Florida Motel Owner Turns Veteran, Service Dog Away

A Daytona Beach motel owner may have barked up the wrong tree by trying to enforce a no dogs allowed policy.

Robert Price, a former Army sergeant on vacation, attempted to rent a room June 24 at the Budget Inn Express, but was told no when it was revealed he had a service dog named Walker with him, according to WFTV.com. Price has a brain injury and suffers from post-traumatic stress. 

When motel owner Bina Patel denied Price a room, he started recording the conversation on his cell phone, CBS Tampa Bay reported. Price questioned her a bit, and Patel called the police.

As it turns out, however, Patel might be the one facing charges. Law prohibits businesses from turning away disabled people and service dogs. Prosecutors will have to decide whether to charge Patel.

"Not only do I take it personal but I take it as a huge disrespect to all veterans out there," Price told the WFTV.

The Price story isn’t the only one about hospitality businesses being less than hospitable to veterans and their dogs in recent times. A similar incident unfolded in Easley, S.C., recently when a veteran and her service dog were asked to leave a Chinese restaurant. In that case, the veteran, Joane Power even produced her dog’s paperwork and a copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but still had the police called on her, according to Fox Carolina.

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