Best Western La refuses to accept family w/ service dog

[Enigma]

Promptly gets its ass handed by corporate headquarters.

Best Western Responds to Property That Refused Family With Service Dog
By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Pets – Thu, Jun 19, 2014 2:42 PM EDT


Best Western International has responded to its Baton Rouge property that refused the reservation of a North Carolina family traveling with a service dog by temporarily restricting the hotel from accepting reservations.

A representative from Best Western International sent Yahoo Shine the following statement: "We provide extensive training to ensure our hotels understand and address the needs of guests with special needs. When this matter came to our attention, we immediately provided direction to the hotel and a reservation was offered to the family. We deeply regret the matter and we will continue to proactively communicate ADA requirements and training to Best Western branded hotels to ensure all guests are treated with the utmost dignity and respect. Further, we have restricted the hotel on our reservations systems and we have required the hotel to stop representing itself as a Best Western branded hotel (cover or remove all Best Western signs and logos) until its representatives attend a hearing at our corporate headquarters at which their future association with Best Western will be decided."

Karen Vaughn, an attorney, had booked a one-night stay at the Best Western Plus Siegen Inn in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while traveling with her three children and a 65-pound golden retriever service dog named Chip, who is always by the side of Vaughn's 13-year-old son, Beau. Beau suffers from a rare type of epilepsy called Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and Chip alerts the family when he’s showing signs of a seizure.

Yahoo Shine could not reach Vaughn for comment, but she told local news affiliate WAFB that, though she wasn't legally obligated to do so, she informed the hotel that Chip would be staying with them. Shortly after, she received an email from the Best Western stating that her reservation was canceled. "We got an email saying due to unforeseen circumstances, they will not be able to honor our reservations. Working through that they said, 'Oh you're bringing a pet, and Best Western isn't pet-friendly,'” Vaughn told the station.


Beau and his service dog Chip (Photo: WAFB)Beau and his service dog Chip (Photo: WAFB)A receptionist explained to Vaughn that while she's aware of the law, the owner doesn’t allow dogs, prompting the family to book a stay in another hotel. Interestingly, a week later, the Best Western corporate office contacted Vaughn and offered to honor her reservation, but it was too late. “I don't want to go to a hotel where I have to force them to follow the law,” Vaughn said in the interview.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals can accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed. Staffers are allowed to only ask two questions: Whether the dog is a service animal and what tasks he has been trained to perform. Allergies or a fear of dogs are not valid reasons to refuse service, and even if the place of business sells or prepares food, it still must allow the service animal, regardless of health codes.

In February, a military veteran named Aryeh Ohayon who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder was denied entry into a Thai restaurant in Houston when he arrived with his service dog Bandit. Ohayon called the police but said the responding officer made him feel worse. According to local news station KHOU, the policeman said, “You’re not blind … I don’t see why you need the dog” and that the restaurant had the right to refuse service because it is a private entity. In September, veterans Amanda Houser and Holly Bolesky and their two service dogs were asked to leave an Alabama Long John Silver’s because of customer allergies. Both women refused to leave until they were finished eating and filed police reports.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Whilst it's upsetting that this happened at all, kudos to Best Western for busting the hotel a new one about it.

[Napoleon the Clown]

ADA violations can fuck a business hard. If these people decided to pursue legal action it'd be an effortless slam-dunk case. The company in question would eat a fine in addition to a sum of money that would go to the people they refused service to.

[Eternal_Freedom]

ADA violations can fuck a business hard. If these people decided to pursue legal action it'd be an effortless slam-dunk case. The company in question would eat a fine in addition to a sum of money that would go to the people they refused service to.

That's actually rather reassuring.

[Block]

While I understand the law's intent, it's interesting that it basically lets you violate all sorts of other laws and other people's ability to eat without having an allergic reaction. The second part seems to me to be infringing on someone else's rights.

[Mr Bean]

While I understand the law's intent, it's interesting that it basically lets you violate all sorts of other laws and other people's ability to eat without having an allergic reaction. The second part seems to me to be infringing on someone else's rights.

They are not saying you have to rub the service dog in your bloody nose. It's just they have to let them in. Same as seeing eye dog for the blind. Block have you met a trained service dog? They get the same training as seeing eye dogs for being chill so these dogs follow their person around quietly and just sit there unless acknowledged.

[Broomstick]

Most eateries are large enough that an allergic person can be seated away from a service animal. Contrary to rumor, people with allergies do not spontaneously explode while in the general vicinity of an animal they are allergic to. As an allergic person I am sensitive to the needs and concerns of other allergic persons, but I can say with confidence that both parties should be able to be accommodated assuming the dining area is larger than a closet.

A properly trained service animal is NOT bounding around the place spreading dander or rubbing itself up against strangers or raiding the table. They are taught to sit/lay down quietly and still while such an establishment. This will also minimize transmission of allergens.

Frankly, anyone too allergic to sit in the same room with a dog lying still is too allergic to be outside or in public as all those people who have fur-bearing pets at home will be spreading bits of hair and dander around, too.

[Block]

While I understand the law's intent, it's interesting that it basically lets you violate all sorts of other laws and other people's ability to eat without having an allergic reaction. The second part seems to me to be infringing on someone else's rights.

They are not saying you have to rub the service dog in your bloody nose. It's just they have to let them in. Same as seeing eye dog for the blind. Block have you met a trained service dog? They get the same training as seeing eye dogs for being chill so these dogs follow their person around quietly and just sit there unless acknowledged.

Yeah, I know how nice the dogs are (and almost all dogs are), I'm not saying I necessarily have an issue, it's just that in the case like the Long John Silver's, it can definitely affect other customers, because despite what Broomstick says, in a lot of the smaller restaurants like that, it would cause my mother's eyes to water with any prolonged exposure, at the very least.

[Broomstick]

Then how does your mother cope with living in the world what with all the pet dogs and people with dog hair on their clothes and so forth?

And yes, watering eyes are uncomfortable, and it sucks to need a service dog, but why should one person's disability bar another disabled person from being served?

[blahface]

Then how does your mother cope with living in the world what with all the pet dogs and people with dog hair on their clothes and so forth?

And yes, watering eyes are uncomfortable, and it sucks to need a service dog, but why should one person's disability bar another disabled person from being served?

I think it should depend on what the disability is. If it is an emotional support animal for flying, I say we should favor the guy with the allergies.

[Mr Bean]

Then how does your mother cope with living in the world what with all the pet dogs and people with dog hair on their clothes and so forth?

And yes, watering eyes are uncomfortable, and it sucks to need a service dog, but why should one person's disability bar another disabled person from being served?

I think it should depend on what the disability is. If it is an emotional support animal for flying, I say we should favor the guy with the allergies.

I'm pretty sure flying is a very special case where hundreds of people are trapped in a tiny space breathing recycled air for several hours. And I believe you can't get a service dog for a fear of flying. More over, I'm pretty sure airplanes are understanding about moving people with allergies. They were for me when I was younger and much more allergic to cats. A cat under the seat in front of me next to me when I was seven was enough to cause a tear gas level reaction from me so they moved me. So they moved me.

[Ziggy Stardust]

And I believe you can't get a service dog for a fear of flying.

Unfortunately, you can. When I first saw the headline I rolled my eyes, because these days lots of people have "service dogs" that are anything but. It is like getting a prescription for marijuana in California. You can just say you feel anxious without your dog and you can get it designated a service dog, and every airline and business has to treat it the same as a seeing-eye dog.

(Honestly, I'm skeptical of the seizure service dogs as well. Last I read anything about them, I thought it was pretty clear that they don't actually do anything useful. Maybe I'm wrong on that, though.)

[Thanas]

Meh, people get all up in arms about best western but nobody cares about the US military killing thousands of these dogs annually once they have reached their usefulness.

[Broomstick]

Actually, people care about that, too, and are also trying to put an end to the summary execution of military service dogs. There has been some success on that front, although the situation is still far from perfect.

[General Zod]

Meh, people get all up in arms about best western but nobody cares about the US military killing thousands of these dogs annually once they have reached their usefulness.

So how come you haven't made a thread about it?

[Enigma]

While I understand the law's intent, it's interesting that it basically lets you violate all sorts of other laws and other people's ability to eat without having an allergic reaction. The second part seems to me to be infringing on someone else's rights.

They are not saying you have to rub the service dog in your bloody nose. It's just they have to let them in. Same as seeing eye dog for the blind. Block have you met a trained service dog? They get the same training as seeing eye dogs for being chill so these dogs follow their person around quietly and just sit there unless acknowledged.

Yeah, I know how nice the dogs are (and almost all dogs are), I'm not saying I necessarily have an issue, it's just that in the case like the Long John Silver's, it can definitely affect other customers, because despite what Broomstick says, in a lot of the smaller restaurants like that, it would cause my mother's eyes to water with any prolonged exposure, at the very least.

So? My mother in law has asthma and is really allergic to perfumes and such and yet still manages to go to stores and restaurants despite some discomfort.

Just deal with it for a few minutes or simply go to the other end of the restaurant. Yes, some restaurants are small but big enough that you won't have a dog shoved up your nose.

[Thanas]

Meh, people get all up in arms about best western but nobody cares about the US military killing thousands of these dogs annually once they have reached their usefulness.

So how come you haven't made a thread about it?

Why should I? I'd just get accused of bashing the military again.

[Enigma]

Meh, people get all up in arms about best western but nobody cares about the US military killing thousands of these dogs annually once they have reached their usefulness.

So how come you haven't made a thread about it?

Why should I? I'd just get accused of bashing the military again.

You should post it. I didn't know this happened until you mentioned it.

[KlavoHunter]

Actually, people care about that, too, and are also trying to put an end to the summary execution of military service dogs. There has been some success on that front, although the situation is still far from perfect.

I'm sure they would like to expand the program to those pesky 'veterans', with all their expensive TBIs and PTSD...

[General Zod]

Meh, people get all up in arms about best western but nobody cares about the US military killing thousands of these dogs annually once they have reached their usefulness.

So how come you haven't made a thread about it?

Why should I? I'd just get accused of bashing the military again.

If you don't care enough to post a thread about it why should anyone else? Not to play mod but this strikes me as a really cheap derail.

[Thanas]

If you don't care enough to post a thread about it why should anyone else? Not to play mod but this strikes me as a really cheap derail.

I would assume people would be secure enough in their likes and dislikes to not be influenced by what I post or do not post.

[General Zod]

If you don't care enough to post a thread about it why should anyone else? Not to play mod but this strikes me as a really cheap derail.

I would assume people would be secure enough in their likes and dislikes to not be influenced by what I post or do not post.

I just think it's funny that someone can be all indignant about a topic not getting posted when they can't be bothered to do it themselves.

[Thanas]

I just think it's funny that someone can be all indignant about a topic not getting posted when they can't be bothered to do it themselves.

I did not get indignant about a topic not getting posted. I merely wondered why best western makes national news and the military killing service dogs apparently is not.

[Raw Shark]

I just think it's funny that someone can be all indignant about a topic not getting posted when they can't be bothered to do it themselves.

I did not get indignant about a topic not getting posted. I merely wondered why best western makes national news and the military killing service dogs apparently is not.

Because the service industry, including hotels, is totally and utterly shit on in a manner that is considered acceptable (because if you feed your family by being a servant, fuck you right up your nose, right?) in this country, while the military has been venerated for about 250 years now since they won a war or something, and the one fancifully aspires to the status of the other.

[General Zod]

I just think it's funny that someone can be all indignant about a topic not getting posted when they can't be bothered to do it themselves.

I did not get indignant about a topic not getting posted. I merely wondered why best western makes national news and the military killing service dogs apparently is not.

Why should I? I'd just get accused of bashing the military again.

And there you go.