Claims of “emotional support” animals have reached bizarre heights in recent years. Companies that previously asked no questions are beginning to pushback on what non-humans are allowed in their premises. So, ABC’s “What Would You Do?” decided to test peoples’ tolerance of pets at an indoor public area.
Host John Quinones wondered what would happen when people saw someone with a service dog being asked to leave a restaurant. (RELATED: Woman Abuses Foster Child at Restaurant – Disgusted Diner Can’t Stay Silent)
Americans with Disabilities Act
As Quinones points out, what started as trained dogs assisting the disabled has become a catchall. Americans now see a zoo of animals on planes or at restaurants passed off as some kind of service animal.
It’s put a hiccup in the anti-discrimination aspect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which protects individuals who need trained service animals.
Emotional support versus service animals
“There’s a big difference between emotional support animals which qualify with just a doctor’s note,” Quinones points out. “And service dogs, which are rigorously trained for up to two years.”
The vague guidelines for “service animals” by companies until recently led to everything from squirrels to miniature horses getting labeled as such.
What would you do?
When the “manager” of the restaurant asks Carson and service dog, Jack, to leave, fellow diners defended Jack’s presence.
“We’re okay with him, having him stay,” one in a group of women assures her.
Another group said they would leave if Carson and Jack were forced out. And they were headed for the door until John Quinones intercepted them and explained.
When the experiment was tried another time, one diner told the “manager” she needed to read up on service dogs. (RELATED: Watch: Bully Threatens To Beat Man Up Because Of His Service Dog)
Service animals save lives
She also told her just because someone looks “normal” doesn’t mean they don’t need a service animal.
“There are service dogs that work with children with diabetes,” she explained. “They show that their diabetes sugars are going to go up. You would look at that child and think nothing of it because he looks normal.”
Animals in restaurants
Not everyone was cool with the dog sitting in the restaurant. As some trying to eat their meals shared the same concern the “manager” had about cleanliness.
Another couple agreed that abuse of the “emotional support animal” tolerance is out of hand these days.
“It’s hard to tell,” one gentleman lamented.
Regardless of how diners felt about Jack accompanying his owner, they all took exception to how the “manager” made her request.
“Excuse me, are you kidding me? You could say it a little nicer,” one diner, who turned out to be a therapist, said.
It’s nice to see that Americans still expect civility, especially when making a difficult request.