From Fox 7 News
Restaurant denies service to veteran with guide dog
“A Bertram veteran said he was denied service at a local restaurant because of his service dog. He’s now on a mission to educate others about laws protecting people with disabilities.
Jerry LeBlanc and String Bean are more than two peas in a pod.
“String Bean was issued to me through the prosthetics department,” said LeBlanc. “The same place you would go to get crutches or a cane or a wheelchair or whatnot. He is an extension of me, so he’s not a dog in my eyes. He’s a medical device.”
LeBlanc served as a combat medic in the Army, catching the tail end of the Gulf War. He’s now blind because of the chemicals he was around.
This March, he said he and String Bean went to their local Mexican restaurant in Bertram, El Rancho.
“We were met at the door by the manager who stated that ‘if you don’t provide me paperwork proving that he’s a trained service dog, then I can’t let you eat here,’” said LeBlanc.
According to state law, String Bean should be allowed in. But LeBlanc says he’s used to denial like this.”
Read the full article on the Fox 7 News website.