Disabled IDF veteran says he was forced to leave McDonald's with service dog
In the interview, Levy explained that he does not often go out, especially to crowded places, because of his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Aviv Levy, a disabled former IDF soldier, was asked to leave a McDonald's in Gan Shmuel Junction, northern Israel, on Monday due to his service dog, according to an interview with Israel's Channel 12 News on Thursday. The interview revealed that Levy seldom ventures out, particularly to crowded areas, due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He explained that his service dog aids him in such environments, stating, "I need the dog; he helps me in crowded places where there are children screaming and [lots of] noise." Levy and his family had placed their order and seated themselves with the dog before being asked to leave. The dog remained calm, neither barking nor causing any disturbance, as reported by Levy to Channel 12.
People even approached Levy to pet the dog. An employee then insisted that Levy could not bring his service dog into the McDonald's, despite Levy providing the necessary documentation to prove the dog's status as a service animal. Frustrated, Levy and his family departed the establishment, leaving him in a state of heightened stress for several days afterwards.
Levy shared, "I didn't sleep all night," emphasizing the frustration and futility of his situation. The incident underscores the legal status of PTSD service dogs, which were granted equal access rights to public spaces, workplaces, and services in 2022. This includes restaurants, public institutions, and businesses.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
