee Garvin said. "There are other service dogs allowed in the school."
Ellen Torop, program manager for Canine Companions, says the Garvins might not get their wish.
She said the problem is that Sarah is still a minor, and therefore does not have 100 percent protection under the law to bring her dog with her wherever she goes.
"It's a little confusing, but when you're dealing with a child it is a little different," she said, adding that adults have better control of the service dogs.
Melodee Garvin understood that, and asked the schools if she could accompany Satin and Sarah, but that request was denied, as well.
"It's very disappointing to us," she said.
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