Police Dogs vs. Service Dogs: When Law Enforcement Tries to Dodge the Pet Fee
Picture this: You’re working the front desk at a hotel, enjoying your coffee and maybe, just maybe, hoping for a drama-free morning. Enter two state patrol officers, friendly enough—until it comes time to check in their K9 partners. That’s when the “doggone” drama starts.
These officers argue that their police dogs are “service dogs” and therefore exempt from the hotel’s pet fee. But are they really? Can flashing a badge (or a dog’s business card—yes, really) get you out of a pet charge? And what happens when law enforcement expects special treatment from the very laws they enforce?
If you’ve ever worked hospitality, or just love a juicy tale of rules, respect, and canine coworkers, buckle up. This Reddit story from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk—backed by 800+ upvotes and hundreds of comments—has the internet howling.
The Law, the Loophole, and the Leash
Let’s set the legal record straight: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is specifically a dog (or mini horse!) trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Police K9s, while highly trained and utterly heroic, don’t qualify—they’re not serving a disability, they’re serving the law. As u/Rachel_Silver succinctly put it, “I’d describe them as working dogs.”
And yet, when the hotel associate politely explained this (after double-checking the law, just to be sure), the officers weren’t having it. According to the original poster (u/ru-yafu0820), things got heated—yelling, rudeness, the works. “Sir, I’d think you, of all people, would want her to follow the law??” OP lamented, echoing what many commenters were thinking.
The Reddit crowd wasted no time weighing in. u/PunfullyObvious suggested the most diplomatic approach: “Charge the fee and have their people work it out with your people if a refund should happen.” Simple, reasonable, and, as retired officer u/Kaineslist added, “Badging, or using official status to get an accommodation outside 'what the public would otherwise receive,' is a major no-no.”
Double Standards and Special Treatment
If you sensed a recurring theme of entitlement, you’d be in good company. Many hospitality veterans chimed in with stories of officers expecting to cut lines, get freebies, or ignore the rules—sometimes even parking in handicapped spots. As u/Think-Committee-4394 quipped, “Cop parks in disabled bay to fetch coffee? That cop should come back to a patrol car being towed away.”
Others, like u/HerfDog58, shared tales of both the good and the bad: “Law enforcement personnel are some of the most obnoxious and entitled when it comes to how they treat hospitality workers… Then there was the guy who decided to smash a pint glass over a guy's head.” But, credit where credit is due, “Not all officers are awesome… The K9 officers were in that group—never asked for special treatment for them or their dogs.”
This duality sparked a lively debate: Should hotels waive fees for K9 units out of courtesy, just as they might for other government employees? Or is it about the principle of equal treatment—especially when, as u/M_Viv_Van_Buren pointed out, departments are covering the bill anyway? “If the dog is a whole ass police officer, he’s worthy of more than a pet fee. That’s additional occupancy.”
Service Dogs, Working Dogs, and the Great Canine Confusion
If there’s one thing this story highlights, it’s how misunderstood the term “service dog” is. As u/sluttysprinklemuffin clarified, “Service dogs are task trained for disabled people, and they’re allowed virtually everywhere as a ‘reasonable accommodation’ for a disabled person.” Police dogs, farm dogs, therapy animals—they’re all working dogs, but not protected under the ADA.
One commenter, u/BuoyantAvocado, joked, “Now I’m imagining a farmer bringing their herding (working) dogs in trying to pass them off as service dogs.” To which u/zanchoff added, “Yes, and the sheep are all on the clock as well.”
And while some states have specific laws about working dogs in hotels (u/Ok_Phase7209 noted California’s rules), the national ADA standard is clear: Unless the dog is required for a disability, pet policies (and fees) apply.
When Rules Meet Reality: Management, Reviews, and the “Bad Cop” Card
So, did the hotel stand its ground? Not for long. As OP updated, upper management told them to remove the fees: “She said it’s not worth fighting it and risking a bad review.” Cue the collective groan from hospitality workers everywhere.
Many commenters sympathized, but some saw a silver lining. “Most hotels in my area don’t charge for K-9 dogs because they are trained and they consider them police officers plus they don’t damage the rooms,” shared u/Inner-Confidence99. Others worried that waiving the fee could be seen as a bribe or inconsistent application of rules.
And then there’s the bigger question: What message does it send when those who enforce the law expect exceptions to it? “Police are the last people I would expect to care about following the letter of the law,” mused u/GeneralTonic. Ouch.
The Takeaway: Respect Goes Both Ways
At the end of the day, this story isn’t just about dog fees—it’s about mutual respect, clear communication, and the sometimes-fraught relationship between law enforcement and the public. As u/ru-yafu0820 summed up, “It’s really frustrating when someone you’re supposed to look up to and respect doesn’t earn that respect.”
Whether you’re a front desk warrior, a law-abiding cop, or just someone who loves a good canine tale, there’s a lesson here: If you want special treatment, don’t bark at the people checking you in. And maybe don’t hand out business cards for your dog—unless he’s really good at networking.
Have your own tale of hospitality hijinks, canine coworkers, or entitlement run amok? Drop a comment below—and remember, tip your front desk staff. They deal with a lot more than just lost keys and extra towels.
Original Reddit Post: Police dogs are NOT service dogs