'Lay Down Your Swords:' Veteran Kicked Out Of Pizzeria Makes Up With Owners

A Marine veteran who says he was denied service because of his service dog at a Massapequa pizzeria has reconciled with the owners after what both sides have called a misunderstanding.

On April 18, John Welch, of Commack, said on Facebook that he went to Villagio's Pizzeria with his son and his service dog, Onyx. In the post, Welsh said he was denied service for entering with his dog and felt "embarrassed, ignored and belittled."

In just a few hours the original post, which has since been deleted from Welch's page, received hundreds of shares and created backlash against the restaurant.

Agatha La Fata, 24, who runs the restaurant with her father, told Newsday that after the original post was shared on Facebook, the restaurant received multiple calls and one-star reviews on Yelp. She also deleted the restaurant's Facebook page after it began to receive multiple negative reviews.

La Fata said she did not notice from behind the counter that Onyx was wearing a vest worn by most service dogs.

“I just saw a wagging tail and told him dogs aren’t permitted," she told Newsday. “It was all a miscommunication and we in no way meant to offend or upset John.”

So after the incident, La Fata and her father reached out to Welch.

As a result, last week Welch created another post on his Facebook page which stated that while he felt wronged when refused service, the response in the aftermath from Villagio's owners was "nothing short of spectacular."

"Their misunderstanding should not impact their ability to remain in business, and I wholeheartedly request you all lay down your swords," he wrote. "The punishment far exceeds the penalty."

Welch says he and the restaurant owners worked together with America's VetDogs, a nonprofit that works with veterans and service dogs.

"I have come to know them as caring, concerned, gentle people, fully supportive of veterans in every way shape or form," he said. "We are taking this opportunity to move forward together to bring awareness to service dog access as well as the need for business owners to be aware of the laws that govern all aspects of business owner responsibilities in this regard."

In the post, Welch also asked everyone who gave the restaurant a negative review to rescind their reviews.

"We hurt their business substantially, and I have a terrible feeling for that having occurred," his post reads. "They deserve forgiveness, but also they deserve to be acknowledged for their greatness, as they have risen above the problem and revealed themselves to be front runners in support of veterans and their service dogs. As well as all people with disabilities."

Pictured: John Welch with the owners of the pizzeria, Agatha and Peter La Fata

Photo credit: America’s VetDogs