For nearly two years, a four-legged friend has followed 20-year-old Taylor Gipson of north Fulton County everywhere he goes. Whether he's in classes at Kennesaw State University or at a restaurant with his family, Gipson's British lab, Bear, is also there.
Because of his Type 1 diabetes, Gipson's blood sugar levels can rise or drop quickly, and as a teenager, he had seizures during the night. His service dog is trained to alert him when his blood sugar is dropping or rising, Gipson says. And Bear sometimes is an even better indicator than his owner's blood sugar meter.
But during a recent visit to a Cobb County fast food restaurant, a manager told Gipson he'd have to leave if Bear stayed. The restaurant claims Gipson had a confrontation with customers, which he says never happened. Now, he has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice over his civil rights, he said.
"She probably just thought, ‘This kid isn't blind or in a wheelchair, so why does he need a dog?' " Gipson told the AJC.
Because Bear is a trained service dog, he is allowed to accompany Gipson just about everywhere he goes, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gipson didn't think twice about taking Bear into a Popeyes restaurant on Windy Hill Road last Saturday.
"I was having a low blood sugar, so I ordered my food and was drinking sweet tea," Gipson said.
That's when the restaurant manager told him he'd had to leave and called police.
"You can't have a dog in the store," Gipson said the manager told him. He tried to explain that Bear is a service dog, but it didn't help, he said.
A Cobb County police officer also arrived at the restaurant and told Gipson the restaurant was private property, so Bear would have to leave, Gipson said. Gipson said he tried to show the officer identification for Bear.
"He wouldn't even look at it," Gipson said. "He said he knew the law."
According to the ADA regulations, posted on the U.S. Department of Justice website, "Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises."
A spokesman for Cobb County police told the AJC late Friday that the incident is under review.
In a statement to the AJC Saturday, the restaurant gave a different account of the incidents.
"Through our investigation, we have learned that we serve that particular guest with the service dog regularly at this location without incident," the statement reads. "It appears that on his most recent visit, a family came in with small children who were frightened by the dog as the guest and the dog were seated directly by the entrance. The parents were concerned for their children and apparently confronted the guest. The two parties engaged in a heated conversation, which quickly escalated, requiring the manager on duty to contact the police to intervene."
Gipson told the AJC Saturday he had never before been to the Windy Hill restaurant, and was only in the area that particular day. Furthermore, he says he never spoke to any customers about Bear while in the restaurant.
Gipson said he is considering a lawsuit against the restaurant for not allowing him to bring his service dog. But beyond that, he wants others to know that Bear isn't just a pet and serves a very important role.
"You have to deal with a lot of people and a lot of questions," Gipson said. "I don't know any other college student that wants to just take a dog into a restaurant. If I didn't need this dog, why would I go to this trouble?"
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