War Hero in Australia Not Welcome PTSD Service Dog

War hero Reece Maloney refused entry to Coogee Bay Hotel over assistance dog
November 4, 2013

War veteran Reece Maloney and his assistance dog Buddy.

AN ARMY veteran suffering post-traumatic stress disorder says it was a 'slap in the face' to be refused entry to a popular venue at the weekend when they wouldn't allow his assistance dog to come in.

Reece Maloney, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, says he was refused entry to Sydney's Coogee Bay Hotel on Sunday after he arrived with his assistance dog Buddy.

"I arrived and told them 'this is my assistance dog'. They said 'you can't have a dog in here'. I explained that it's an assistance dog and has the same rights as a guide dog and that it's against the law to not let me in because of him," he said.

"Security said 'we'll get the manager'. I explained the same thing to the manager and he said 'we can't have dogs in here'. He said 'we let guide dogs in but we won't let assistance dogs in because we serve food'.

"This dog is trained in public places. He comes into restaurants with me and everything. I explained that to him but he didn't want to hear it."
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