PROVO, Utah -- The Utah County Health Department is in the process of alerting restaurants when they should and shouldn't allow animals inside.
"We're seeing a lot more people who are just wanting to have their pet, which they love, which is OK, but they want to have them in a restaurant, which is against the law," said Todd Berguson of Provo.
Berguson is one of several Utah County residents who has pushed the health department to crack down on pets in restaurants.
"I have pets. I just don't want them where I'm eating," Berguson said.
Utah County agreed pets being taken out to eat is becoming a concern.
"Definitely within the last year or so we've received calls from restaurants wanting guidance and five or 10 years ago we weren't receiving those types of calls," said Tyler Plewe, with Utah County Health Department.
Restaurant owners said they often find themselves trapped in the middle between the ADA and the FDA.
"You want to give people the benefit of the doubt because if they do have a disability and they need that animal you want to accommodate them as well as you can," said Hanna Bergevin of ABG's Bar.
However, Bergevin also said there are times when people obviously lie about a disability just so they can bring their pet inside, which can cause a number of problems.
"We'll turn around and it’s walking around the bar, it's standing on the stage, people are petting it and the guy is playing pool or something not even paying attention to it," Bergevin said of animals brought into the restaurant.
The county is delivering a letter to 1,700 plus restaurants letting them know their rights when it comes to allowing animals.
"They have a right to ask does a person have a disability, not what type," Plewe said. "They also have a right to ask if the dog has been trained, is it a service animal."
The county said even if it is a legitimate service animal, the restaurant has the final say whether they can stay.
"The restaurants can make an exception if they feel that there is a health risk," Plewe said.
Tightening things up would make sure that service dog exceptions are rare and safe as possible.
There needs to be a [fuddle-duddle] NO! option; I'm serious.
It's the law here that service animals are allowed everywhere.
I'm otherwise not in favor of pets in restaurants.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A Salt Lake City Army veteran is upset that people are pretending to need service dogs and are making things awkward for those who really depend on these animals.
Ryan Baker and his black lab Junny are inseparable.
"Everywhere I go, she goes, without her I could not function in society and feel comfortable," Baker said.
Baker suffers from PTSD. He said his attachment to Junny is not the same as a loving owner and a pet. Their relationship is out of necessity.
"I can't be a normal person like you without my dog," Baker said.
So Baker is upset that there are people out there who pretend to have a service dog, just so they can bring their pet into various businesses, like restaurants.
"It's so easy to just get a vest online and walk around and tell people you have a service dog," Baker said. "It's just deceitful. It's wrong."
Businesses are having a tough time deciding who is legit and who is fake. Utah County is in the process of sending letters to all 1,700-plus restaurants in the county, informing them of their rights when it comes to allowing animals inside.
"I'm getting more and more inappropriate questions from people, such as: 'What's your disability?' That's rude," Baker said.
Baker said it's gotten to the point where he only goes to restaurants where they know him and Junny, like Shivers, where they won't question him.
Baker said most of the time, fellow customers don't even realize Junny is under the table.
"She watches out for me, I watch out for her," Baker said.
Legally, restaurant employees are only allowed to ask people with pets two questions: Do you have a disability? And, is that a service animal? Baker said it's time to change the rules.
"There needs to be stricter guidelines," he said. "I'd like to see something on my driver's license that proves that I have a service dog, and I need one."
Just fielded another complaint about the work dog. (our HR is currently non-existent, which doesn't explain how my department seems to be the new complaint department).
"It growled at me"
Considering the source, I'm with the dog.
Yeah, ours left to become a hatchet lady (literally, a consulting service that just fires people for you), and they've yet to replace. Since about Christmas.How did the person claim the animal for service reasons? What do I want to bet it has some relationship with the concept of stress relief or emotional support?
Yeah, ours left to become a hatchet lady (literally, a consulting service that just fires people for you), and they've yet to replace. Since about Christmas.How did the person claim the animal for service reasons? What do I want to bet it has some relationship with the concept of stress relief or emotional support?
Just fielded another complaint about the work dog. (our HR is currently non-existent, which doesn't explain how my department seems to be the new complaint department).Seriously - if you're having to field the complaints, isn't that grounds for you to investigate to better field?
"It growled at me"
Considering the source, I'm with the dog.
Just fielded another complaint about the work dog. (our HR is currently non-existent, which doesn't explain how my department seems to be the new complaint department).
"It growled at me"
Considering the source, I'm with the dog.