By BRADLY GILL
Staff writer
A man traveling through Camden to visit a relative in Magnolia reports to the Camden News that his service dog was denied access into an area hotel. The man said he feels this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Roger Marshall Jr., a retired disabled veteran, told the Camden News that on the night of July 23, he was traveling through Camden with his service dog, Zapp, to see his father in Magnolia.
Marshall said he had made reservations at the Comfort Inn located at 1 Ridgecrest Drive. However, when Marshal arrived at the hotel, he was reportedly told by an employee that he would need to provide documentation proving his dog was a service animal.
A brief heated discussion ensued and was later posted on Facebook by Marshall. In the video, an employee identified as Doug asks for documentation, citing hotel policy, and eventually asks Marshal to leave.
Marshall said: “He didn’t even see my service animal at all. That goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act. The only thing they can ask is: ‘Is this a service animal, and does he provide a certain function? ’ He didn’t ask that. He didn’t even see my dog.”
The Americans with Disabilities Act website states: “A public accommodation or facility is not allowed to ask for documentation or proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.”
Marshall stated that he was discharged from the army in March of 1994 after serving in Iraq. He has had Zapp since the weimaraner mix was a puppy, and he is around the dog 24 hours a day.
Marshall said that he plans to take legal action over the incident.
A manager at the Comfort Inn told the Camden News that the employee in the video misinterpreted the policy. The manager who talked to the newspaper wanted to remain anonymous.
However, the manager stated: “We accept all service animals. There is no documentation that is actually required, but that was something that the front desk attendant at that point in time was not aware of.”
The manager went on to say that since the incident, the hotel has printed off and distributed guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act website and made sure that all employees have been made aware of the policy.
The manager stated:
“They’ve (employees) all been giving policies and procedures in regards to service animals. We even found out that miniature horses are considered services animals as well. It’s not something we’ve ever had to deal with. We’ve never had a problem with it. We allow service animals in here all the time… The hotel has made sure that we had an employee meeting and we have made them aware and also given them pamphlets from the ADA. We also have it posted behind the front desk in case there is any question from the front desk attendants that do not understand, - so we they have that for reference.At this time, we’ve addressed it. We actually even offered the guest a complimentary stay for their next visit.”
The Camden News will follow this story for any further developments.