Tom's Used Books — Local services in Lodi

Last Thursday morning I was going to have breakfast with my dad downtown, and he wanted to go into some of the shops," she said. "We decided we'd meet at Tom's Used Books."

She and her father, along with Rory, entered the store located at 108 N. School St., and Meeker said she immediately felt like she wasn't welcome.

"(Owner Tom Kohlhepp) asked what I wanted, asked what I needed," she said. "Then he said I couldn't be in the store with Rory because he had cats. I assured him that Rory was my service dog and she wouldn't do anything to the cats."

Meeker said she offered to show Kohlhepp proof that Rory was a service dog, but he ignored her explanation. He further asserted the six cats he keeps in the store would begin "marking" if the dog remained inside, and ordered her out of the store, she said.

When Meeker told Kohlhepp he was violating the Americans With Disabilities Act, she claims he dared her to sue him.

"Rory didn't seem to bother the cats," Meeker said. "But I left because I wasn't going to argue with him. It was a short experience. He just didn't care. It made me feel awful. I had just gotten to the point where I felt happy to be able to be out of the house."

While proprietors do have the "right to refuse service to anyone," the ADA forbids businesses from ordering the disabled and their service dogs off the premises, unless the animal is out of control and the handler is unable to take control of it, or if it is not housebroken.

The ADA also states that when there is legitimate reason to ask a service animal be removed, the business must offer the person with the disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal's presence.

Meeker said Rory stood behind her during the entire exchange, and has always been well behaved when accompanying her into any other business.

Kohlhepp acknowledged he told Meeker she couldn't bring the dog inside the store, repeating his six cats would begin marking territory. He also questioned Meeker's disability. He also admitted that he told her she could sue him.

"She's hardly disabled," he said. "And any dog can be a service dog."

Service animals are defined by the ADA as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Tasks or duties the animals can perform include guiding the blind, alerting those who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder during an anxiety attack, or performing...

My daughter and I went in to take 3 boxes of books. After checking they take used books. He keeps asking the same question where did I get the books. I explained 3 times. My friend was moving and left those books. I had sent her 3 books but couldn't afford anymore. So she said sell them and send me the money. He was first interested then started being rude. Only wanting to pay me $5.00. I decided to keep one of the books. He said no deal then was very rude. I had even offered him all the books. I said no I'm leaving so I did. Best thing I did I got $70.00 for the books. From other book store and was so much happier with them. My daughter even pointed out he was rude. Which surprise me since I'm normally never hear her say bad things. Thank you Tom for being rude. I made $70.00 and order 3...

Owner denies services to people with service dogs!!!! A woman tried to go in with a service dog and was told to leave because he had 6 cats that would start spraying the books if the service dog entered the store!!! When an explanation that this was indeed a working service dog and what he was doing was illegal he did not care and said “So sue me, I’ll see you in court”. He sounded and acted like an a$$H#*le. If I could give this business less than a zero I would. I am disgusted that she knowingly, illegally, and heartlessly acts...