A New Jersey veteran says he was denied a ride on a New Jersey Transit bus because of his service dog.
Daniel Wright has four combat tours under his belt and was awarded the Purple Heart. He suffers from PTSD and has had to have several surgeries on his arm. Tank, his service dog, helps him cope with day-to-day activities.
"It's a little rough out here for myself," Wright says. "I used to have a lot of flashbacks, so he keeps me in the present."
Wright says on Tuesday he and Tank tried to get onto an NJ Transit bus in Newark, but were denied service.
"The bus driver slammed the door and said 'I'm not going to let you on the bus. I'm scared of dogs.'" says Wright. "I said he's my handicapped service dog. He said he didn't care."
Wright made a formal complaint with NJ Transit, who is now investigating what happened. The company says any situation involving the Americans with Disabilities Act is taken seriously.
A spokesperson for the company released a statement says, "Service animals are permitted on rail, light rail and other vehicles within NJ Transit. It is important that this is respected...and that the customer is respected as far as the ADA. There are no exceptions to that rule."
Wright says another NJ Transit bus did stop for him and let him and Tank on after seeing his military identifications. Wright says he hopes his story helps to teach others about service animals.