Casino with Policy that Violates the ADA?

Yesterday on Facebook, someone mentioned that he used to work for Hollywood Casino and that they had a policy requiring employees to ask customers with service dogs to show documentation proving their dog really was a service dog.  Of course, this is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Hopefully he was mistaken about their policy, of perhaps the policy has changed.  He used to work there and says he asked customers for documentation regarding their service dogs, though, so even if this isn't their policy, some of their employees are violating the ADA.

So I wrote them a letter, and am also sending them a copy of a brochure published by Pet Partners that explains service dogs and the ADA, as well as a copy of the business brief issues by the Department of Justice.

Here is my letter:

December 29, 2012

Hollywood Casino
777 Hollywood Boulevard
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

To Whom It May Concern:

Yesterday I had a conversation with a former employee of yours who told me that when he worked at Hollywood Casino, the casino’s policy was to ask any customers with a service dog to provide documentation to prove their dog really was a service dog, not just a pet.  He told me that one time when he followed company policy and asked for documentation, the person with the dog because very angry and left.  I was disappointed to hear this because, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is illegal to ask to see any type of documentation verifying that a dog is indeed a service dog.

Perhaps this former employee was mistaken about your policy and was not actually acting in accordance with your policy when he violated federal law by asking to see documentation that a person’s service dog was in fact a service dog.  I certainly hope that is the case.

Just in case it’s not, though, I’m enclosing some information for you.  I’m enclosing a brochure published by Pet Partners with some basic information about service dogs and the Americans with Disabilities Act.  I’m also enclosing a copy of the business brief issued by the Department of Justice.  Note that businesses are only permitted to ask two questions: Is that a service dog?  And what task is the dog trained to perform?  Anything else is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  Please feel free to contact me at xxx-xxx-xxxx if you would like more information about service dogs and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sincerely,

Kelly