Oh no they di'ent
Service dog turned away from local hotel
Indianapolis - A woman says a local hotel told her that her service dog in training is not welcome to stay there.
Colin Zinn says she's been staying at InTown Suites at 86th and Michigan while her house is being renovated. Zinn also helps train service dogs and a new dog, Lady, has just arrived from Oregon.
"This dog could allow somebody to work when they might not be able to work, or be in public where they might not be able to be in public, or function in a way that they normally would not be able to function," said Zinn.
But Lady's training is at a stand-still. Zinn said she went to the hotel manager to tell him Lady would be staying with her. She says she was told Lady was not welcome.
"He said upper management says no service dogs in training are allowed. No pets. And I explained it was not a pet, this is a service dog in training and he still said no," said Zinn.
"I never expected there to be a problem with anybody. Anywhere," Zinn added.
An attorney for Paws and Think, the non-profit that brought Lady here, called InTown's corporate office.
"I was told no problem with the dog and then they changed course," explained Scott Preston with Ice Miller LLP.
Preston explained under Indiana Law, service and guide dogs are allowed in public places. The law also applies to dogs in training.
"The law is very clear that says someone who is training an assistance dog has to be given the same accommodations as someone with a disability that has an assistance dog," said Preston.
Preston says he tried to get a straight answer from InTown's corporate offices, but so far, no one has returned his calls. Zinn says she and Lady could go somewhere else says that's not the point and says she shouldn't have to.
"What's happening is dead wrong," she said.
Indianapolis - A woman says a local hotel told her that her service dog in training is not welcome to stay there.
Colin Zinn says she's been staying at InTown Suites at 86th and Michigan while her house is being renovated. Zinn also helps train service dogs and a new dog, Lady, has just arrived from Oregon.
"This dog could allow somebody to work when they might not be able to work, or be in public where they might not be able to be in public, or function in a way that they normally would not be able to function," said Zinn.
But Lady's training is at a stand-still. Zinn said she went to the hotel manager to tell him Lady would be staying with her. She says she was told Lady was not welcome.
"He said upper management says no service dogs in training are allowed. No pets. And I explained it was not a pet, this is a service dog in training and he still said no," said Zinn.
"I never expected there to be a problem with anybody. Anywhere," Zinn added.
An attorney for Paws and Think, the non-profit that brought Lady here, called InTown's corporate office.
"I was told no problem with the dog and then they changed course," explained Scott Preston with Ice Miller LLP.
Preston explained under Indiana Law, service and guide dogs are allowed in public places. The law also applies to dogs in training.
"The law is very clear that says someone who is training an assistance dog has to be given the same accommodations as someone with a disability that has an assistance dog," said Preston.
Preston says he tried to get a straight answer from InTown's corporate offices, but so far, no one has returned his calls. Zinn says she and Lady could go somewhere else says that's not the point and says she shouldn't have to.
"What's happening is dead wrong," she said.
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