Disabled vet, service dog, tossed by restaurant owner

Disabled vet, service dog, tossed by restaurant owner

Glasser and his dogJames Glasser, a war veteran from Oxford, Mass., served his country with distinction in Iraq, but now a local restaurant won’t serve him — at least not as long as he brings along his certified canine, provided by the military to help him cope with battle-induced post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Blaze reports that Glasser and his three-year-old Jack Russell Terrier received less than a hero’s welcome from Russel Ireland, who owns the diner, called Big I’s.

In an interview with TV station NECN, Glasser states: “My feet just got into the restaurant and I ‘hear get that f**king fake service dog out of my restaurant.’”

After being turned away, the veteran phoned the police who subsequently told Ireland that Glasser has a right to be inside the restaurant with the dog, which provides assistance for a medical issue.

Ireland maintains that he didn’t believe the dog was a genuine service dog initially and now believes he overreacted:

I didn’t say anything last time he was in, so it was partially my fault. I admit this, I overreacted, granted, I’m only human.

Ireland say it felt it was unsanitary for Jack to be brought in without a harness or muzzle, though Glasser claims the dog had a leash. By Ireland’s account, the dog ate from Glasser’s plate as well — something that the owner felt was unclean.

Glasser plans to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice over the incident. The case is not without precedent. In 2011, an Iraq war vet sued a McDonald’s for ejecting him because he had a service dog in tow.

LU Staff

LU Staff

Promoting and defending liberty, as defined by the nation’s founders, requires both facts and philosophical thought, transcending all elements of our culture, from partisan politics to social issues, the workings of government, and entertainment and off-duty interests. Liberty Unyielding is committed to bringing together voices that will fuel the flame of liberty, with a dialogue that is lively and informative.

Comments

For your convenience, you may leave commments below using Disqus. If Disqus is not appearing for you, please disable AdBlock to leave a comment.