A military veteran recently tossed from a Massachusetts diner after the owner objected to the presence of his certified service dog said he felt “belittled” and wants an apology.
James Glasser said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq, and he’s been helped greatly through his affliction by his service dog, Jack. Russel Ireland, who owns Big I’s in Oxford, said he made Mr. Glasser and the dog leave the restaurant because the dog wasn’t wearing a muzzle or a harness — and ate from a plate, the Boston Herald reported.
Mr. Glasser promptly called police, who told Mr. Ireland that law allowed for the dog to be in the restaurant. Mr. Ireland later told New England Cable News that he “overreacted,” but stands by his decision to remove the dog from the diner.
A few weeks earlier, another veteran, Jared Goering, said he and his wife were “harassed” and “mocked” by a police officer for walking a service dog on a New Jersey boardwalk that generally prohibits dogs.
Mr. Goering said he was injured by two bomb explosions during deployment to Afghanistan and has a service dog to help with his post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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