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105
“No Tolerance”: Untrained “Service Dog” Causes Chaos, Owners Fume When They’re Kicked Out
There was a time when no pet was welcome in restaurants. Nowadays, it’s quite the opposite. BringFido estimates that there are around 78,873 dog-friendly restaurants in the United States. Many more are friendly to service animals, but some people, unfortunately, take advantage of that.
One couple brought their service pet to a restaurant, but it soon became clear that the animal is not well-behaved. When the dog began jumping on one of the servers, another decided to intervene. She knew the restaurant’s rights regarding service animals, so, she wasn’t afraid to call out the couple.
RELATED:
A couple came in to a restaurant with a service dog, but the animal behaved awfully
Image credits: Brian Wangenheim (not the actual image)
One server then surmised that the couple is lying about the dog being a real service animal and kicked them out
Image credits: EyeEm (not the actual image)
Image credits: dnepr.photo (not the actual image)
Image credits: Sandra Seitamaa (not the actual image)
Image credits: sheabutterbeb
Business owners have the right to ask owners to leave if their dog is not under control
This story illustrates how there might be a growing number of people abusing the regulations around service animals. More and more restaurateurs and servers may be facing customers with fake service animals, so, how do you spot a true service animal?
The ADA describes service animals as those who can provide tasks such as leading the blind, pulling a person in a wheelchair, alerting a person with a seizure disorder, providing balance and stability, or even searching a room for a person with PTSD.
They make an important distinction that a service animal is not a pet. So, emotional support animals, therapy dogs, and so on, aren’t considered service animals and don’t have the privileges.
To know if an animal is a service animal, business owners and employees can enquire about it. But, just as the author clarified in the comments, they’re not allowed to ask what kind of disability the person has, ask for proof, a vest, or an identifying tag, and can’t ask the dog to perform the tasks he’s trained to perform.
“If a service animal behaves in an unacceptable way and the person with a disability does not control the animal, a business or other entity has the right to ask that the dog be removed,” the ADA clearly states. If the dog disrupts the business or poses a threat to other customers or staff, it’s lawful to ask them to leave.
Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual image)
Many people, unfortunately, take advantage of the privileges that folks with service animals get
When a restaurant has a “No pets” policy, claiming that your pet is a service animal prohibits the business owner from asking you to leave. As businesses can’t refuse entry to people with disabilities who have real service animals, some people might take advantage of this loophole. A “No pets” policy on its own is completely legal, but it doesn’t allow exclusion of service animals.
Some pet owners who live in rental housing might falsely claim that their emotional support animal or pet is a service animal. Under the Fair Housing Act, only people with disabilities can have pets if their landlord has a “No pet” policy. If the tenant lies that their pet is a service animal, the landlord cannot kick them out or ban them from having a pet.
Some U.S. states have passed laws that penalize people taking advantage of the service animal laws. Punishments vary from $25 to $1,000 fines to community service and even jail time. In Michigan, claiming your animal is a service animal when it’s not can get you up to 90 days in jail. In Alabama, pretending you have a disability to get around your landlord’s “No pet” policy can cost from $500 to $3,000 in fines.
Pretending to have a service animal is also very damaging to people with disabilities who rely on their service animals for real. Just like the author argued, unruly fake service animals create a false stereotype that all service animals misbehave.
In reality, fake service animals can cause problems in public places where real service animals, who are trained to be calm and respectful, might get attacked by an untrained, fake service animal, causing injuries and maybe even fatalities.
Image credits: Anastassia Anufrieva (not the actual image)
In the comments, the server clarified how restaurant staff can address potentially fake service dogs
The story sparked debate in the comments with people calling for better regulations of service animals
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What do you think ?
Bryn 9 months ago
"You wouldn't kick out kids" heck yes I would if they're being disruptive. being a kid isn't a get out of jail free card for bad behavior.
Earthquake903 9 months ago
I had the same issue when I owned a restaurant in Tucson. Had to kick out 2 different customers with "service" dogs. One was very aggressive and barked at everyone who approached the table and the other just would go jump on other customers begging for food and then bark. The 2nd guy would encourage his dog to bark by also barking. Ofc I was the bad guy when I told them not to come back.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
My service dog of 16 years passed away last year. I’m in the process of training my new dog right now. There are sponsored programs, but for many it’s an out-of-pocket expense. And it’s not cheap in the slightest. Nor is it just a few classes here & there to get obedience or good canine citizenship. So it really písses me off when people pull this shít. On top of that I have an invisible disability/requirement, so my service animal & I aren’t as obvious. My dog wears a marked harness and his lead has a laminated ID with two placards attached behind it that are easy to notice & read, with instructions for bystanders should I have an event/episode. None of which are required. I get a lot of grief from businesses who don’t know the ADA laws, particularly asking me why I need a service dog or what my disability as. Which they cannot ask. There needs to be a better system in place that doesn’t burden the disabled person into proving anything yet weeds out folks with pets.
Hippopotamuses 9 months ago (edited)
Where I live (NZ) assistance dogs are legally required to wear cute little capes whenever they're in public working. Failure for the dog to wear such a cape, coat, or vest, means that the dog has no greater rights than a pet dog. Only a small number of organisations can issue vests, etc.
Marnie 9 months ago
Yeah, in what was formerly known as the US, we need to come up with a better system. (I'm assuming the OP is from the US.) But with the ongoing coup, we're never going to see laws that make normal people's lives better, so I'm not holding my breath. I love that they give them capes!
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BrownEyedPanda 9 months ago
If only managers of grocery stores would take the same initiative, especially the ones with open delis. Seeing someone's pet pooch sniffing around the packages of salami turns my stomach. I can only imagine how much worse it is in a restaurant.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
A service dog would never sniff around open food.
Load More Replies... Marnie 9 months ago
WTF? One person said they served a table, and the dog bit her, and all she did was leave them alone! You call Animal Control when a dog bites. They do it again, they put the dog down. Maybe these days, they find a new home for it with people who can train it and known not to bring it around ANY other people until it is retrained. You don't just ignore this! Do people not teach their kids anything anymore?
Sue User 9 months ago
Animal control came and took my brothers dog, a German Shephard. He was the best dog and we never realised the stigma they have. Turn out a neighbors child came over to the property while the fog was outside and tried to pet it. The dog had one quirk: dont touch his ears. We had taken him to vet and there was no infection or anything. My brother fought and won ( whew!) as despite claiming disfigurement, the parents didnt take the child to the doctors. Thry judt put a bandaid on it. Never left the dog outside alone again and he lived a great life.
Load More Replies...
Jaya 9 months ago
Why ISN'T there a proper registry system that shows whether an animal is an official and well trained service animal? Because that would solve the whole problem, wouldn't it?
Betsy S 9 months ago
Yes, they could be chipped just like pets and you should be able to scan the chip and see their registration.
Load More Replies...
WonderWoman 9 months ago
There needs to be better regulations concerning "service" animals - like licensing them - and upon, you have to show the license of your service animal. That would stop these entitled pet owners from violating the laws and rules about pets in stores. I am so tired of seeing a pampered pooch riding in a shopping cart, nibbling of food stolen from the store and barking up a storm, while Mimsy is doing her shopping.
ElfVibratorGlitter 9 months ago
I was just complaining to my coworker about this. A service dog (or pony) has gone through intense training to perform a very specific function. They're trained! They don't bark or run around or climb on things unless they're alerting, which they were trained to do. And that's all you can really ask a person as well in the USA; does the dog perform a specific task?
Lady Eowyn 9 months ago
I'm one of those people with a legit service dog. She ignores other people. She's a pomeranian, any breed can be used if they can do the tasks required. She can. Because of her size and required tasks, she is either on my arm or my lap. I would be more than willing to have my doctor sign a card or fill out a form to say that my dog is necessary. People abuse the law. And any dog, service or not, can be removed from the premises for behavioral reasons. Any establishment is allowed to ask "is that a service dog?" and "what tasks does it do?" Mine is for medical alerts. That's all anyone is allowed to ask. In response to one of the original comments, dogs can detect blood sugar levels. PTSD is real.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
Yep. A cardiac-alert dog, epilepsy-alert dog, or a diabetes-alert dog can be any breed (or even a mutt.) People are just "used" to seeing Labs and German Shepherds used as the primary breeds as guide dogs for the blind, so I think a lot of us have a preconceived notion that if a dog isn't a Lab or a GSD, it's not a "real" service animal. GSDs just happen to be extremely trainable due to their breed background, and Labs are as well - and both are working breeds, so it also feeds into their instinctive desire to have a "job" to do when they are trained as service animals. Large-breed dogs are still better as guide dogs for the blind, as they are physical tools that the person uses (holding their harness, etc.), but one can train any dog to be a true, legit service animal IF the dog has the right attitude, personality, and trainability. A reactive dog of ANY breed will never make a good service animal. Neither will any dog with separation anxiety, aggression, or a lack of focus.
Load More Replies... Bryn 9 months ago
"You wouldn't kick out kids" heck yes I would if they're being disruptive. being a kid isn't a get out of jail free card for bad behavior.
Earthquake903 9 months ago
I had the same issue when I owned a restaurant in Tucson. Had to kick out 2 different customers with "service" dogs. One was very aggressive and barked at everyone who approached the table and the other just would go jump on other customers begging for food and then bark. The 2nd guy would encourage his dog to bark by also barking. Ofc I was the bad guy when I told them not to come back.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
My service dog of 16 years passed away last year. I’m in the process of training my new dog right now. There are sponsored programs, but for many it’s an out-of-pocket expense. And it’s not cheap in the slightest. Nor is it just a few classes here & there to get obedience or good canine citizenship. So it really písses me off when people pull this shít. On top of that I have an invisible disability/requirement, so my service animal & I aren’t as obvious. My dog wears a marked harness and his lead has a laminated ID with two placards attached behind it that are easy to notice & read, with instructions for bystanders should I have an event/episode. None of which are required. I get a lot of grief from businesses who don’t know the ADA laws, particularly asking me why I need a service dog or what my disability as. Which they cannot ask. There needs to be a better system in place that doesn’t burden the disabled person into proving anything yet weeds out folks with pets.
Hippopotamuses 9 months ago (edited)
Where I live (NZ) assistance dogs are legally required to wear cute little capes whenever they're in public working. Failure for the dog to wear such a cape, coat, or vest, means that the dog has no greater rights than a pet dog. Only a small number of organisations can issue vests, etc.
Marnie 9 months ago
Yeah, in what was formerly known as the US, we need to come up with a better system. (I'm assuming the OP is from the US.) But with the ongoing coup, we're never going to see laws that make normal people's lives better, so I'm not holding my breath. I love that they give them capes!
Load More Replies... BrownEyedPanda 9 months ago
If only managers of grocery stores would take the same initiative, especially the ones with open delis. Seeing someone's pet pooch sniffing around the packages of salami turns my stomach. I can only imagine how much worse it is in a restaurant.
ॐBoyGanesh 9 months ago
A service dog would never sniff around open food.
Load More Replies... Marnie 9 months ago
WTF? One person said they served a table, and the dog bit her, and all she did was leave them alone! You call Animal Control when a dog bites. They do it again, they put the dog down. Maybe these days, they find a new home for it with people who can train it and known not to bring it around ANY other people until it is retrained. You don't just ignore this! Do people not teach their kids anything anymore?
Sue User 9 months ago
Animal control came and took my brothers dog, a German Shephard. He was the best dog and we never realised the stigma they have. Turn out a neighbors child came over to the property while the fog was outside and tried to pet it. The dog had one quirk: dont touch his ears. We had taken him to vet and there was no infection or anything. My brother fought and won ( whew!) as despite claiming disfigurement, the parents didnt take the child to the doctors. Thry judt put a bandaid on it. Never left the dog outside alone again and he lived a great life.
Load More Replies... Jaya 9 months ago
Why ISN'T there a proper registry system that shows whether an animal is an official and well trained service animal? Because that would solve the whole problem, wouldn't it?
Betsy S 9 months ago
Yes, they could be chipped just like pets and you should be able to scan the chip and see their registration.
Load More Replies... WonderWoman 9 months ago
There needs to be better regulations concerning "service" animals - like licensing them - and upon, you have to show the license of your service animal. That would stop these entitled pet owners from violating the laws and rules about pets in stores. I am so tired of seeing a pampered pooch riding in a shopping cart, nibbling of food stolen from the store and barking up a storm, while Mimsy is doing her shopping.
ElfVibratorGlitter 9 months ago
I was just complaining to my coworker about this. A service dog (or pony) has gone through intense training to perform a very specific function. They're trained! They don't bark or run around or climb on things unless they're alerting, which they were trained to do. And that's all you can really ask a person as well in the USA; does the dog perform a specific task?
Lady Eowyn 9 months ago
I'm one of those people with a legit service dog. She ignores other people. She's a pomeranian, any breed can be used if they can do the tasks required. She can. Because of her size and required tasks, she is either on my arm or my lap. I would be more than willing to have my doctor sign a card or fill out a form to say that my dog is necessary. People abuse the law. And any dog, service or not, can be removed from the premises for behavioral reasons. Any establishment is allowed to ask "is that a service dog?" and "what tasks does it do?" Mine is for medical alerts. That's all anyone is allowed to ask. In response to one of the original comments, dogs can detect blood sugar levels. PTSD is real.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
Yep. A cardiac-alert dog, epilepsy-alert dog, or a diabetes-alert dog can be any breed (or even a mutt.) People are just "used" to seeing Labs and German Shepherds used as the primary breeds as guide dogs for the blind, so I think a lot of us have a preconceived notion that if a dog isn't a Lab or a GSD, it's not a "real" service animal. GSDs just happen to be extremely trainable due to their breed background, and Labs are as well - and both are working breeds, so it also feeds into their instinctive desire to have a "job" to do when they are trained as service animals. Large-breed dogs are still better as guide dogs for the blind, as they are physical tools that the person uses (holding their harness, etc.), but one can train any dog to be a true, legit service animal IF the dog has the right attitude, personality, and trainability. A reactive dog of ANY breed will never make a good service animal. Neither will any dog with separation anxiety, aggression, or a lack of focus.
Load More Replies...
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