A Soldier And His Service Dog Were Kicked Out Of A Loop Restaurant
By Kate Shepherd in News on Sep 14, 2015 5:56PM
A U.S. soldier and his service dog were kicked out of a restaurant in the Loop over the weekend, the man wrote in a Facebook post that went viral.
Major Diggs Brown and his service dog Arthur were visiting Chicago from Fort Collins, Colo. Brown served in the Army for over 30 years and Arthur accompanies him everywhere to help him deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Brown and Arthur were turned away from Cochon Volant, at 100 W. Monroe St., for breakfast on Saturday morning—a move that shocked Brown.
"When my service dog and I walked in, the hostess took us to the table, and the young lady named Hannah, she said you can't have a dog in the restaurant," Brown told WBBM 780. "I kept my cool and I said you know it's the American Disabilities Act. This is my service dog, he can go wherever I go, it's the law. So I was seated, placed my order then Hannah came over again and said I have to leave. I said it's my service dog and she said 'I don't care, you need to leave, we don't have dogs in the restaurant.' I could go to the Department of Justice with this if we continue down this path."
Brown said Arthur has saved his life. He wakes him up from nightmares and calms him down during anxiety attacks, he told WBBM.
Brown posted about the incident on Facebook and his post went viral. It didn't take long for the manager of Cochon Volant to call and email him to apologize. The restaurant quickly issued a public apology on Facebook to explain that it's not a true representation of their policy and they're reviewing their protocol, training of staff and ADA regulations. They are even donating to Puppies Behind Bars, where Arthur was trained, and Colorado Disabled Veterans.
At least the story has this happy ending. Brown said he was satisfied with the restaurant's response, and hopes that the employee in question is not fired.
"It's not my intent to destroy a restaurant, but it is my intent to make them aware that they have violated a law that not only affects veterans with dogs, but other people with disabilities with service laws and that they need to be aware that it's discrimination," Brown told WBBM.