Olivia McDonnell
Napanee
Victim Services contacted Interval House a few weeks ago to arrange support for me after my ex smashed my windows and I no longer felt safe staying in my apartment. When they tried to set up the placement, I was refused because I have a service dog. Under the law in Ontario, the only documentation that can be required for a service animal is a doctor’s note stating that the person requires the service animal. I have that note. I explained this during the phone call and even read the law out loud to the staff member to clarify my rights. Despite that, I was still told that I could not stay because of my service dog. Because of this decision, I was forced to remain in my apartment with two boarded-up windows while feeling extremely unsafe. This situation was extremely distressing, especially given the circumstances that led to Victim Services contacting your organization in the first place. I was told that a manager would call me back the same day to address the situation. It has now been almost three weeks, and I have not received any call or follow-up. I gave your organization time to review what happened and rectify the situation, but no one has reached out. I am extremely disheartened that an organization meant to support survivors does not appear to understand or follow the laws surrounding service animals and accessibility. What happened was unacceptable and left me without the support I was referred to receive during a very vulnerable time. I hope that the staff at this interval house study the laws surrpunding service dogs and come to realize that what they did is not okay.
