WA restaurant receives backlash for rejecting veteran and his service dog

Severe backlash has come the way of a Perth restaurant after the manager refused entry to a US veteran and his service dog.

Juicy Bao Bao manager Elaine Hsu has taken responsibility, but not before the bad publicity came the restaurant’s way. 

Hsu refused David Pearce and his English labrador, Gunner, entry to the restaurant even after Pearce explained the dog helps him through his PTSD, hearing loss and brain injury – injuries he sustained while serving in Iraq and Syria. 

"I tried to explain he's a service dog and they have to allow us in and they said no service dogs, the owner doesn't want any dogs," Pearce said

"It was embarrassing, [and] a bit humiliating."

Gunner has been by his side for nine years, following a 20-year career in the military. 

"He's saved my life a couple of times," Pearce said.

Pearce has sent an official complaint to the Western Australian government.

The restaurant was flooded with complaints and bad reviews after the incident. 

"We want to sincerely apologise to him and we want to ask him to come here [for a] free meal,” Hsu said after the backlash.

"[We will] make sure this [does] not happen again."

Pearce rejected the free meal, however was happy the restaurant was changing its policy. 

In Australia, assistance and service dogs may legally enter any public venue if their accreditation is displayed on their vest with a service animal ID on hand. 

Jonathan Jackson, 24^th May 2023