My name is Tara and I'm a 100% Disabled Veteran living in Fairfax Station, VA. On March 15, 2024, my life was turned upside down when a Utiliquest technician, subcontracted by Verizon, was working in my yard without prior notification and stole my registered service animal, Lola. Lola, a French Bulldog (US-SAR-119505386).

Despite her return the following evening, Lola was severely traumatized and is now unable to perform her duties as a service animal. The emotional and physical toll this incident has taken on me is profound.  Despite these severe impacts, Utiliquest has refused to provide any financial support or compensation for the damages caused by their employee. There are no state laws that protect service animals or families in situations such as this.

Why This Matters:
With the rapid increase in delivery services, there has been a significant rise in traffic throughout neighborhoods. We are inviting strangers into our homes and trusting companies to vet these individuals properly, but we have no assurance that they are. This lack of transparency and accountability puts families at risk. The potential for criminal acts, such as theft or harm, by these individuals is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.

Families need protection from the unknown risks associated with the influx of delivery and service personnel. Companies should be held liable for any criminal acts their employees commit when entering residential properties, ensuring they take responsibility and prevent future incidents.

Our Demands:
To Utiliquest:
- Provide full financial support for veterinary care and retraining costs for Lola.
- Compensate for the emotional distress and loss of support caused by this incident.
- Implement improved employee vetting and notification processes to prevent similar incidents.

To Verizon:
- Ensure that all subcontractors adhere to strict vetting and training standards to prevent such incidents.
- Take accountability for the actions of their subcontractors and support affected customers.

To the State of Virginia:
- Enact laws to protect families and individuals from harm caused by company employees entering residential properties.
- Ensure companies are held accountable for criminal acts committed by their employees.
- Establish strict vetting and training requirements for all delivery and service personnel.
- Provide proper restitution and accountability measures for companies whose employees cause harm to individuals or their property.

How You Can Help:
Sign and Share: Please sign this petition and share it with your network to raise awareness about the importance of family safety and the need for accountability.

Spread the Word: Use social media to share our story using hashtags like #JusticeForLola, #ProtectOurFamilies, and #HoldUtiliquestAccountable.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can ensure that families and service animals receive the respect and protection they deserve.