Reno, NV- A local woman in Reno was recently kicked out of the Nugget Casino for not having her service dog with her, sparking outrage and disbelief among both the community and animal rights activists.
The incident occurred last Wednesday when Sarah Johnson, a 29-year-old resident of Reno who suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD, attempted to enter the Nugget Casino with her emotional support dog, Luna. According to Johnson, she has been using Luna as a service dog for over two years and has never encountered any issues with bringing her into public places before.
However, on this particular day, Johnson was stopped by security at the entrance of the Nugget Casino and informed that she would not be allowed inside with Luna. Despite showing the security guard her service dog registration papers and explaining that Luna is a trained emotional support animal, Johnson was still told that she would need to leave the premises immediately.
“I was shocked and devastated,” Johnson said in a statement to local news outlet KOLO. “Luna is my lifeline and without her, I struggle to even leave the house. Being kicked out of the casino for having her with me was humiliating and discriminatory.”
The incident has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, who argue that service animals are vital for individuals with disabilities and should be allowed to accompany their owners wherever they go. In response to the situation, the Nugget Casino released a statement apologizing to Johnson and explaining that a misunderstanding had occurred with their security staff.
“We deeply regret the incident that occurred with Ms. Johnson and Luna at our casino,” the statement read. “We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our guests, including those with service animals. We are reviewing our policies and procedures to ensure that this type of situation does not happen again in the future.”
Despite the apology from the Nugget Casino, Johnson says she is still deeply upset by the incident and is considering taking legal action against the establishment. “I just want people to understand that Luna is not just a pet, she is my lifeline,” Johnson said. “I hope that by sharing my story, I can help prevent this from happening to someone else in the future.”
