Dog in Ricciardi's
 

Thee has been some concern about a dog inside a stroller that was let into Ricciardo's
The only animals that should be allowed into restaurants are SERVICE ANIMALS--not Comfort or Therapy animals.

If this happens the owner should ask two ?'s:

1-what is your disability ?

2-how is your animal trained to help with your disability?

There are lots of scammers that sell phony registration & dog vests on line

Yes, anyone can purchase a "service animal" vest, etc on line however the first question cannot be asked by ANYONE! There are way too many abusers which is unfortunate for people you truly have a service animal. How can a service animal do its job in a stroller? I saw one (could be the same one) at Market of Marion in a stroller and sleeping. Might be real but I have my doubts. Just like the 'service animals' in a grocery store who are on a longer leash and all over the place. I know a few service animals and know the training they have to go through... they do not run and jump while on duty. Something needs to be done with all the fake service animals! Just my opinion

When I first read the title of this thread, I was afraid they added a new menu item.

Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) | Service Dog Central

This is an interesting site about service dogs. Frequently Asked Questions | Service Dog Central

I don't believe people really NEED to have comfort animals accompany them. I think it is their way of throwing their weight around and showing off on airplanes and places that usually don't see or encourage animals to accompany their humans..

I don't think dogs are dirty and I am not offended by them. I like them a lot, but I don't like people pushing the envelope of what is usually socially accepted for all.

Our kitty would NEVER accompany us to a restaurant in a stroller, on a leash or in my arms. He just has so much class that Mikey. He goes where he is IN CHARGE, only.

Claiming a Comfort dog is a service dog is a federal crime when the dogs owner trys to gain access when using the ADA, guidelines as a basis--Again a comfort dog is not a service dog,a therapy dog is not a service dog

You are right, but think of an expensive lawsuit brought to a person without a corporate lawyer to defend. I can understand why independent businesses do not challenge this.

I agree 100% with GG. Just think of the 8 year nightmare an ADA lawsuit against the LLC has caused. I think there should be a law against abusing the law!!!!

Ricciardi's responded and explained in a letter to the editor of the other un-named website.

Thanks for that information.

I think Ricciardi's explained the situation very well in their letter and did what was required of them legally.

IMHO--Riccardis was scammed--they most likely, they didn't know what a real"SERVICE" dog is and only. "SERVICE" dogs are covered by the ADA

It's unfortunate that ADA laws that help serve people with such needs also shield the ones with less than honest intentions .

Another part of phony documentation is "a renewal date"--this way, the people selling false documentation are guaranteed an income stream

I agree.

You can't fight city hall. OR the ADA which I think has gotten too big for it's britches.

Here is the body of the letter; "The animal in question was a permitted Service Animal and the owner did present management with proper documentation. I feel that your posting of the letter without any additional information (ADA laws, Ricciardi’s policy on service animals, etc.) was unfair and irresponsible. The ADA law is clear that we must accommodate guests with special needs without judgement.*
Ricciardi’s policy on service animals: We do not discriminate against guests with service animals (this includes the vision impaired, psychiatric purposes, and PTSD service dogs). Once the owner provides us with the proper documentation, we must accommodate them as any other customer without judgement. We do not allow the service dogs to eat. If we see this happen, we immediately intervene. Service dogs are not allowed on the table. They must remain on the floor or in their carriers (including strollers) at all times."

I am curious? Does this mean the dog is outside on the porch? It would seem to be that the business would be allowed reasonable accommodation. It would pose a health code violation if the dog lost control of its bowels or bladder inside.

I don't like dogs in any restaurant or grocery section of any store. I saw a large dog in Walmart a couple of days ago and it had no ID of it being any kind of service dog. I asked an employee, "If I ere to come in here with a pig on a leash, would any Walmart employee question me"? She just said, "We are not allowed to".

It is not the store or the restaurants fault, it is the fault of our court system.

If it was a seeing eye dog, would the blind person have to eat outside on the porch?

I am trying to remember if I have seen seeing eye dogs inside of restaurants and the answer is yes I have. Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA

But the dog or other animal must be house broken.

I have lived long enough to see that common sense is nearly dead. We are so afraid of doing something "politically incorrect" that we make utter fools of ourselves and throw the baby out with the bath water.

Funny you should mention this. We were in Orlando airport a couple weeks ago. Walking from the gate to the tram in the Southwest Air terminal. Walking right past us going towards the gates was a couple holding a leash - with a PIG walking behind them. The portly pig had to be 35+ pounds.
Have no idea...a Service pig? really...

I have seen these too but it has been a while.

better believe a lot of terrorists won't get too close to the pig

There needs to be a "Service dog" tag or another clearly visual item issued by the COUNTY that the dog is a true certified service dog. It would be up to the dog owner to provide proof to the county that his/her dog has been trained as a SERVICE DOG. This will take the pressure off the restaurant owners and go a long way in preventing unnecessary confrontations. This is in part why we pay taxes----so our governments should do this job. This issue has been ignored long enough by our Leaders.

According to the letter from yesterday, the dog ate at the table with the owners on a plate they brought. Disgusting! I would resent eating at a table used by a dog. Have you ever watched tables being "cleaned" at a restaurant? The letter from the restaurant said service animals don't eat. Appears not to be truthful.

by doing this, its obvious- the dog was not a service dog

Must the owner be housebroken too?

What letter? The letter I copied from Ricciardi's appears to say that eating at table was not allowed. I will print it again.

bump

The letter the restaurant was referring to was online yesterday. Joe Liguori from Ricciardi's said the posting of the letter without more information was unfair and irresponsible. I say he is the guilty one since he is not enforcing health rules to protect his guests.

I say he is over a barrel. We all know what happened to the Lifelong Learning College.

Now that is a GREAT idea. Put a pig in the middle seat of both sides of each row. I'd start with Iran Air.

Dog in restaurant
 

What about my rights I am allergic to cats and dogs,I would have to leave the restaurant or suffer with extreme itchy eyes and cold like symptoms with cat and breathing problems with dogs

Congress has prioritized, and your rights fall below those of anyone with the audacity to claim that their pet is a service dog.

Dogs in a restaurant - service/comfort/or just a dog - is fine by me. I like most dogs more than I like most people.

There is a lot to be said for your view.

Yes, you would have to leave if it bothered you. To deny persons with disabilities their right to have an actual service animal with them would be discriminatory. Notice that I said ACTUAL and not just having Fluffy as a dinner companion.

No, the dog cannot eat at the restaurant nor sit on the chair but must remain on the floor. True service dogs are trained like that.

Dog in Ricciardi's
 

I think we saw the same dog. A golden retriever led by a man (looking as if he were smirking) and a woman with him. Another entitled idiot. I can not imagine how or by what kind of parents this man was raised by.


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