Gov. Bill Lee signs bill banning emotional support animals from restaurants
Only trained service dogs, police dogs and fish that are inside of a tank are allowed inside of restaurants.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Emotional support animals are now banned from Tennessee restaurants.
On March 15, Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill into law banning emotional support animals (ESAs) from indoor areas of “food service establishments.”
“As introduced, (the bill) prohibits emotional support animals that are not trained, or being trained, to perform tasks or work for a person with a disability from indoor areas of food service establishments,” the bill reads.
Alexis Delmar, whose dog is a certified ESA, isn’t convinced pet-friendly restaurants will want to obey.
“I feel like generally, people only bring their dogs in if they know that they’re well-behaved, and most often, emotional support animals are,” Delmar said. “I’m hopeful that a lot of the places we typically go to will stand up to this and say we’ll continue to allow it as a business owner.”
Dogs were already banned inside buildings that prepare or serve food, but the law extends the ban to specifically include emotional support animals.
Only trained service dogs, police dogs and fish that are inside of a tank are allowed inside restaurants.
“I know there’s a stigma now that a lot of folks just get them certified so they can take them wherever they want,” dog owner Brad White said. “I don’t know, I’ve looked at it, it doesn’t seem quite that easy, maybe it is, but for the folks that really need it, I have a lot of sympathy for them.”
Access to service dogs is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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