Dear Bitchy…
Dear Bitchy Waiter,
Just out of curiosity – what should be done when someone brings a service dog in and someone else is allergic or afraid?
-Juliet
Dear Juliet,
There is only one option for whoever it is that is allergic or afraid of a service dog: deal with it. It’s the law that service animals be allowed in places of business and as long as the animal is not barking, growling or disrupting business it has a legal right to be there. If someone is allergic to the dog, then maybe they shouldn’t go pet it which you aren’t supposed to do anyway to service dogs. If they are scared of it, then they should be given the option to either move to another table or leave.
It is against the law to segregate the person with the service animal, so all the responsibility falls onto the one who can’t handle being in the same room with a trained animal. If they are uncomfortable around a dog and can’t handle thirty minutes being near it, maybe they should put themselves in the shoes of the person who relies on the service dog to help them through life. What’s more of an inconvenience? Being three tables away from a beautiful black lab who is sleeping under a table or spending your entire life without the gift of sight? Anyone who doesn’t want to be around a service dog has plenty of issues and the main one stems from selfishness. Tell them to get over it and direct your attention to everyone else in your section.
Mustard and mayo,
The Bitchy Waiter
Li
Saw airlines kicked a woman off a plane because they didn’t like her staffie or pit, I forget which, which was her seizure dog. She was so distressed, she seized. They put her on a nother plane and paid her for a future trip.
If It’s a professional dog, you shouldn’t be afraid.
At a hotel I worked at, we were explained that legally the ADA won’t allow employees to question the purpose of a comfort dog. Said woman had a doctors note, which isn’t required.
Kathi Burnett
I use a service dog and listen to rude remarks a lot. I have severe panic attacks and have an ICD (implanted defribullaror ). My panic attracts were so bad I only left my house for Dr appointments. This dog is my life line. I went to Applbees one day and a woman complained about ‘that dog in here’ the manager said he understood how she felt, sorry to lose your business and called for her check. I apoliged to him. He looked at my dog and said ‘ I would much rather have your business than hers. You dog is more than welcome here. He was so very kind as were the other patrons.
Emily
There is no US Federal law that requires documentation and there is no official certification for service dogs or for the training schools. In NYS you aren’t even allowed to ask for documentation (because there are no official guidelines for it).
It’s causing major issues for those of us who are disabled and need service dogs. Firstly, because some people think we do carry around some form of ID/documentation/certificate for the dog. When we don’t have it, we get turned away. Secondly, because there are huge scams going around selling certificates or special doggy vests for lots of money. Many unsuspecting people fall for it and lose quite a bit of cash. Also, it just further exasperates the other issues. Thirdly, a lot of jerks purchase those papers and vests and claim their pets are service animals.
Remember: service animals do not need to wear vests or have papers. They just need to provided a necessary medical service for their owner. They can be a variety of different animals, even small dogs breeds. They don’t just exist for the blind. Many different disabilities (including neurological ones) can be eased with help from a service animal.
And “emotional support” animals are not protected by the same laws as service animals. They provide only comfort and not a medical service.
https://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/service_animals_brochure.pdf
That being said, this only applies to New York State. I have no idea how other places handle this issue.
Anonymous
It’s nice to see some support! I require a service dog and constant deal with people being suspicious of him not being legimate (as a result, I’ve started to hate those fake service animals), trying to play with him (his vest says not to pet him, for crying out loud), or just straight-up complaining (“I’m expected to eat in a restaurant with a DOG!? How unsanitary!”) about him. It gets really tiresome and annoying, and I’ve actually left places due to just not wanting to deal with idiots. I mean, could they put themselves in my shoes for a second? I hate don’t like everyone stareing at me all the time, and would much rather just be able to accomplish my tasks alone. I’ve actually started carrying all his documentation around in my bag due to people constantly questioning him. It’s illegal for businesses to ask for them, but some do anyway.
jpet
The business is allowed to ask what physical service the animal provides, but not what disability the person has. This is an important distinction. If the business can provide that service for the guest at a level equal to or better than the animal, you can deny the service animal’s entry.
Emotional support is not a physical service, therefore any animal that is there in an emotional support capacity can be denied entry.
With all that being said, do you want to risk the possible negative publicity of denying someone with a service animal access to your business? Probably not.
Jenny
I have no problem with service dogs as long as they are actual service dogs, trained and with papers. There’s a huge difference between service dogs and regular dogs. My issue is when people go online and pay $65 to buy a vest that says ‘service animal’ and think that gives them the right to parade the dog everywhere. I even saw a woman in Walmart once with her 3 ‘service dogs’.
catherine
http://www.ebay.com/itm/barkOutfitters-Service-Dog-Harness-Vest-w-50-FREE-Service-Dog-ADA-info-cards-/221661914441?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item339c146549 here is an example
catherine
Service dogs are trained to behave, and you wouldn’t even know they are there. But Bitchy, you know the world we live in and the people we have to deal with.>:( you can buy everything, from the service dog vest, to the papers that look legitimate, right off eBay. So many people are doing this, that it has become a huge problem, because these are pets, not service animals, and some of them behave as well as a kid with ADHD on a double espresso.
Diane
We’re not allowed to inquire about said animals credentials.
m
probably the best for everyone. when i was 19 and a little less reserved than i am now, i made a loud comment about a small dog some this girl was carrying at target. the girl got mad and said it was a service dog for epilepsy. oooops
my two defenses: 1) this was during the whole paris hilton-carrying-that-poor-fucking-dog-in-her-purse thing so i just thought this person was being a trendwhore because 2) this dog had nothing but a collar on with no indication that it was a service animal so how was i supposed to know
m
ugh i posted that too before i finished it. anyway, the rest of my comment. it’s not like it’s really my business if it’s a service animal or not, i’m just explaining why i apparently felt the need to even comment. i was still the idiot for questioning it. definitely not something i’d do now.
Cat
BW, THANK YOU so much for this post. My “uncle”, a lifelong friend of the family, has had service dogs for decades. He’s an extremely loyal, friendly and respectful diner who will become a lifelong regular at places that treat him well – and his dogs have all been very well-behaved dogs who quietly curl up under his chair. He has been asked to leave restaurants along with being rudely denied service and yelled at. Considering the deeper hardships he’s endured, he appreciates some respite via a nicely prepared and served meal and it’s cruel to deny him that – and of course, against the law. More places need to know this simple fact!
Keep fighting the good (And bitchy) fight!
odell
There is a diffence between a “Service Dog’, for a person in need and a “Service Dog” – a little dog who eats off their owners plates, and the owner has to say “I have the papers to prove it.”
Twice I had people bring in their little dogs and the owner’s were so snotty saying they were “Service Dogs”. Granted, the dog’s weren’t assholes, and pretty well behaved, but COME ON- Can a pomeranian, or tea-cup REALLY be a “Service Dog”?
Dweali
Dogs don’t have to be big to be trained for seizures or diabetic issues
Leah
We had someone come in with a “service dog” that he refused to leash. It ran rampant through the restaurant and even into the kitchen. Its owner went on a huge tirade when he was wasted to leave. I’m suspicious of service dogs now.
Dinah
as a service dog user I can first off tell you that all service animal users have something that says they actially are a service animal so April someone can’t just say there “pet rat is there support animal”
They have to be trained at a reputable school. If the animal is misbehaving it is up to us to deal with the issue as a parent should a child.
Rachel
If only…I used to work at a large outdoor music venue, and every year there were certain bands that we knew would attract “support animals” – young barefoot people would bring whatever pet they had, tell us at the gate that it was for “emotional support”, and we were prohibited by law from asking for any supporting documentation.
Related story: A friend of mine who is flying one-way internationally soon recently got an online certification from a shrink who specializes in providing documentation for air travel so that your animal can ride with you in the cabin – her husband had to interview with the doctor for a while, received a diagnosis of depression and anxiety, and the doctor promptly provided the necessary paperwork for pup to fly economy! Leading up to the flight, she knows she will need to sedate the dog, otherwise he will bark and approach people the entire time our of fear/excitement.
While this was much cheaper and more convenient for my friend, it does make trouble for people who have a legitimate reason to have a true service animal. While I am aware that there is also an actual need for some people to be accompanied by an emotional support animals, those in jobs who deal with these fake “emotional support” pets get tired of putting up with all the antics of human and beast alike. It makes a bad name for those who actually require assistance of any kind.
DGirl
Your comment is not true. Service dogs can be trained by a program, a private trainer or they can be exclusivey owner trained with or without outside assistance. There is already enough confusion about service dogs; please be sure of your “facts” before putting them out there.
April
Way back when I was at Denny’s, I had some guy bring a rat into the restaurant. I think pet rats are AWESOME, and great pets, but they don’t belong in a restaurant. He was livid that I made him leave. Now-a-days, he’d probably say it was his support animal and we would have to accept that
Rich
Why would someone complain about a
Service dog? They are specially trained, are absolutely quiet, and extremely well behaved. That’s because they were TRAINED. How about complaining about the unruly, loud, and misbehaving children that come with their parents? These children were not TRAINED to behave in public.
Brandelle
No lie. I had someone with a ‘service dog(s)’ allow their dogs to sit on the chair and then proceed to feed the dog off the plate ON THE TABLE.
I think it upset me because that kind of behavior does a disservice to those with service dogs that operate within the expected requirements of behavior.
I made my manager take over the table.
Linda
I was at a restaurant today in michigan with my service dog.i carry her in a dog bag close to my side. She let’s me know when my blood sugar are low. She is very well behaved . The owner of the restaurant told me to leave pointed his finger at me and told me she had to have a harness and be on the floor. She is a small 5lb dog again very well behaved. Told me to never come back. I told him nicely she has a service vest on and by law I can have her. I left with no further argument. I went out side and cryied.
Stacy
We have a regular that has a service monkey… I know right… but it’s well behaved, kept in a cage, and a legitimate, registered service animal… yet we have had other customers complain and leave due to it… some people just need to learn to see past themselves…
April
There is no way I would be able to restrain myself from asking to snuggle it. no way.
Rich
It’s not weird or unusual actually. Service monkeys are valuable
To paraplegics. They act as the persons hands. I’ve seen a service monkey turn the menu pages, salt food, and adjust the straw in a beverage so the person can drink.
Totally cool.
April
In real life (and not just on the internet) I’ve only seen service dogs and one miniature service pony.
Jess
I always offer a dish of water for service dogs, some handlers accept some decline. I have never ever heard of someone complaining about a service dog.
kat szulga
Bravo!