Aviv Levy, a disabled IDF veteran, was asked to leave a McDonald’s at Gan Shmuel Junction in northern Israel on Monday because of his service dog, he told Israel’s Channel 12 News on Thursday.
In the interview, Levy explained that he does not often go out, especially to crowded places, because of his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Explaining why he relies on his service dog in such environments, Levy said: “I need the dog; he helps me in crowded places where there are children screaming and [lots of] noise. I absolutely would not have come to…McDonald’s with my family without the dog.”
He said that he and his family had already placed their order and sat down with the dog when he was asked to leave.
“The dog sat, didn’t bark, didn’t bother [anyone], nothing,” Levy told Channel 12. “People even came and asked if they could pet him.”
Soon afterward, an employee approached Levy and insisted that he could not have the dog inside the McDonald’s, telling him that the manager required him to leave.
This was despite the fact that Levy explained the situation and presented the employee with the relevant documents proving the dog’s status as a service animal.
Incident at McDonald’s leaves disabled IDF vet with heightened stress, anxiety
When it became clear that the situation would not be resolved quickly or easily, Levy and his family left the restaurant. The incident left him in a state of heightened stress that lasted for several days, according to Channel 12.
The incident continued to affect Levy after he left the restaurant. “I didn’t sleep all night,” he said. “It’s very frustrating. It’s not about money. I take one step forward and five steps back.”
PTSD service dogs were granted the same legal status as guide dogs in 2022, along with medical alert dogs and dogs that assist people with physical and developmental disabilities.
The law states that people with such service dogs, including those training and fostering them, are entitled to equal access to public spaces, workplaces, and services. This includes businesses, restaurants, and public institutions.
