USSDR Blog Banner

Uber Driver Suspended for Refusing to Accept Service Animal

Uber Driver Suspended for Refusing to Accept Service Animal

admin No Comments October 2, 2016
blog title

In September, 2016, an Uber driver in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, refused to give a ride to a man with a service dog. Thomas Jones, with guide dog Blake, needed a lift home from the grocery store.

Jones has retinitis pigmentosa, and has completely lost sight in one eye. Blake helps him with everyday chores and around campus when he goes to classes. 

No Dogs in Her Car

When the Uber driver arrived at the grocery store, Jones started to get in. But then the driver asked if wasn’t going to put his dog in a cage. He explained that Blake was his service dog.

The driver said she couldn’t have dogs in her car, cancelled the ride and drove off. Said Jones, “You have a buggy full of groceries and, you know, you are trying to hurry up and get home. I was really hurt.” 

Uber Allows Service Dogs

Jones called the police to file a report. They drove him home and he let Uber know what had happened. The company immediately took action. They have suspended the driver for the time being, while they consider deactivating her account on a permanent basis.

Uber says that all drivers go through training that makes it clear that service dogs are allowed in vehicles. The videos they must watch explain that drivers must let service animals ride on the floor of the vehicle’s backseat, close to the passenger. 

ADA Requirements

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, any business that serves the public is required to accommodate service animals.

Jones said he hopes his story serves as a lesson to other Uber drivers and anyone who comes in contact with a service dog.  He wants to the word to get out to educate people dealing with the public.

Register Your Service Dog

One way to reduce the chance of potential problems is for service dog and emotional support animal owners to register their pets and have a service dog vest on dog when in public, according to the experts at USA Service Dog Registration. It is free and quick, a simple three-step process.

Three types of registration are available:

Service dogs: Service animals help people with disabilities, including pulling a wheelchair, PTSD, seizure alert, medical alert and more. By law these animals are allowed full access in public places.

Emotional support animal: An emotional support animal is any pet that provides therapeutic benefit to those with anxiety or psychiatric disability. These animals have limited public access rights, including housing and flying in-cabin with no additional fees. These animals are covered by the Fair Housing Act, Air Carriers Act and other federal laws.

Therapy dogs: these dogs provide comfort and affection to people in nursing homes, hospitals and schools. These animals do not have the rights accorded to service dogs or emotional support animals.

The registration is free. You can also purchase service and emotional support animal certificates, ID cards, tags and dog vests at the online store.

The company offers an official emotional support animal letter, either for housing or travel or both, from a doctor on staff. Purchase includes a telephone interview with the doctor to discuss your condition.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Preloader
X
SERVICE DOG ID CARD USA Service Animal Registration Your Service Dog ID card will include our convenient QR Code for a quick scan link to our registry lookup. By simply entering your dog\'s registration number your official registered profile will be accessible for quick verification in the event the validity of your service dog is ever questioned. 2054
$29.99
Product Image
5 12634
- by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
Horrible. My letter wasn't accepted and I am forced to live somewhere else now. Never again.
Great experience - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Overall easy to purchase and register.
One more step - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I will be satisfied when I get a fax number to send my apartment complex paperwork to be filled out
Did not receive order - by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
I made a purchase on 3/9/2023 and it is now 3/23/2023 and I have yet to receive my package in the mail. I also can not get ahold of anyone at the company to check on my order.
Very thin - by , March 25, 2011
3/ 3stars
The vest is thin, not sure how long it will hold up. Love the cards tho they are nice and help show registration
Housing Letter - by , March 25, 2011
3/ 3stars
Well, they did email my letter, although my understanding was to also send a hardcopy in the mail. I never received this. I paid serious money, with a budget of disability so no choice but to send this disgruntled review
Dog tags - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great I love how fast you receive service
- by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I did not see a place to unload my photo
Great Customer Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Excellent and gentle people. Caring and Loving Staff
amazing great nice perfect - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Perfect service awesome experience
Teronica - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
It was nothing less than amazing. Very sweet therapist , very kind & understanding
Excellent Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
You were very helpful as I worked on the registration and determined what to order. Thank you very much to Carolyn and Lori for their email and phone assistance.
Great experiences - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
The vest is very lightweight and fits my dog perfectly. Thank you for helping in this process
Exceptional Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great, thorough
Great Customer Service - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great customer service. expedient process, easy to access resources
USA Service Dog Registration - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
USA SDR ia a wonderful company. They're quick to respond and make purchases easy, quick . The instructions and explanation are to the letter. This is the third time I have used them. If in the future I need a new dog registered I will only use them.
Easy to complete - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
Great ! This site made it so easy to complete
UsA Service Dog Registration - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
What a great experience. Everything was straight forward and easy to use. Got my card within 3 days of ordering
Order Correction - by , March 25, 2011
5/ 5stars
I made a mistake and ordered the Deluxe ESA package and included the letter I didn't need. With a Very quickly returned - Super friendly, helpful and Honest phone call, the matter was resolved and my order was edited and will be out to me ASAP. Please thank her for me on behalf of me and my partner Blue! The speed of everything was great, but the Kindness of my agent- I can't remember her name! - was Unreal.
- by , March 25, 2011
1/ 1stars
Good have not. Received card yet