Extraordinary service dogs ease life of Newbury Park woman

By Stephanie Bertholdobertholdo@theacorn.com

HELPFUL DOGS— Roni Higgins hangs out with Loki, a komondor, and toy poodles Ashton, Faith and Pebbles during a visit to Uptown Hounds in Agoura Hills. Higgins suffers from psychiatric disorders and needs a service dog when she goes out in public. Some retailers, grocery stores and other businesses discriminate against her, according to Higgins. When Newbury Park resident Roni Higgins first brought her pink poodle, Pebbles, with her to the Cheesecake Factory in Thousand Oaks, she was told that dogs were prohibited at the restaurant and was she asked to leave.

Many local proprietors routinely break the law when they refuse Higgins entry into their establishments. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses are required to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into their businesses—into any areas where customers are generally allowed. After six months of “reeducating” the Cheesecake Factory, Higgins said she’s now a welcome guest.

Pebbles isn’t an ordinary pink pooch. The poodle is a working dog, one of many service dogs that Higgins owns and trains to help her—and others—make it through stressful days and anxious nights. When Higgins is refused entry into a restaurant, hotel, store or other public business because she has a dog in tow, she’s a victim of discrimination.

The dogs that Higgins carries or has on a leash by her side are classified as psychiatric service dogs. Under the federal ADA requirements, Pebbles, Loki (a komondor, or Hungarian guard dog, with long dreadlocks resembling a mop), and other dogs are specifically trained by Higgins to perform tasks directly related to psychiatric disabilities.

While service dogs that aid a blind, deaf or physically disabled person are generally recognizable, Pebbles is sometimes mistaken for just another pampered pup.

Just as Pebbles isn’t instantly recognized as a service dog, Higgins’ disabilities aren’t visible. She suffers from a range of psychiatric disorders, including panic disorder, bipolar disease, manic depression, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and sometimes paranoia.

Higgins takes medicine for these conditions, but the therapeutic effects of her dogs has helped her manage her life with far less medication. Although some of the pharmaceuticals make Higgins prone to tremors and seizures, Pebbles has the added talent of alerting her before the onset of a seizure. Pebbles’ warnings, which include barking, give Higgins time to get to a safe place or call for assistance.

“Seizure-alert dogs try to get help or are trained to stay with you,” Higgins said. She added that Pebbles’ older brother, Berkeley, was a master at detecting seizures before their onset. Berkeley now lives with a local family whose son used to pull out his hair. When the child brushes Berkeley’s hair, the distraction helps him control the compulsion of removing his own hair, Higgins said.

Prior to owning and training service dogs, Higgins said that she could rarely leave her home. “The dogs have really changed my life,” she said.

While the dogs help Higgins get out of her home more often, she continues to struggle with educating people on the ADA. At some grocery stores, Higgins is forced to stand outside while an employee does her shopping.

When Higgins makes headway with store chains, she said she becomes a loyal customer. At Ralphs market in Newbury Park, Higgins is always welcome.

“I have customers that scream at me all the time about (Higgins’) dogs,” said Bob Peterson, manager of the grocery store. “But they are unknowledgeable because they think that her dogs are seeing-eye dogs and should be wearing a vest.” He added that Higgins is completely within her rights simply telling an employee that her dogs are service animals rather than dressing them in special clothing.

“I can feel confident walking into (Ralphs),” said Higgins.

Higgins also made progress at Disneyland. After three months of educating Magic Kindom employees about her right to bring Pebbles or Loki into the park, Higgins is now known and greeted by employees at the amusement park. Disneyland patrons often stop her to ask for a photograph, which is fine with Higgins since she’s on a mission to help people understand the ADA.

The ADA education efforts have paid off for Higgins at some Las Vegas hotels. She said that she’s no longer kicked off the black jack table at the Imperial Palace hotel.

Higgins appreciates the welcome mat from stores, hotels, restaurants and airlines that she has “trained” on the federal law, but she still enjoys visiting new places now and then. “It’s a battle every day to get up and go somewhere new,” she said.

Higgins explained that she dyes Pebbles “protest pink” to spread the message about the ADA. “Once you tangle with the pink poodle, you shouldn’t forget,” she said.