Only one time I had an issue with a service animal was afterwards when I picked up another rider who was horribly allergic to dogs. By the end of the ride they were a mess. I found a way to handle it (wipe down of back seat plus a quick blast with an ozonator). Unfortunately the ozonator isn’t an option for most. I think both companies would do well to warn passengers with allergies to this potential.
As far as legally a driver cannot refuse a service dog. If the rider decided to they could sue and they would win. Personally I don’t know who would be that mean to not want to have the dog anyway. Lol
I had a service dog that was disgustingly smelly, shed horrible, and when she left, my back seat and floor was full of little white specks, probably some kind of dog lice. Had to go offline and sterilize my car for like an hour because it stunk so bad. Nice lady though.
it probably was not a service animal you had. ALL service animals are trained to sit by the owner’s feet. They don’t smell, don’t bark, The rider probably told you it was. If a animal leaves a mess you can request a cleaning fee from Uber
Service dogs are no big deal, I will gladly accomodate anybody with a disability. However people try to pass up ESA (emotional support animals as service dogs) so basically some self entitled people put on little vest you can easily get online for a few bucks so they can take their dogs into grocery stores, restaurants etc… there is a pretty interesting article and documentary on this, I will post it if I find it
You are not legally obligated to accept therapy dogs. I would because it just doesn’t bother me but FYI.My dog is white and I have a black vehicle interior - I fully understand the struggle and why people wouldn’t want to deal with it. It’s a daily battle haha. Fortunately the car wash next to my work has free vacuums. (Shameless excuse to show off my adorable pup)
You may not refuse a service animal, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES. It’s a requirement of the job, like any other requirement for any other job. In this case, however, there is no “reasonable accommodation” that may be made, per the EEOC and your state anti-discrimination agency regulations.
I’m an animal lover so I would never decline a rider for having a service dog or even just a dog but I will say - that just because someone deems their dog a “service dog” doesn’t make it legally so. You have all these internet companies that promise to give you “certification” that your animal is a service dog and it’s all a load of phooey. Unfortunately, you can’t deny them a ride and you can’t request proof that they are a service dog. My (soon-to-be former thank goodness) roommate has a “service dog” and ain’t shit wrong with the guy. He has no disability. He works on his parents sheep farm herding, sheering, and slaughtering sheep. Hardly sounds disabled. I realize there are invisible “disabilities” but generally if you are physically disabled you are not going to be capable of that level of hard labor. Anyway - so I am leery in general of people who claim that but regardless, you absolutely CANNOT question them - and you CAN be sued if you refuse the ride. DO NOT REFUSE THEM.
I’ve given a ride to one service dog ever but my allergies were so bad I literally had to call it a night after that ride cuz I couldn’t stop sneezing after about 2 minutes into the 20 min ride. I won’t ever again do it. Literally had to go home and take my allergy medicine. My eyes were so puffy by the time I got home, looked like a balloon. I absolutely will not compromise again. This was during the spring with the windows down. Still didn’t help. My husband had to go get my car cleaned after that ride.
I would like to remind everyone. Please understand you can be fined a huge amount by refusing an assist animal. Emotional support animal are not included in this. Please research the ADA regulations and make sure you know what you excepted when you decided to contract you and your car to work for uber or lyft. Just because you have allergies doesn’t mean that’s your way out. Motor coach operators like myself go through this situation on a daily basis. We are required to take assist animals on the buses to there destination. It doesn’t matter even if other passengers have allergies, you can not refuse to take them. Again if you do you might as well go ahead and get your check book out and pen ready.
I find it sad anyone would consider not taking a service animal. I realize I’m a biased person in that I love animals and all joking aside I love ANY animal I meet and I cannot say that about people. Lol. I understand that me taking pets and such is extreme. But I’d rather enjoy a ride with a cute dog 
then spend a buck or so and lose a few minutes of driving having to vacuum my car 
out. I actually carry organic dog treats in my car on the chance I’ll get to have a furry passenger lol. Conversely I do NOT have candy 
for my human pax lol. But yeah, if you have a pax with a service dog and you deny them a ride because you don’t want to be put out a little shame on you.
ust FYI for all people who are non compliant with the “FEDERAL” Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)… THE LOWEST fine for non-compliance is $750 and/or jail time.
It’s cheaper to have your car cleaned.
In this business you should have the necessary tools to clean your vehicle anyway.
I recommend this spot cleaner
If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. However, an individual who is going to a restaurant or theater is not likely to be carrying documentation of his or her medical condition or disability. Therefore, such documentation generally may not be required as a condition for providing service to an individual accompanied by a service animal. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, you may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability.
I think in all the time it takes to figure out a reason NOT to, I think as a business owner in customer service biz we should be just figuring out a way TO, just let the PAX and the puppy dog in your car, as mentioned before a vacuum can get all the hair if any from your seat, or lay a blanket down for the animal, not to hard to figure out in my mind.
I wish people would stop posting this. YES it’s against the law to refuse someone with a service animal. But to make the people who can least afford it be the object of this law is wrong. The fact that we have absolutely no say who gets in our car is bullshit and pisses me off!
I have NEVER denied anyone with a dog/pet ever… but that is my choice…
Its my vehicle, and I feel I should have the right to choose whether or not I want a dog in my vehicle. Some people are afraid of dogs, but more over, some people have allergies to dogs, and at the end of the day, after my shift is done, I take this vehicle home with me.
People with pets should be able to provide that information before hand. Its wasting both the rider and drivers time to show up to find out last minute.
A driver once said to me that “those kind of people must pay way more then the regular price…”.
Are you kidding me?!!
What makes us any better then them? Pay more for what, for having a special need? We never know if one day one of us may be on that situation. And imagine being rejected…
Help the elderly and the needy, thats where the blessing is!!!
Remember!!! You will be one of the two, because the older you get more needy you become.
It can be as simple as social anxiety. Since we’re not doctors, take them. It’s more bothersome to me that uber allows a minor to set up an uber account. If a minor is in your car and say you’re reat-ended…no insurance coverage via uber because YOU didn’t check their age. Now we have to ask for I.D. for proof of age? How about uber not approving an account for a minor? How about THEY check their ages before establishing an account?
If someone was as allergic to dogs as I am to parrots I would understand it. It could be fatal for me. I am allergic to dogs but at a relatively minor level so I would take a service dog although I would avoid a non service one. I don’t care what the law says would not risk going into shock if that was the case. There is the law and there is common sense.
I’m a property manager & I leased to a couple that had a service dog that…DOES NOT SHED…it has HAIR not fur! That was a first for me.