December 2, 2024
Source: WRAL News.
The incident, involving Steve Jones and his service dog Koda, highlighted the importance of adhering to federal laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
[Note: The online story includes a video.]
A Raleigh [North Carolina] restaurant is making amends after a veteran and his service dog were denied entry, sparking outrage and a quick resolution.
Steve Jones, a Winston-Salem resident, was in Raleigh on business in early November when he decided to stop by Buffalo Brothers, a restaurant he had visited before with his service dog, Koda. But this visit was different.
“I walked in, and the manager said, ‘we don’t allow dogs in here,’” Jones recounted. “I said, ‘but it’s a service dog; there’s a federal law.’ And he replied, ‘it ain’t my law.’”
Shocked and frustrated, Jones left the restaurant.
Under federal law, businesses cannot deny entry to service animals – animals trained to assist individuals with disabilities, including PTSD. Koda, a loyal companion to Jones, is registered as a service dog with the state and has the documentation to prove it.
“There are veterans out there that need service dogs,” Jones emphasized, adding that the interaction left him disheartened.
The incident caught the attention of another patron, a fellow veteran, who walked out of the restaurant in solidarity. That patron suggested Jones contact WRAL’s 5 On Your Side for help.
“I looked it up and decided to reach out,” Jones said.
Buffalo Brothers’ operations manager, Clare Redman, was quick to address the issue once it was brought to her attention.
“We were disappointed to hear of a situation like this because we are a company that values active military and veterans,” Redman said.
The restaurant took decisive action, firing the manager involved in the incident, issuing a $50 gift card to Jones and retraining staff to ensure all service dogs are welcomed at their locations.
Jones appreciated the apology, which included a personal meeting with Redman.
“They owned up to the mistake and made it right,” Jones said.
For Jones, the resolution was about more than a gift card or apology. It was a step toward ensuring no other veteran faces the same treatment.
Know your rights with service animals
Federal law requires businesses to allow service animals to accompany their owners. A service animal is defined as a dog trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability. Business owners can ask only two questions:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What task has the dog been trained to perform?
Businesses cannot ask for documentation.
For more information on service animal rights, visit ADA.gov.
News source: wral.com/consumer/5onyourside/raleigh-restaurant-apologizes-veteran-service-dog-december-2024
More information on the ADA, disability rights, and service animals:
Service Animal Resource Hub | ADA National Network
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