Refused entry with service dog

[eyehartdisney]

I'm so upset, my family just got back from eating (or trying to) at a local restaurant, where my father was refused service because he has a PTSD dog. They forced us to stand and wait 15 minutes in the middle of the restaurant, while the manager "couldn't be found." It was one of the most humiliating things I have ever been through, and I don't think we'll ever convince my father, whose PTSD and MS keep him mostly home bound to ever try eating out again. What's even more sad is how much convincing it took to get him to go in the first place. I just can't even get my head around how we were treated. How can people not know about service dogs? (Or not care?) This is the first time something like this has happened, and I hope it's the last time. But I can see how much stress this has put my dad through, and after all the work he put in to get the dog trained, now he's questioning if it's even worth it. That dog is the first thing my dad has cared about in years, and he loves Cooper like a second child. It broke my heart when he said that.

 

[low-key]

what idiots, I hope your dad realizes this , most people have common sense

 

[aaarcher86]

Hopefully hour dad will give it another try somewhere else.

Is the dog an actual service dog or an ESD?

 

[eyehartdisney]

Actual service dog, has gone through the patriot assistance dogs training program.

 

[Coonhound]

Contact the manager. If that doesn't help, contact the media. Sounds like overkill but what will happen when the next guy walks in with a service dog, they'll be treated the same way. It shouldn't be allowed to continue... I THINK not absolutely sure but I THINK, that you can't legally not allow a service dog in.

 

[momof1princess]

So sorry, OP. What a horrible thing to have happen. As the PP said, this is likely a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It should not go unpunished, and I hope you get satisfaction for your father, and assurance it won't happen again. Please, from the granddaughter of a WWII and Korean War veteran, thank your father for his service.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Actual service dog, has gone through the patriot assistance dogs training program.

See if your Dad wants to reach out to others in his situation That organization has a FB page and it seems like a place for him to get support and advice Surely he isn't the first one this has happened to and maybe someone can help him Maybe even reach out to someone from the Wounded Warriors
Please thank him for his service I truly hope he can get together with someone, maybe go out together with the dogs so he can learn to become more confident and not become housebound which would be tragic

 

[eyehartdisney]

His program trainer was the first call they made, and we called the cops as well. My mother and Cooper met the cops at the restaurant, and the management admitted to the cops they denied service because they had several patrons threaten to leave if 'that dog' came in. The cop said each of them could be named in a lawsuit, and the management agreed to do training with their employees on service dogs. (As if they weren't the problem in the first place ) They said they didn't know the law. (A lie, as my mother read the entire thing out loud to the entire restaurant.) And they said the only other service dog they've had in there was tiny and was put in a kennel under the table. (As if this has any relevance.) As they were heading out, a woman who had witnessed the whole thing gave my mother her name and number... she is, apparently, a sitting member of the local city council. I'm considering contacting a lawyer, I'm going to wait to see what the police report says on monday.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm so sorry. That's just vile. And I'm not buying for a minute that they didn't know the law, any business owner with a pulse knows what no matter what their idiot patrons say, they can't deny service to someone with a service dog.

Personally, I'd publicize what happened as much as possible. Contact your local veterans organizations. Call your local newspaper and TV stations, they'll be all over a story about a disabled veteran facing discrimination because they have a service dog.

 

[Tozzie]

His program trainer was the first call they made, and we called the cops as well. My mother and Cooper met the cops at the restaurant, and the management admitted to the cops they denied service because they had several patrons threaten to leave if 'that dog' came in. The cop said each of them could be named in a lawsuit, and the management agreed to do training with their employees on service dogs. (As if they weren't the problem in the first place ) They said they didn't know the law. (A lie, as my mother read the entire thing out loud to the entire restaurant.) And they said the only other service dog they've had in there was tiny and was put in a kennel under the table. (As if this has any relevance.) As they were heading out, a woman who had witnessed the whole thing gave my mother her name and number... she is, apparently, a sitting member of the local city council. I'm considering contacting a lawyer, I'm going to wait to see what the police report says on monday.

Before you contact and pay for a lawyer, why don't you first try lodging a complaint with the US depatment of justice, you can give them all the info and the witnesses name they have a lot of power to deal with this

Also it is a local restaurant or a chain, if it is a chain contact the corporate headquarters.

Here is the link for the USDOJ http://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm


Good Luck, I am sorry this happened to your father.

 

[disneychrista]

What service does the dog help you dad with? Service animals that help with seeing, hearing, detects seizures, etc are the only ones under ADA that have to be allowed entry. Sounds like Cooper might be more of a comfort animal than a true under the ADA service animal.

 

[tvguy]

Unfortunately, too many people bring their pets in claiming that they are service dogs, it ruins it for those who have legitimate service dogs.

I don't understand why they don't issue some sort of tag for the animal that shows it is a service animal, sort of like they do with placards for handicapped parking spots.

 

[mrsksomeday]

They said they didn't know the law. (A lie, as my mother read the entire thing out loud to the entire restaurant.)

I love how your Mom handled it, I would have done the exact same thing.

In researching whether a PTSD dog is a service dog or not, I came across this:

"A psychiatric service dog is a specific type of service dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia.

Although assistance dogs have traditionally helped people with disabilities such as blindness or more recently deafness or mobility disabilities, there is a wide range of other disabilities that an assistance dog may be able to help with as well, including psychiatric disabilities."

Like all assistance dogs, a psychiatric service dog is individually trained to do work or perform tasks that mitigate their handler's disability.


It is none of our business what service Cooper performs. The ADA prohibits businesses from making an individual answer that question so you shouldn't have to answer anyone here. You were just relaying how your family was treated after your family specifically indicated to the restaurant that Cooper was a service dog. Them denying you service after that is against the law.

As long as the dog is working or performing a task, it is considered a service dog, not an ESD (Emotional Support Dog).

 

[NHdisneylover]

What service does the dog help you dad with? Service animals that help with seeing, hearing, detects seizures, etc are the only ones under ADA that have to be allowed entry. Sounds like Cooper might be more of a comfort animal than a true under the ADA service animal.

I was thinking this as well (though the PP right above me seems to have an different interpretation than I have seen)

 

[jsmith]

PTSD dogs are NOT emotional support dogs-they are dogs that are especially trained for the individual they work with-to be aware of changes in body chemistry or emotional stress than may indicate the onset of flashbacks, to assist as does any other service dog, with any physical disablities the person may have, and to provide a buffer between their handler and other people or situations that may trigger attacks. PTSD is a serious disablity for many of our OIF/OEF vets and PTSD dogs are essential to many of them functioning normally. These dogs are not the 'comfort' or emotional support animals people try to pass off as service dogs-they are truely service dogs, each trained for a specific handler and his or her issues. The resturant that denied the OP and her father service because of the dogs presence violated the ADA and further, disrespected someone who sacrificed a normal life to protect their freedom to own and run a business.

 

[mrsklamc]

What service does the dog help you dad with? Service animals that help with seeing, hearing, detects seizures, etc are the only ones under ADA that have to be allowed entry.

This is totally false, and I don't know why you would make a sweeping statement like that when you clearly have no idea what the law is.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

 

[htmom]

Ok. I will get jumped on for this and that is ok. I understand this is a very heated topic. I understand the trepidation of the hostess and whomever needed to seat this party. I formerly worked at a very large chain retail establishment. I was bitten by a "service dog". I reached for the payment and the dog lunged from the seat of the cart onto the counter. My boss was at the next register and was very upset. She called corporate because we were not allowed to ask the owner what service the animal does, or if he had any certifications. I ended up with quite a mark on my hand and lots of doctor visits etc.

Nothing was ever done. The owner claimed to the police (that were called in due to a dog bite by another customer) that her dog was a service dog for her PTSD and in order to leave her home he had to be with her. He also peed on the floor in the back of the store while we were waiting.

I understand why some people have their service animals. But I personally feel the ada needs to require a specific training program or certification of these animals. Yes, they are wonderful and they help their owners live full and more comfortable lives, but until something is done the ada looks like a joke for saying you can't ask if an animal is trained or certified.

 

[Burnedout]

Tis doghas gone through specific training apparently. So what is your point? That hey shouldn't have been allowed in the restaurant?

 

[mrsklamc]

Ok. I will get jumped on for this and that is ok. I understand this is a very heated topic. I understand the trepidation of the hostess and whomever needed to seat this party. I formerly worked at a very large chain retail establishment. I was bitten by a "service dog". I reached for the payment and the dog lunged from the seat of the cart onto the counter. My boss was at the next register and was very upset. She called corporate because we were not allowed to ask the owner what service the animal does, or if he had any certifications. I ended up with quite a mark on my hand and lots of doctor visits etc.

Nothing was ever done. The owner claimed to the police (that were called in due to a dog bite by another customer) that her dog was a service dog for her PTSD and in order to leave her home he had to be with her. He also peed on the floor in the back of the store while we were waiting.



I understand why some people have their service animals. But I personally feel the ada needs to require a specific training program or certification of these animals. Yes, they are wonderful and they help their owners live full and more comfortable lives, but until something is done the ada looks like a joke for saying you can't ask if an animal is trained or certified.

Service animals have to be under control & house trained. The business can require them to leave if they aren't but that's no help once you've been bitten.

 

[htmom]

I feel they should have been allowed to stay, but I feel they should be required to provide documentation that the dog was trained. I know we were NOT allowed to ask for any documentation, it was all on the owners word.