Restaurant refuses to serve veteran with service animal

May 07, 2011

a rio rancho man says a local hooters violated his rights after trying to kick him out. police are siding with him and told management that he's protected byederal law. eddie garcia got to the bottom of the story and joins us live in front of the restaurant near coors and alameda. it turns out this man is a war veteran and is still actively serving -- he had a dog with him--- a licensed service animal which is protected by federal law. these are things the managers at this hooters didn't seem to know about...and after they did know -- didn't seem to care. air force master sergeant justin jordan has served his country all over the world for 18 years - but post traumatic stress disorder began creeping up on him making every aspect of his life torture. that was until he met a specially trained english bulldog named dallas. so many of our veterans are stuck in their homes, not being able to go out in public. she gives me the ability to go out in public and participate in things i haven't done in a while - go to the park with my kids. jordan wanted to see a syndicated radio host who was in town and meeting fans at the hooters on alameda and coors. all was going well until management told jordan to leave because of dallas. he told me that it was their policy not to allow anyone but blind dogs and it was apparent that i wasn't blind so i needed to either go on the porch or leave. jordan even called the founder of paws and stripes-- who trains the dogs-- to vouch for him he brought the printed forms of the laws and tried to explain them to the manager who met him with much beligerance - even ripping up his business card when he presented it to them. the manager called police, who sided with jordan. but still... the manager insisted not to serve me. in a statement-- hooters says its policy is to comply with ada laws - and that it's handling the matter internally. jordan hopes his story will help veterans with service animals of all kinds. there's no doubt in my mind now that i have dallas; i'm going to beat this, i'm not going to let this overwhelm me and overcome me. jordan says his attorney will determine what action to take. in the meantime, the air force is staying out of it completely - calling it a civil matter. and hooters says the matter is being handled internally.