IDF veteran with PTSD asked to leave McDonald's due to service dog
Aviv, an IDF veteran suffering from PTSD, was asked to leave a McDonald's branch while dining with his family and his service dog. Staff cited a customer's allergy as the reason. McDonald's has since apologized, calling the incident an error in judgment.
Aviv Levy from Pardes Hanna-Karkur, a combat veteran and IDF disabled veteran, rarely visits crowded places. This week, during a family outing, he arrived at a McDonald's branch at the Gan Shmuel junction accompanied by his service dog. According to Levy, after he had placed his order and sat down, he was asked to leave the premises because of the dog.
"I don't go out often," Levy told N12. "Family outings are difficult for me, especially in crowded places. I need the dog; it helps me cope with noise and crowds. I wouldn't have come here without it."
The family arrived on Monday evening. They waited in line and sat down without incident. However, a representative soon approached Levy. Despite Levy presenting documentation confirming the dog's status as a service animal, the representative returned shortly after, insisting he leave because another customer claimed to have a dog allergy.
"The girls are with me, I'm short of breath"
For Levy, the incident was deeply distressing. "The whole restaurant was looking at me, my children were there, and I was struggling to breathe just from the situation," he recalled. He eventually left the restaurant with his family. "I didn't sleep all night. It's frustrating; it's not about money. I take one step forward and five back. I don't want to go out now," he said.
Levy struggles with PTSD stemming from his service as a medic in Lebanon. The events of October 7 further impacted his condition. He describes the service dog as essential, comparing it to a wheelchair, as it allows him to navigate public spaces.
Legal action and corporate response
Levy's lawyer, Adv. Michal Daluya, has sent a warning letter to McDonald's Israel, stating that the removal violates the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law. They are seeking 50,000 shekels in compensation for emotional distress.
Nadav Virsh, chairman of the Combat Veterans Forum, stated: "A service dog is not a luxury. For veterans with PTSD, it is a lifeline that allows them to function in society. We deserve to enter public places without humiliation or the need to prove our invisible injuries."
McDonald's responded: "We apologize from the bottom of our hearts to Aviv and his family. This was an error in judgment by the staff, which contradicts our policy. We welcome service dogs in all our branches. We have reinforced our procedures to ensure this does not happen again."
