'Gay Dog' Refused Entry To Australian Restaurant

Look, for people who think the guys thought the guy wasn't blind and it wasn't a guide dog...

THE GUY IS BLIND. HE CAN'T SEE A DAMN THING. That's quite easy to tell, with the cane and that. Also, the dog has a special "thing to take him around"*, so it's even EASIER to tell. The only reason for denying his entry is... Well, I DO NOT KNOW. Either the guys were STUPID, ZOOHOMOPHOBIC, or simply ASSHOLES. In either case, a bunch of idiots.



*I forgot the word in english, sorry :p

Maybe when they heard "gay dog" they thought the man was committing acts of bestiality with it, and that was why they refused him entry. Dunno.

Pushing aside the ridiculousness of a GAY DOG, the place is a restaurant. I understand the need for blind people to have their guide dogs, and that discrimination is bad, but if I saw a dog in a restaurant I would leave.

This is what I was thinking. Regardless if the dog was gay or not, they're not usually allowed in restaurants anyway.


He had a friend with him, and I'm sure the staff would be more than happy to walk him to his seat. The only problem is that the dog would be left chained up alone outside for up to an hour, which sucks for the dog, but isn't really animal cruelty or anything.

It's not like the dog is going to jump into your table, rub his butt on your dish, and get back to his owner, laughing at you Duck Hunt style. I've had more than one meal with my GF's dog near, and it's really far from disgusting. The guide dog would leave you totally alone, and this one is always begging for food. In fact, this lil' guy makes it a bit more enjoyable.

Guide dogs are specifically trained to be a blind person's partner, and as such, they get a different treatment. It's like on public transport, or other places where the guy can't see, and unluckily, that's everywhere. Denying the blind guy to eat in a place because he's gay is ridiculous. BECAUSE HIS DOG IS GAY is just mocking him.

Right, but that doesn't mean that they're allowed in restaurants. They could be the most well behaved and trained dog in the world, but some customers would still feel uncomfortable to enter somewhere that allows dogs inside. I know, it's a little dumb, but some people are really paranoid about dog hair and stuff finding their way into the food. Some people are allergic to dogs, and woiuld never imagine bumping into one in such a place.

A hairy guy without a shirt isn't harming anyone either, but unless it's a beach shop or something, I'm sure restaurants would ask him to put a shirt on before entering.

The only problem is that the dog would be left chained up alone outside for up to an hour, which sucks for the dog, but isn't really animal cruelty or anything.

If I approached a restaurant and saw a dog chained up outside of it, I would find a different restaurant. I don't know anything about this dog, so I am inclined not to trust it.

Right, but that doesn't mean that they're allowed in restaurants. They could be the most well behaved and trained dog in the world, but some customers would still feel uncomfortable to enter somewhere that allows dogs inside. I know, it's a little dumb, but some people are really paranoid about dog hair and stuff finding their way into the food. Some people are allergic to dogs, and woiuld never imagine bumping into one in such a place.

A hairy guy without a shirt isn't harming anyone either, but unless it's a beach shop or something, I'm sure restaurants would ask him to put a shirt on before entering.

If the person with the guide dog were sitting in a porch or open air seat I would be fine with that. I just wouldn't want the dog in the restaurant building itself. It spreads allergens and dog hair (depending on breed - don't think it was specified in the story). My concern wouldn't be about the guide dog barking. When guide dogs are at work, they only bark to alert the blind person of something important. If it's important enough for that dog to bark, I think it's important enough for me to know about anyway.

Putting these things in the news only worsens the gay stereotypes.

Why would they let ANY dog in a restaurant, for that matter?

It's not like the dog is going to jump into your table, rub his butt on your dish, and get back to his owner, laughing at you Duck Hunt style. I've had more than one meal with my GF's dog near, and it's really far from disgusting. The guide dog would leave you totally alone, and this one is always begging for food. In fact, this lil' guy makes it a bit more enjoyable.

Maybe you don't understand how unsanitary it is to have an animal in a restaurant. It has nothing to do with the dog being a nuisance, it's just gross. I know people have animals at home (I have cats) and it's really no different than eating here, but I still wouldn't be comfortable eating at a restaurant with an animal near-by. Well actually, there is a big difference. Anything I eat at home I'm not paying out the nose for. IF I go to a restaurant to eat a nice meal I expect it to come fur free.

Dunno about Australia, but in the states, it is illegal for restaurants to discriminate against people with service animals, even if it seems unsanitary.

The ADA requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.

A hostess at one of our restaurants asked a customer with a guide dog if they could sit outside instead of bringing the animal in the restaurant, and the customer threatened to call his attorney. You are not allowed to discriminate against people with service animals, not even by having them sit in a different area of the restaurant. If this incident had happened in the states, I wouldn't be surprised if the person walked away with more than $1400.

Dunno about Australia, but in the states, it is illegal for restaurants to discriminate against people with service animals, even if it seems unsanitary.

Indeed.
One of my blind coworkers' service dog got incontinent with age. That was fun in a call center.

Maybe you don't understand how unsanitary it is to have an animal in a restaurant. It has nothing to do with the dog being a nuisance, it's just gross. I know people have animals at home (I have cats) and it's really no different than eating here, but I still wouldn't be comfortable eating at a restaurant with an animal near-by. Well actually, there is a big difference. Anything I eat at home I'm not paying out the nose for. IF I go to a restaurant to eat a nice meal I expect it to come fur free.

Just wanted to point out that (1) Humans are animals, too, and (2) I guarantee you some disgusting human beings have eaten at establishments before where bringing in a dog instead of them would have been more sanitary.

@Eos: Oh god I can imagine.

Just wanted to point out that (1) Humans are animals, too, and (2) I guarantee you some disgusting human beings have eaten at establishments before where bringing in a dog instead of them would have been more sanitary.

@Eos: Oh god I can imagine.

It doesn't matter if I can't see/smell it. Ignorance is bliss.

It doesn't matter if I can't see/smell it. Ignorance is bliss.

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I don't want any dog eating where I am. Even if it is a guide dog, it is a dog. Even if it is a guide dog, it still can act out in an unsightly manner. He should not have received any money for his troubles. Maybe a free meal, but nothing more. If there was an outdoor cafe area, the dog and owner could go there.

If the person with the guide dog were sitting in a porch or open air seat I would be fine with that. I just wouldn't want the dog in the restaurant building itself. It spreads allergens and dog hair (depending on breed - don't think it was specified in the story). My concern wouldn't be about the guide dog barking. When guide dogs are at work, they only bark to alert the blind person of something important. If it's important enough for that dog to bark, I think it's important enough for me to know about anyway.

This is the very point I was going to make. When you go to a restaurant, you are going out and away from your house. You dont want to have to deal with peoples pets or animals of any sort (unless its some theme place, then its your choice). I have 2 cats at my house and 1 dog. Animals shed hair constantly. Just because im used to the animals at my house doesnt mean i want them tame or wild around me while im at a restaurant.

Many of my blind friends would actually look down on this person for needing a service dog in the first place and feel that incidents like this are what make them unwanted in public places. Service dogs are to the blind what hearing aids are to the deaf, oddly. Weird internal schisms and biases.

The one who does have a service dog would be horrified at the thought of going any where with out him and offended at the idea that she was unwelcome anywhere just because she needed a service animal to get there. Tying it up outside wouldn't even remotely be an option when you consider the time, effort and expense of training a service animal and the potential for it to be taken by anyone who passed by. Letting a service animal leave proximity to you isn't something most blind people are willing to do, they're codependent after all. By that same token expecting their friends, acquaintances or even strangers, who likely have zero training in assisting them getting around, to take the place of a service animal is something a lot of people are uncomfortable with. How many people would you trust yourself to be led around by blindfolded? Especially if it involved being left alone for indeterminate periods until they came back for you?

Simply avoiding the restaurant is an option yes, but hungry people have to eat eventually, and depending on where you're at, why you're out and whatnot stopping at a restaurant isn't unreasonable and if the only thing that makes you doing so an unreasonable burden on others is your service animal that's more a matter of other people being narrow minded and picky. I have no problems with a service animal, be it dog, cat, monkey or whatever, being present pretty much anywhere I am as long as it's well behaved. Categorically saying it's presence is wrong is just a form of prejudice.

Many of my blind friends would actually look down on this person for needing a service dog in the first place and feel that incidents like this are what make them unwanted in public places. Service dogs are to the blind what hearing aids are to the deaf, oddly. Weird internal schisms and biases.

The one who does have a service dog would be horrified at the thought of going any where with out him and offended at the idea that she was unwelcome anywhere just because she needed a service animal to get there. Tying it up outside wouldn't even remotely be an option when you consider the time, effort and expense of training a service animal and the potential for it to be taken by anyone who passed by. Letting a service animal leave proximity to you isn't something most blind people are willing to do, they're codependent after all. By that same token expecting their friends, acquaintances or even strangers, who likely have zero training in assisting them getting around, to take the place of a service animal is something a lot of people are uncomfortable with. How many people would you trust yourself to be led around by blindfolded? Especially if it involved being left alone for indeterminate periods until they came back for you?

Simply avoiding the restaurant is an option yes, but hungry people have to eat eventually, and depending on where you're at, why you're out and whatnot stopping at a restaurant isn't unreasonable and if the only thing that makes you doing so an unreasonable burden on others is your service animal that's more a matter of other people being narrow minded and picky. I have no problems with a service animal, be it dog, cat, monkey or whatever, being present pretty much anywhere I am as long as it's well behaved. Categorically saying it's presence is wrong is just a form of prejudice.

I have no problem with a service animal being anywhere either. I like animals in general, if they're well behaved. However, there are just policies that public places, such as restaurants, adhere to for the sake of their business. There are people who mind the dog being there, even if it's well behaved. They came to the place for a nice meal with their date, not to feel a little awkward dining next to a stranger's dog who's ruining the mood with his panting (which is normal, the dog can't be blamed for this), or a sudden breeze from a waiter walking by that picks up shedding fur from the dog into the air near their plates.

Just because the man heavily relies on the dog doesn't mean that they're going to make an exception for him. If I had a safety blanket syndrome and needed to have my cat in my arms at all times, or risk a panic attack, they wouldn't let me in either. That would be a case where my furry companion can not be out of my sight, because I'd need it around for mental stability. They're not making an exception for me though, and there's more than one reason as to why they wouldn't.


Maybe if it was a less classy place, like a McDonalds or something. I've seen someone come into McDonalds with a cat before. Oddly enough, the cat was in a harness, being walked as if it was a dog. The employees eyed it for a bit, but nobody made a big deal about it and she had her meal to go anyway.

If I had a safety blanket syndrome and needed to have my cat in my arms at all times, or risk a panic attack, they wouldn't let me in either. That would be a case where my furry companion can not be out of my sight, because I'd need it around for mental stability. They're not making an exception for me though, and there's more than one reason as to why they wouldn't.

I don't think you're having the same conversation I am. The only reason the dog was rejected is because they didn't understand it was a service animal. If your cat were classified as a service animal it would have just as much right to accompany you anywhere you had legitimate reason to be.

I don't want any dog eating where I am. Even if it is a guide dog, it is a dog. Even if it is a guide dog, it still can act out in an unsightly manner. He should not have received any money for his troubles. Maybe a free meal, but nothing more. If there was an outdoor cafe area, the dog and owner could go there.

Imagine the restaurant owner told you: "Sureeeeee... You can have a dinner in my restaurant. Of course, you have to be blindfolded, and you have to leave your clothes at the front door. Nobody will be guarding your clothes by the way". How would you feel? Now, how would you feel if EVERY RESTAURANT did that to you? Now imagine you are outside your house... And far from your house. Are you really going to not eat until you get home at night? How would you feel?

If you think it's not your problem, you'd definately deserve to be blind, instead of those people who will never witness anything at all.

Sort of off-topic, but how many blind friends do you have Eos? Not that it is wrong, but unless you yourself were blind, or something, I wouldn't expect one to know that many people with that disability.

Four or five close, a couple dozen acquaintances. I spent six years working for a telecommunications relay service for the deaf, and oddly the job is well suited to the blind, so I have had extensive exposure to a wide variety of disabilities and the various subcultures due events cooridinated at/with the texas school for the deaf and the texas school for the blind, among others.

Just because the man heavily relies on the dog doesn't mean that they're going to make an exception for him. If I had a safety blanket syndrome and needed to have my cat in my arms at all times, or risk a panic attack, they wouldn't let me in either. That would be a case where my furry companion can not be out of my sight, because I'd need it around for mental stability. They're not making an exception for me though, and there's more than one reason as to why they wouldn't.

Dunno about Australia, but in the states, it is illegal for restaurants to discriminate against people with service animals, even if it seems unsanitary.

The ADA requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.

A hostess at one of our restaurants asked a customer with a guide dog if they could sit outside instead of bringing the animal in the restaurant, and the customer threatened to call his attorney. You are not allowed to discriminate against people with service animals, not even by having them sit in a different area of the restaurant. If this incident had happened in the states, I wouldn't be surprised if the person walked away with more than $1400.

You should read before posting. Yes, there are exceptions. In a similar case you would have to leave the place if you don't like animals near you while eating or just ignore it. Same for Sarah and almost everyone else that agreed.

On a side note, I bet Australia have the same law. Even in a retarded country like mine there are laws for that.