Vet with PTSD service dog kicked out of restaurant on Veterans Day!

Service Dog Kicked Out Of Restaurant
FOX 29
Posted: Nov 13, 2013

BURLINGTON, N.J.
38-year-old disabled Army Veteran Jeff Hall doesn't go anywhere without his dog Cooper. The canine helps him deal with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he developed during a peacekeeping mission in the Bosnian Conflict 16 years ago.

On Monday, Veteran's Day, Hall says his dad took him to lunch at Rino's Pizzeria, on Route 130 in Burlington. They ordered a pizza and sat down to eat when the owner called his dad away from the table and allegedly said his pet couldn't be in the restaurant.

Hall says the owner seemed concerned about health department rules governing animals in a restaurant.

Hall says the owner seemed unaware of the protections granted to people using Service Dogs when he asked them to leave the restaurant, which is a federal offense.

The Department of Justice ADA website says as of March 2011, dogs used to calm persons with PTSD during an anxiety attack, qualify as service animals, and service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed to go.

The restaurant has yet to comment on the incident, but they are taking a beating from commenters on its Facebook page.
read more here