Peter Greenberg: Service Animals in Hotels
By: Peter Greenberg | Source: AARP.org | 2009-01-12
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In May I traveled back to Kentucky by car for my daughter's college graduation. I have a service dog, and during my stay at the Days Inn in St. Joseph, Mo., I was charged an additional fee for the dog. I contacted Days Inn customer service and indicated I felt the charge was illegal. They were not concerned and stated it was Days Inn policy to charge the fee, service animal or not. It was late, and we were all tired, so I stated I had no choice but to pay the fee, but was doing so in protest. It was a $10 or $15 fee; they did not itemize the fee on my bill, just added it into the cost of the room. Is it legal to charge disabled people an additional fee for having their service dogs in the room with them? I showed the hotel clerk the dog's certification; in fact, she needed a copy on file in case there was an emergency in the motel that night, so emergency personnel would be alerted that a service animal was on-site.
–Irene, Shoreline, Wash.... Back to Article
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