[nagdu] Hernando woman offended after restaurant service dog dispute

[Ginger Kutsch]

Hernando woman offended after restaurant service dog dispute 

WFLA News Channel 8

Posted: Aug 12, 2014 

By Candace McCowan - 

Melanie Lisky said everything was going fine while out to dinner with two
friends in July at the Chili's in Spring Hill at Commercial Way and U.S. 19.

 

"She comes over and she says to me, 'I just have to let you know that the
dog has to be outside or under the table because you are causing a commotion
in the restaurant," said Lisky about what a manager at the Chili's told her.

 

"I said I can't put her under the table she has to be within a vicinity of
me. I said well I'll just leave. I didn't want to fight. I just put my hand
up and said that's okay, I'll just leave," said Lisky

 

Lisky and Chili's tell 8 On Your Side that an upset customer in the
restaurant claimed Lisky's service dog was on the table.

 

However Chili's said they never asked Lisky to leave.

 

The manager of the restaurant did send Lisky an apology letter along with
gift certificates but Lisky, who says her dog was not on the table, told 8
On Your Side the damage was already done.

 

"I go to Chili's, this big organization that should be up on the ADA and
they're the people who come over there and make me feel like I'm 'this big.'
It just hurt," said Lisky.

 

A representative from Chili's told 8 On Your Side the apology letter was
their standard letter that they sent to Lisky to apologize for the upset
customer.

 

"Somebody who goes into a business even if they have a legitimate service
dog and the dog isn't under control, the business has a right to ask them to
leave," said Marion Gwizdala, who works for the National Association of
Guide Dog Users.

 

Gwizdala, who uses a guide dog himself, said he's had people interfere with
his access, but that service dog users and businesses need to know what the
ADA allows when it comes to service animals.

 

Click here for more information on guidelines.

 

"No documentation has to be required as a condition of access. An entity has
a right to ask what task the animal can perform and how the animal was
trained," said Gwizdala.

 

Lisky depends on her Pomeranian service dog after she suffered a traumatic
brain injury in an accident.

 

"Basically she is letting me know I need to take myself out of the
environment because visual stimulation over does my brain," said Lisky.

 

Lisky wants not just restaurants but other diners to know that she has
rights.

 

"I am just not going to get people pushing me around and putting me down,
I'm tired of it," said Lisky.

 

Source:
http://www.wfla.com/story/26265377/hernando-woman-offended-after-restaurant-
service-dog-dispute