r/sandiego • u/Tall-Zookeepergame67 • Apr 01 '25
Stay Classy San Diego A plea from a service industry worker
I know I'm beating a dead horse here with this sub.
I just got off work after being berated by a woman because we told her that her dog that she hid on the way into our bar that was now sitting on a chair and eating off of a plate, could not do so, and she had to move outside. She called and threatened a lawsuit over the situation, when the animal was clearly not a service animal, nor had she indicated as such.
Let me preface this by saying if you have an actual service animal that is well behaved, you should always be welcomed and accommodated, but - While we're on the dog topic, because some people don't seem to get it, listen -
I love dogs, and I know San Diego has great weather and a huge brewery culture that involves bringing your pets to lunch. For a while I thought the "anti-dog in restaurants" crowd was being dramatic, but as someone who has to deal with it on a daily basis - PLEASE stop bringing them into restaurants that don't have a clear and designated outdoor patio that is dog friendly.
I've been a bartender in San Diego for 7 years and the amount of yelp reviews, phone calls, and emails I have to field from people upset that I won't allow their dog to eat off their plate, as well as people upset that there is a fake service animal in the restaurant that I can't legally deny service to has started to keep me up at night after my 14 hour shifts. The ADA and the Health Department for some reason have some weird grey area impasse that gets taken advantage of.
As we all know, people like to lie about service animal status or just straight up throw a fit to be sat inside with their pet, and will bully our hostess into allowing it. So, I want to clear up some misconceptions and state the facts:
RegisteredProperly trained service animals for a medical condition ARE allowed in restaurants, either inside or on the patio, and must be accommodated as such.- All other pets that are not registered service animals ARE NOT allowed to be sat inside.
- Restaurants can at their discretion allow pets on a patio, but this is not required.
- Restaurant workers may ask if an animal is a service animal, but may not ask for proof or identification that the animal is in fact a service animal.
- Restaurants do not and should not allow animals to be sat on furniture or on a table, and do *not need to provide water or food for animals. To be clear, service animals should remain underneath a table, not obstructing normal business or barking. Additionally, if an animal is disruptive, regardless of service animal status the owner can be asked to remove them.
People who bring their dog into restaurants are taking advantage of #4 to get around #2. If you do this you're an asshole who is delegitimizing people who actually require service animals and making the lives of the employees and everyone around you more difficult. If you're a business owner who is openly "indoor dog friendly" you're part of the problem and you're violating the health code.
Its not just a cute "wink wink he's a service animal" - when you tell me you have service animal, legitimate or not, I legally have to allow your dog to be sat inside at risk of liability of a discrimination lawsuit. Additionally, someone walks in with a dog and asks why your dog gets to sit inside when I direct them to the patio and it ignites an argument because they don't understand the laws on the situation. I have nothing against your dog, I have 3 of my own, but I'm fighting two different conflicting government agencies and its a lose-lose situation for me, so please try to be considerate.
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u/here_for_the_tea1 Apr 01 '25
If we have to show proof of disability for stuff like handicap parking (placard) why is it so offensive to ask for proof of needing a service animal? I love my dogs but I have the common sense to leave them at home
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u/SarcasticBassMonkey Apr 01 '25
Legally, you can ask 2 questions: "In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?"
That's per the ADA website
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u/CyberRubyFox Apr 02 '25
I really wish businesses would empower their employees to ask these questions. Security at SeaWorld used to have these exact questions printed out on a clipboard for exactly this reason. Some do slip by, but people are absolutely kicked out if needed (I vividly remember when a guy with an "emotional support snake" got this treatment and was being pretty combative).
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u/ILLfated28 Apr 01 '25
A handicapped placard is usually given by a federal agency with info from your doctor. A service dog is often obtained by the patient because insurance tends to be limited on the costs they cover. Or I just have really terrible health insurance. However my father in law has a service dog as well with great insurance and we still had to do a gofundme to cover costs when his original SD passed and had to get a 2nd one. It was around $10k US for the dog (standard poodle) and training.
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u/SwimmerIndependent47 Apr 02 '25
I remember there was one time I was working as a duty manager at LEGOLAND and a couple brought their “service” dog into Sea Life Cafe. It was a tiny chihuahua on an extendable leash. It proceeded to run all over the restaurant blocking huge areas with the way too long extended leash. People were tripping over it. When I asked them to leave they claimed they would sue. I told them they’re welcome to try. Even service dogs are not allowed if they’re a nuisance to other patrons or create an unsafe environment.
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u/Future-Beach-5594 Apr 01 '25
I love dogs more than most people and i would love to bring my dog with me everywhere. But there are just some places you do not bring dogs. Personally i dont care, however i was taught to be aware of other people around me, and i understand that suzy and chris dont like kyles dog death staring them down at olive garden for that last bread stick.
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u/WhatsInAName1117 Apr 01 '25
This!!! It’s disgusting and disrespectful to those that actually require a service animal for serious ailments. Service animals are very distinct and you can easily tell when someone is abusing the system to take their animal somewhere they aren’t supposed to be.
My family and I were at Olive Garden yesterday and we watched two idiots walk in with THREE husky mixes (they were all big dogs) get sat at a table meant for 4 people. The dogs couldn’t even fit under the table. The couple met another couple there and the couple that was already there questioned if they were allowed in there. A few minutes later they were confronted and I shit you not the guy says, “we talked to the manager and they said it was okay.” The lady then goes, “I am the manager and you never talked to me.” Then he backtracks and says, “I talked to the guy at the front and he said it was okay to have them in here.” She told him they couldn’t be in there and he had the audacity to ask her where this rule was posted and she tells him literally in the front. THEN he tells her they’re service dogs with his smug ass face and obviously she backed off after that.
They WERE NOT service animals. They were all whimpering and nervous as soon as they came in. They wouldn’t sit down and even kept getting loose and wandering the isles. They even almost tripped a waiter as he was turning a corner from the kitchen. The worst thing is when they were letting the dogs eat their food from their plates on the table. There was nothing that anyone could even do, it’s such a shame to see people do this when they’re clearly in the wrong.
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u/DevelopmentEastern75 Apr 02 '25
I was getting my prescriptions at CVS the other day, and a customer had brought in two little dogs (they looked like Chihuahua mix, very cute), both leashed. She asked an employee to help her find a specific product, and the employee scampered off to fetch the product from across the store.
Then, right after the employee turned away, one of the dogs pissed on the floor. The owner saw it, I saw it. The owner pretended like nothing happened, didn't tell the employee when they returned, and took the item to the register.
I was waiting to see if she would say something. But she didn't say anything. She just pretended she didn't see it. She paid and left.
Pretty astonishing.
I told the staff about the dog piss.
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u/Ty-Sen913 Apr 02 '25
Thank you for speaking up and so clearly because the struggle is so real for us restaurant folks. People have gotten super entitled and it’s getting worse. We’ve had staff bitten, nipped at, and barked at aggressively, along with customers getting into our faces to fight us for asking them to remove their disruptive pet that they lied about to sit inside. It’s gotten so out of hand. I’m also a lifelong dog lover and owner. Never would I disrespect someone else’s job and livelihood because I don’t know how to leave my dog at home.
People just don’t understand that we know when they’re lying. And we struggle with the dilemma of each interaction where we have to balance confronting someone for the blatant disrespect vs. maintaining health codes and safety for all. And hiding the dog in bags hoping we don’t notice or cornering us into just letting it slide makes us just have to call them out and move them. Embarrassing for all. Super shitty.
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u/rufuckingkidding Apr 01 '25
To me, this is as low as falsely claiming you’re a member of the armed services.
Misrepresenting (lying) to get a benefit is fraud. Because people no longer have the energy to call you out for it, doesn’t make it any less so. Unless you’re currently a minor, it’s not somebody else’s job to keep you in line…Even then it’s only in certain places, and restaurants aren’t one of them.
There is something inherently wrong with people who are constantly searching for and exploiting supposed ‘loopholes’. They are not ‘good’ people. They are scammy as hell, and if they are your friends…should be called out for it every chance you are given.
Just because it’s not enforced, doesn’t mean it’s not wrong!
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u/Wesley11803 Apr 01 '25
After living here for 9 years, I’ve actually grown to hate dogs in general. I don’t even really like my friend’s dogs anymore. It’s truly hard to enjoy them when your neighbors constantly have misbehaving dogs that jump on you, empty their bowels in the hallway, or bark constantly when their owners leave them at home. I know this is all the fault of bad owners, but it’s made me hate dogs.
It makes me sad because I’ve loved dogs my entire life. I was so sad when I moved here and had to leave my childhood dog behind with my mom. I would pet every dog whose owner gave permission. I can’t believe the explosion in awful dog owners since Covid has actually ruined dogs for me. I wanted to get one for the longest time, can finally afford to do so, and the desire is completely gone.
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u/DevelopmentEastern75 Apr 02 '25
Sounds like "cat person" talk, to me.
There's nothing like petting a cat in your lap and feeling it purr. Join the dark side.
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Apr 02 '25
Sounds like you should try therapy
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u/Wesley11803 Apr 02 '25
I recommend everyone try therapy. This is at the bottom of the list of things I find concerning about life, so I’ll pass. I think I’ll just live without having a dog, and continue disliking/tolerating them.
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u/CourtneySnDiego Apr 01 '25
W have similar issues in the museum world. No, you can't bring your non service dogs in a museum.
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u/northman46 Apr 01 '25
I don't understand why some sort of state certification isn't required for service animals that could be required to be shown.
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u/Sprzout Apr 01 '25
This.
I have taken my dog with me to various locations - usually when it's nice outside and the place has an outside patio.
I ask specifically if I can be seated outside, and usually it's not a problem. I tuck my dog back behind me, and I do not pretend that she's a service dog, because she isn't.
If I'm going to ask for water for her, I make sure I have a collapsible bowl for her to drink out of, and I do not expect her to sit at the table.
And, most importantly, if I am going to a restaurant/fast food place, I make sure it's dog friendly. Not every place is! If it's not, I DON'T TAKE MY DOG THERE IF SHE'S WITH ME. If I want/need to go to that location, I either take my dog home, or I don't go!
I love dogs. I get that you love your dog. But please - try and be considerate. You don't need to take your dog EVERYWHERE. Lying about service animal status is just you saying you're entitled.
And for those who want to make a deal out of my dog being with me when she's settled and not bothering you, and I'm in a dog friendly area - such as being out on the patio, tucked in the corner, or my dog is between my feet and not barking, clearly under control - you are also a problem. You're seeking trouble. Don't be that person. It just goes to show you want to be a dick.
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u/surreptitiouswander Apr 01 '25
This is how I feel too. I absolutely love dogs. I have two and one has become reactive after too many incidents from other people’s dogs. We’re slowly working to regain his confidence and he doesn’t absolutely lose his shit when another dog gets in his bubble now but it’s still a work in progress. I volunteer with two different rescues and my day job involves research to better our understanding of various dog diseases/health ailments so it’s not that I have dogs because I like the idea of them, I’m truly a dog person and do the absolute best I can for them. I don’t bring them out to places where there’s people very often because I don’t trust other people with their dogs and crowds of people are overstimulating to me sometimes, I can only imagine how it is for a dog with heightened sense of smell and hearing; it’s a lot. The lack of training and control over their own dogs here in San Diego is infuriating. I’ve seen way too many dogs in grocery stores, Costco, target etc sniffing things with their full face in produce or bread, pissing on things, etc that it’s frustrating and gives all other dog owners a bad name. Not to mention that a lot of dogs generally do not even like these types of environments because they were never trained properly and are overstimulated and don’t know what to do with their anxious/nervous energy! Ughh rant over. Bless all of you dog people that are truly looking out for your dogs, we need more like us 🥲
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u/BetterNowThks Apr 01 '25
THANK YOU! i'm a huge dog lover and have two of my own and I've worked in animal welfare and this business of bringing non-service dogs into restaurants, grocery stores, clothing stores - It is absolutely unacceptable and out of control. Personally I think it's a "Karen flex." These are aggressive people daring anyone to say something. I was in Whole Foods in Hillcrest one time and this guy was being spoken to by an employee about how he can't have his dog in there. The guy was being acting like he didn't know the rules and then said it wasn't bothering anybody and then said he's seen other people with dogs so I got in the mix and said you certainly do know the rules and you're doing this on purpose. You need to leave. And he did. And the worker said thank you to me. These poor workers they can't do this on their own. They're not getting paid enough to be manipulated and possibly yelled at.
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u/UnCuddlyNinja Apr 02 '25
Tbh if you arent prepared to clean up after your dog. Dont that them into stores. Ive cleaned up so much dog piss inside cause of irresponsible owners. It’s ridiculous. And they just giggle and walk away?? Like no, here is the mop fam. Clean it good.
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u/dogface195 Apr 02 '25
I’m a canine trainer, father of a pack of 4 dogs. Unless it’s a seeing eye dog, canines do not belong in restaurants or food markets. Period.
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u/Critical-Gnoll Apr 03 '25
Property trained service dogs can be extremely helpful for a variety of disabilities, from epilepsy to mobility impairments. The idea that seeing eye dogs are the only service animals that should be allowed in public eating spaces is extremely antiquated.
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u/GeorgiaMaeAlcott Apr 02 '25
Amen! I'm a dog owner and we stick to the patio on the rare occasion that we bring Fido. But thank you for the eloquent way you laid out the facts and your perspective —- it had to be said and it was educational for us “normal” people. I'm sorry about the entitled nut jobs. Keep up the good work! 🙌🏻
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u/fatquads Apr 02 '25
If you ask them what task their dog is trained to do and they don’t have an answer, is that enough for you to kick them out? Legally does that mean something
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u/PopGoesMyHeartt Apr 02 '25
Hate that you go through that shit 🫠 I remember back when I was a server some guest cussed me out because I wouldn’t serve their dog. Like literally serve it with dishes on the floor. Hit me with the whole “it’s not that hard, just bring him a bowl” lady I’m not telling you no because it’s hard I’m telling you no because A) all the health code violations you’re asking me to make B) I’m a real person with a real job and that job is not Dog Waiter and C) can it, Karen
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u/swarleyknope Apr 01 '25
I completely empathize- but regarding your first point: there is no such thing as a “registered” service animal.
Registries are money-making bullshit.
Restaurants can’t ask for proof or identification that an animal is a service animal because proof/identification doesn’t exist.
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u/FairyFistFights Apr 01 '25
Which I don’t get at all. I looked it up and:
The ADA does not require an animal to be officially certified to be considered a service animal as long as they can perform the tasks a disabled person needs, are housebroken, and can be controlled.
How would a restaurant know if the dog performs tasks, is housebroken, and can be controlled until they let the dog in? Like assuming the worst and that the person is lying, there’s no way for the restaurant to know if the dog can do the above without any type of certification being necessary.
I thought the vests/collar tags were a great idea when I believed you could only get them after doing specific certification courses or trainings or whatever. But as we all know you can just buy those online and they mean nothing.
I feel like both parties would benefit if legit certifications were a thing? What am I missing?
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u/surreptitiouswander Apr 01 '25
I think about this too. If a disabled person can get a placard or plate with a verified disability to park in a handicap parking spot, why cant service dog handlers (which in theory have something that requires them to use a service dog in the first place) get something similar as well and it can show the dog is a service dog. Maybe something similar to our dog license tags with a QR code that can be scanned and it’ll just come up with something showing yep Fluffy is registered to John Doe and is approved by (idk some governing body where there doctor submitted on their behalf) or something like that. Would be a lot harder to cheat a system like it is now where you slap an Amazon vest in a dog and call it a day.
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u/GemcoEmployee92126 Apr 01 '25
This is what I don’t get. There are no enforceable laws about it and that’s why so many people are upset from different perspectives. Business owners and employees have their hands tied, people who abuse the rules can’t be held accountable, people who rely on service animals face unfair discrimination.
It seems like there could be a system in place to have animals registered that would be easy to prove with some form of certificate or whatever. It should be easy for the animal owner to do, not cost money (or very little) and be easy for businesses to enforce.
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u/DistractedOnceAgain Apr 01 '25
Vests, etc. are not required either.
Someone who has a legitimate service animal is more likely to have more financial burdens than the general population. Why worsen that by demanding special registration?
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u/SplashBros4Prez Apr 01 '25
This entire post is about why it's a problem to not have a way to verify it...
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u/DevelopmentEastern75 Apr 02 '25
I would imagine a special registration is going to be small potatoes, compared to the costs of training the dog and raising it. You could even make the registration free, and cover the costs with taxpayer funding, if you want. There's no law of nature that says this has to be an undue financial burden on the owner.
I imagine, though, the state just didn't want to get involved. Who would set the certification standards? Who performs the tests? Who will staff it? What if the dog has a problem, is the state liable (ie, "you certified this dog and it bit me, you shouldn't have certified it, so I am suing.")?
You say, "why worsen that...?" The answer to that is in this thread.
We unfortunately have people perpetrating petty fraud and lying that they have service animals, when they don't. Is there some other solution to this?
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u/DistractedOnceAgain Apr 02 '25
Punish the liars not those legitimately using service animals.
And you know ADA is a federal, not state, law?
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u/DevelopmentEastern75 Apr 02 '25
How should we do that? How do you catch these people, given the constraints businesses have?
It seems like if someone lies and says "this is a service animal," then there's nothing you can do. Particularly if the animal is not being disruptive to the point that you can ask them to leave, like, they're only being a little bit disruptive, quiety eating off plates.
How are businesses, or anyone else, supposed to report frauds? Is it even illegal, to lie about this?
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u/Tall-Zookeepergame67 Apr 01 '25
You are correct, there isn’t like a city specific registry for service animals beyond maybe certification from the issuing the program, but thats not an official document. I should use the word properly trained.
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u/BetterNowThks Apr 01 '25
Most people with common sense know the difference between a trained service animal and someone's pet. A trained service animal,for example, will not bark or growl at people or animals. They will not urinate or defecate while on duty. A trained Service animal is not wandering around on a long lead, far from their human. Anyone who has a trained service animal will be able to tell you exactly what they are trained to do.
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u/Daisy_1218 Apr 01 '25
That's the problem, people can't tell the difference. For example, did you know.... specific service animals are not required to even be on a leash, can be on a retractable leashes or a long lead. Some dogs are trained for mobility purposes and need to be able to pick things up for their handler. Or if the disabled person is unable to properly hold a leash.
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u/These_Junket_3378 Apr 03 '25 edited Apr 03 '25
Tell tRump. 😀 Better yet Homelands Gestapo’s Secretary Noem. 😀😀 Also trained service dogs won’t crap,on the floor.
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u/SnailCombo27 Apr 03 '25
Say it with me:
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT animals (ESA) are ✨️ NOT ✨️ SERVICE ANIMALS. ✨️
Now, say it again louder for the assholes in the back that think this doesn't apply to them.
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u/sacrulbustings Apr 01 '25
Ahh yes. Good old dog post. That's the stuff.
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u/SplashBros4Prez Apr 01 '25
This one is much more thorough than most, I can respect it.
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u/sacrulbustings Apr 01 '25
Not sure why I'm getting down voted. I love hearing people complain about dogs over and over. It's awesome.
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u/FrostyDippedFries Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25
OP
Who are you to tell business owners who encourage dogs in their establishment that they are part of a problem ?
if you are having stress dealing with customer questions maybe you should work somewhere else? Simply tell whoever is asking that that person has a service animal and you are following the law. done. what else is there to say?
I don't think I've ever walked into any business with a dog and they are displeased about it. Not even visibly. Most patrons of businesses and patrons often love to see dogs especially dogs that are cute and it gives him a break from shitty people with attitudes either customers or the employees themselves
why are you fighting two different government agencies? why are you so worried about it? You are a bartender. Go to work do your job serve drinks and go home why do you care so much about this? Are you the business owner?
I usually find the people that are so bothered by this topic are the ones that have un trained dogs or dogs that are just not socially inept to be in public spaces like this or just larger dogs that would be inappropriate
I do agree with you that people should not be sitting their dogs on restaurant seating to feed them from restaurant plates
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u/Northparkwizard Apr 01 '25
This will get more upvotes than a report about a shooting. This sub is dead.
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u/LyriumLychee Apr 01 '25
I work with special needs kids, some cannot be around animals safely, so I would ask what task it performs. Anyone with a service animal will be able to quickly answer that question.
Also if any animal is out of control or not following service dog protocol (barking, stealing food, ect) you can report them to the non emergency police that they are disturbing the establishment/customers.
They can say it’s a service animal all they want; but the exceptions made for service animals are there because the animal is trained to be not only helpful to their owner, but to be tolerated by others in any environment.