Blind man says transportation company wouldn't let him board with guide dog

A legally blind man uses his guide dog to get around town. But, the company he uses to transport the disabled told him, no dogs allowed!

Monday morning, three year old lab "Peanut" helped Rowland Heights neighbor Armando Oliva get into a transportation agency's van, one specifically for disabled people.

(We are not identifying them because we weren't able to contact the right person for a response by the time our broadcast aired)

It drove him to Anaheim's Braille Institute and at 2:45, he was supposed to be picked up.

But Oliva says the service was 2 hours late.

When the driver finally arrived, he wouldn't allow him to board. According to Oliva, they told him, "You got a guide dog we can't take you. Guide dogs are not allowed."

Someone from the Braille Institute called the transportation company's supervisor.

"The supervisor started arguing with her saying that they don't accept guide dogs," said Oliva.

Oliva started worrying because he can only see light and shadows.

"I feared for my life," said Oliva.

Unsure how he'd make it home, he called police. Close to 7 o'clock, he says the company finally came to pick him up.

"They told me they were going to be there within 10 or 15 minutes. It was more than 15 min so that's when I called you because this story affects a lot of people that have service animals and guide dogs," said Oliva.

Now Oliva wants people to know about his experience, so it never happens again.

"For them to deny me...how many others are they going to deny or how many others have they denied and the people haven't reported it," said Oliva.

Oliva says he's interested in finding a lawyer and filing a lawsuit.
He said that is what he believes it will take so the company never does this to anyone again.

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