Emotional support animals have been shown the door in Tennessee eateries and hotels as Governor Bill Lee puts his signature on a new law. On March 15, the Governor approved a piece of legislation that forbids these animals access to indoor areas of "food service establishments", a move that broadens the existing ban that kept untrained pets out of places that store, prepare, or serve food, according to WVLT.
The bill draws a clear line, allowing only animals that either are trained, or are in the process of training to aid people with disabilities. Alexis Delmar, an owner of a certified emotional support animal, vocalized her skepticism regarding compliance to WVLT, "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," she pointed out. "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."
Fish kept in tanks, certified service dogs, and police canines remain the exception to the rule and can still waltz into restaurants, but owners of untrained emotional support animals will need to leave their furry companions at home, as detailed by WSMV. This new decree, inscribed as House Bill 1635, also extends its reach to hotels across the state.
Dog owner Brad White shared his thoughts with WSMV concerning the new regulation, "I know there’s a stigma now that a lot of folks, just get them certified so they can take them wherever they want," he stated. "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." House Bill 1635, as reported by Local 3 News, does not affect animals such as service dogs which are encompassed under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
