LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — Adrienne Caso lives in West Columbia and is an Instacart driver.
While fulfilling one of her batches on Tuesday, she was told she couldn’t take her emotional support dog, London, into Publix.
“The manager stopped me and asked what service does the dog do what is my diagnosis for," said Caso. "I just said it was a support never really said what my diagnosis was or anything and she told me that emotional support animals are not allowed.”
Adrienne's mom, Cheryl, said emotional support dogs should also be considered service animals.
“They need to be right under the same thing because yeah they may not help you see and be your eyes if you’re blind and all of that but they help veterans with PTSD," said Caso. "Anything can trigger a veteran and to have something there to help you calm down keep you safe until you can calm down they are more service animals than the other ones are and they should be categories just like that.”
In a statement to WLTX, Publix said limited animals are allowed in their stores.
“Publix permits service animals in the areas of its premises that are open to the public. A service animal is a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks to assist an individual with a disability. Dogs, miniature horses, or other animals that provide only emotional support, comfort, or companionship are not considered service animals."
Michelle Payne is the executive director at Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, also known as PAALS.
PAALS is a non-profit in Columbia that provides and trains assistance dogs for those with autism, mobility restrictions, PTSD, veterans and more.
She says most public places allow service dogs, but only two questions can be asked.
Is it a service dog, and what service does it provide?
Payne says there is a distinct difference between service and emotional support dogs.
“A service dog is a dog that’s specifically trained to do tasks for an individual," said Payne. "And be able to help the individual whether it’s a PTSD client, mobility client we specifically train tasks. Where an emotional support dog is not trained in specific tasks and that is the big difference between the two.”
The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division says, “dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.”
The Department of Health and Environmental Control's website states, "only service animals are allowed in establishments that have the DHEC “grade” sticker on the door."