I wasafter I had sat down and ordered because she didn't want my service dog in the restaurant…read more
She said they have the right to refuse service to anyone.
I showed her my ADA card, and she went and called the owner who told her that he/she was going to post on their website that no animals are allowed including service animals.
I told her that was illegal and they are breaking the law, and she became quite nasty and said "We have the right to refuse service to anyone." Again I attempted to educate her on the legalities regarding service animals and she said to me "Are you going to stop talking and listen to me?"
When I asked to let us eat in peace and please get away from our table, she became irate and told us to leave that she was going to call the owner.
I'm very well aware of my rights regarding my service animal and that she will hear from my attorney.
As I was leaving and she had the owner on the phone, she then tried to tell us we didn't have to leave.
After she had been rude, non compliant with federal laws, and called attention to my elder sister and I, staying was not conducive to her ugly attitude.
She NOR the owner obviously seem to feel federal laws protecting people with disabilities apply to them.
Perhaps a bit of insight will keep them from discriminating against someone else.
I WILL indeed be contacting my attorney as well as the Justice Department, and the State of Alabama's ACLU.
Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), private businesses that serve the public must allow service dogs to accompany their handlers into all areas where customers are normally allowed.
What Businesses Must Do
Allow Access Everywhere: Service animals must be permitted in public areas, including restaurants, grocery stores, and hotels, overriding standard "no pets" or health department food-service rules.
Treat Equally: Businesses cannot isolate customers with service dogs, charge extra fees, or demand pet deposits.
Accept Only Dogs (and Miniature Horses): Under the federal ADA, only dogs (and in specific guidelines, miniature horses) trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability qualify as service animals. Emotional support animals are not protected.
What Businesses Can Ask
When it is not obvious what service the animal provides, staff may only ask two questions:
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Staff cannot ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special ID card or certification, or ask the dog to demonstrate its task.
I called back at closing time to obtain the owner's name and phone number, she refused to give me either and told me I had to call back in the morning.
She then proceeded to tell me "I'm the rude woman that spoke to you and when I once again attempted to explain that service dogs are protected by Article 3 of the American Disability Act, she started again arguing.
At this point, I played the phone down and walked away not wanting to argue with her or to be rude and hang up on her.
Its unfortunate that this lady feels she can not follow the laws she doesn't want to, and that the owner seems to feel their business is exempt from federal laws.
Robyn Belknap
8/24/2026
