Should there be limits on where service dogs are allowed?

There have been a couple of stories in the news lately about people with service dogs who were denied access to restaurants and stores. In this case, a man says he was not allowed to bring his dog into a local supermarket. He has seizures and his dog is trained to detect when they will occur.

He claims that employees told him he couldn't bring the dog into the store. He says he tried to show them paperwork showing his dog is a service dog, but it didn't change their minds. Police were brought into the dispute.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...o-Bring-Service-Dog-Into-Wawa--160412045.html

After the fact, the store manager apologized for the incident and said that it is under review.

It appears in this case that employees were wrong. Or, the manager is covering his/her trail after the fact.

Is it a valid claim that dogs, no matter if they are service dogs, shouldn't be allowed where there is food? Are their places that service dogs shouldn't be allowed? Since they are so well trained, do they pose the same risks as an every day pet dog?

 

From the report I read, it appears that the dog was not properly outfitted with a service dog vest at the time of the incident, so I do not blame the employees of the store for what they did. I would say its the responsibility of the dog's owner to make sure that his dog is clearly identified as a service dog at all times when he is outside his house.

 

I agree with the laws in New Zealand which state that all service dogs should be allowed access to all public areas, shops and faciliites. Sure there is a tiny risk of contamination of food but service dogs are a small percentage of all dogs and do such an important job that allowances should be made for them. In saying this while in public they should wear their vests at all time as to avoid confusion or conflict.

If this situation occured in New Zealand I'm sure lots of people would boycott that paticular chain of supermarket.

 

The employees were definitely in the wrong there.

I'm actually okay with service dogs being allowed everywhere. They definitely don't pose the same risks as an every day pet dog. Yes, they are still animals and anything could happen, but service dogs are specially trained well above and beyond any "normal" pet is.

 

I think those service dogs should be allowed since they could save the life of their owners or their services are really needed. Very few are escorted with their service dogs so it was just few cases and it should be allowed.

 

IF they are real and trained service dogs then they shoudl be allowed anywhere. The problem is there are instances when people take their family pet, call them a service dog and expect to be allowed to take them anywhere.

Seems there should be some sort of documentation you can carry to prove your dog a service dog.