Wherever Beau goes, a Golden Retriever named Chip is always in tow. Beau has a rare form epilepsy and is prone to seizures. Chip is Beau’s service dog, alerting others as to when Beau is in need of medical attention. Service dogs are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and as such businesses are required to make necessary accommodations for the service animals and their owners.
As described in this article, Beau and his family made a one night stop at a hotel in Baton Rouge. Although reservations were made beforehand, the hotel received an email from the hotel stating that because of unforeseen circumstances, the hotel would be unable to accommodate the family, further elaborating that Best Western isn’t pet friendly.
A front desk employee told the family that she was aware of the law, but could not go against the owner’s orders. Beau’s mom, an attorney that represents children with special needs, told reporters that the corporate office contacted her a week after the incident and offered to honor the reservation. Her response, “I’ve already booked with another hotel that’s understanding and happy to follow the law. I don’t want to go to a hotel where I have to force them to follow the law.”
If you or someone you know has been discriminated against because of a disability, the team at Radford & Keebaugh can help. Contact us by phone at (678) 369-3609 or use our contact form.