WinCo Foods

I had a similar incident a couple of nights ago. I take my service dog usually around 2-3 am so it's a low peak time but as I approached the dog treats aisle this rude, young woman, a short, dark-haired little b**** started reading me the riot act about having my service dog in the seat right in front of me in the cart. Furthermore, I'm a veteran who served in armed combat and almost got my [censored] shot off for this girl who was younger than my daughter to be able to talk to me in such a rude and unprofessional manner, really? My little 15 lb Doxie/JRT mix is a very well-behaved, trained, clean, service dog who helps me with my neuropathy, pain and diabetes, is always current on shots and flea meds and all that, never a problem at Ralphs, Stater Bros, Superior Grocers, Northgate/Gonzalez Market, Albertsons, both Vons (on Woodruff/Carson Ave. and Woodruff/South St.), even Costco who is notorious for strict no animals policy are cool with me because I've lived here for 30 years, always put a clean towel or blanket under my fur kid, so his body doesn't touch the cart. He's a helluva lot less of a germ spreading mess than some of these toddlers in wet, dirty diapers who are gumming the cart handle while snot drips down their face onto God knows what. My little service dog isn't anything Close to that Gross! I have neuropathy in both feet due to a failed back surgery as a result of numerous parachute jumps and both hips were replaced along with shrapnel as a nice delightful topping! I cannot carry the dog, or have him on my lap as I drive a motorized cart because my legs go numb after sitting for 10–15 minutes and I have to stand up again until my back hurts so much in about 20 minutes I need to lean on something or sit down but having him in the cart and me being able to have the cart to lean on is the perfect position for us so he can alert very quickly and help me. There's no way I would have him walking outside the cart as she also suggested, where he cannot monitor me and so people can complain about almost stepping on him and in some cases actually do step on him because his legs are short, and his long body is close to the floor. I told her I would find the ADA law precedent and statute and how the shopping cart is a Gray area, I'll grant you that. However, the aforementioned grocery chains have never, in my 30+ years of living in Lakewood, EVER given me grief over an animal, and I've had non-service animals that went shopping with me in and out of the cart or in a papoose (when my back would support that kind of weight) long before I ever needed an actual service animal. Winco used to be a lot more easygoing about this, but after the plandemic they've hardened their position on this and their overall attitude and vibe of that store has steadily soured and become pretty nasty in general. But again, they're the ONLY store I've ever had an issue with. Not Walmart, not Target, not Costco, not Walgreens, CVS, many restaurants, banks, etc. I now carry a preprinted laminated information card with me that spells out exactly what questions food prep and sales establishments are allowed and not allowed to ask, laws a grocery store can enforce and to what extent if any. So, I purposely took my time looking for this information on my phone to hang her up because she was so disrespectful towards me in her demeanor, tone of voice, body language, everything. Now, before you go thinking there was anything racial about this encounter, we're both white, so get that thought out of your mind. But seriously Winco, why can't you pull the fvcking stick out and treat your customers like the other grocery chains treat us, like human beings who deserve more respect and kindness. Human beings that have put thousands of $$$ a year into your bank accounts, by the way. I rarely shop at Winco anymore because of this and the fact that every time I go in there in the wee hours of the morning, there is ONE cashier and the line is backed up from there to Timbuktu! And no self-checkout, HA, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT! Hey little assistant manager girl and Winco management, Here is a question: How come Ralphs has self-checkout available along with the cashiers until they close at 1am and again when they open at 6AM. They also have someone who can ring up drug store items like razor blades and toothpaste instead of having it caged off which makes your customers feel like crap, like they're not worthy or worth your time and manpower to make this available to them as do the other grocery store chains What gives? What is really your problem over there? I think there's a lot of wrong going on from other reviews I have been reading, and have a feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg.