Veteran says Amtrak kicked him off a train because of service dog

ALTON, Ill. - Sunday night was the first and probably last Amtrak train ride for canine PJ and his handler, Marine veteran Karl McKeehan. McKeehan said the two were on their way to Austin from Detroit for a reserve training.
"I'm taking him down to training," said McKeehan. "But I'm part of the training as well because I've been his handler."
McKeehan became PJ's handler when they were in Afghanistan. McKeehan said he did three tours there and is now a wounded veteran. He boarded Amtrak in Detroit without issue. He said he hit Chicago and had a snag with showing proof that PJ was indeed a service animal. He had to stay the night unexpectedly in a hotel to catch the train the next day.
Hours into his trip on the Chicago route, he said the police were called and he got escorted off the train. He said it was completely baffling. Karl recorded the deboarding with his GoPro camera, which he wore on his hat.
McKeehan said he and his canine were seated the entire time together, except once when McKeehan had to use the restroom. He said it's not normal, but he did ask the passenger next to him to watch the canine, a light-colored German shepherd. He said the lavatories were too small to take PJ with him, but just like on planes, McKeehan could leave the canine behind at the seat - he was trained to stay behind.
"They saw me not with him, and that's where it all came from, I suppose," said McKeehan.
Read more: www.ksdk.com/a...

[@1UPCherry]

No Amtrak can't set their own rules. It's illegal federally to refuse a service dog team.

[@ryanbahrami]

Very true

[@holisticleedriven8532]

Here here!

[@RevWarRev]

"Amtrak is a business and can set it's rules". Amtrak's rules do NOT over ride Federal Law. Whoever on the train decided to have the dog removed, Amtrak who failed its due diligence in training AND the cops have all broken the law and violated this vet's rights. They don't get to decided the dog's not a service dog. Where's the vet groups to stand up for him?

[@villagesportsentertainment1630]

We can decide that they may need new officers and more training!

[@lorriegallardo8053]

This is the 2nd story I heard of police doing this. Police need more training on the law.

[@cubey]

off the pigs

[@elliottjameson5405]

​@@cubey Next time someone breaks into your house or harms you or your family don't call the cops you idiot. When you get hijacked, don't call the cops . Once again, you are the problem in America and probably a Biden supporter. MAGA 😂

[@burnt_toast7372]

This is why you don't enlist. Veterans will forever be treated like second class citizens. Once people find out you have any sort of PTSD, the majority of society will treat you like this.

[@rosanasfernandez]

💔

[@thebadgerette69]

Oh but we can open our borders and let illegals in and give them free room and board while ignoring our veterans. Great job USA!

[@KennethFKlein]

Yep and when they ask “do you have a disability” I always say no I make sure I get hired and then request for accommodations so you don’t get discriminated against

[@robinanderson6670]

I was also kicked off Amtrack today and my dog is a service dog. They also intimidated me so that my dog would bark, and she only barked just twice, woof woof, they than said she wasn't a service dog, I also showed them my paper work on my service dog but he just glanced at it and looked away, and told me if she barked again that they would dump me, DUMP ME off in the middle of no where, and as I was discussing this with a person, my driver and told them to give me a few seconds, they left me there. I will further this as well.

[@sgtgitsum877]

Let's link up on this and take them to court together. This is SGT. McKeehan

[@leonahthelioness5479]

Welp I guess I won't be giving Amtrak my business if they're going to treat veterans & service animals like that! 🙄🤦 Shame on you Amtrak!

[@cubey]

Blame them and the pigs.

[@holisticleedriven8532]

No. He's NOT both. He's a Psychiatric Service Dog! A LEGITIMATE SERVICE DOG. 😡

[@semectual]

A WOUNDED Veteran who faught for his Country Yet His OWN Country gives him the most pathetic respect! I think that both Amtrak and Police need to have better training on the law and the policies on Amtrak itself! It's pathetic that the marines have to drive up from Austin TX to Alton, IL to pick him up and go back to Alton TX! I doubt that Amtrak refunded him on the trip, those crooks even kept his money too! Once Amtrak gets your money, you'll never see that again, this had to have been a $400.00 trip or even more. I really do wish Karl McKeehan the best out of this messy ordeal!💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@villagesportsentertainment1630]

This is not ok, they just harrassed my child and we are not going to stop until we get them to do better. Abuse of power will have economic consequences

[@billchasser8978]

I keep hearing this submitting/showing paperwork BS. No paperwork is needed or required to show proof of training, certifications etc. The only time a team can be asked to leave is if the animal is aggressive, vocally out of control or otherwise obnoxious behavior that the handler is either unwilling or unable to correct. The reporter also needs to get her facts straight when reporting on the subject. Not just regurgitating a company’s BS policy. Policies, local and state laws don’t trump federal law.

[@jen639]

So awful and very illegal. You can see that PJ is very well behaved.

[@stevehofmaster4292]

I am so very sorry this happened shame on Amtrak just totally wrong. I want to thank this brave soldier for his service,we can not let this pass without a fight!❤❤

[@patrickweber3954]

Federal Law overrides Amtrack's rules, denying a service animal is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, get your facts straight! I hope Carl filed a complaint with the A.D.A. Department of Justice, with the state agencies, with the county agencies, and local agencies. Also, I hope he sued Amtrack!

[@CelesteKTheNewWaveRevue]

You would think that the police and Amtrek would be up to date about ADA rules, which trump any rules that Amtrek has.

[@richrydell9025]

amtrak had not right to kick him off the train. he's in the service and he had all the papers for the dog.

[@hannahjosiah5393]

Leave the Vet alone. Do your job be professional. Vet needs all the support. He served for us and you Amtrack have no respect for a vet. Im disgusted with people, professional alike have no respect. This is definitely a discrimination. The dog is a service dog for God's sake N

[@Hitech82]

Totally disrespect for our problems.

[@easywindalan893]

why is it that the cops always side with the owners of business' also amkrack can not set it's own rules. As a veteran I almost always want to barf when someone says thanks for your service. In fifty years since my service not one person stepped in and sided with me.

[@chuc5o]

The law is so vague we should just let all dogs on with no questions asked. And if the dogs causes disruption then you can ask them to Leave. Because it's happening every where anyways because nobody wants a war on dogs!

[@sdigf3167]

The law is not vague at all.

[@Traveladdictkny]

Sue tf outta Amtrak

[@kazithecanecorso2724]

For those that think they can kick service dogs out. Read the laws. Ada laws.

[@kazithecanecorso2724]

@eboston7591 ypur momma was esa

[@nataliechristensen420]

I’m sorry but it’s not only military personnel that have this problem

[@vitaughnyadal3201]

There is no such thing as both an esa and service dog. It’s one or the other get it right!

[@wandacornellcornell1814]

THATS NOT WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I SAW ON THE NEWS WHERE A VETEREN HAD A SERVICE DOG WHILE HE WAS IN THE MILITARY. THE VETEREN HAD TRAINED THE DOG FROM THE BEGINNING OF ITS TEAINING AND HE AND THE DOG SERVED TOGETHER AND WHEN THE VETEREN WAS RETURNED HOME AF AFTER HE WAS. INJURED HE ALSO SUFFERED FROM P.T.S.D.HE RETUTRNED HOME SOME HOW THE STORY SAID HE WAS SURPRISED WITH BEING GIVEN THE SERVICE DOG THAT SERVED ALONG SIDE HIM, THE DOG HAD ALSO HAD RECIEVED INJURIES WHILE SERVING. THE DOG BECAME HIS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG. SO UNLESSTHE NEWS STORY WASNT TELLING A TRUE STORY I THINK YOUR MOSTAKEN IN BELIEVING THE DOGS CANT BE BOTH.

[@sdigf3167]

Service dogs can most certainly provide emotional support. It’s just not the ONLY thing they can do. If your dog is trained in tasks and/ or work AND provides emotional support like this dog, it most certainly has public access rights.

[@Ausgar-yc1yl]

​@@wandacornellcornell1814Military dogs can NEVER be service dogs.

[@johns8902]

Absolutely ridiculous

[@Stubby24525921]

Amtrak......Shame on you!!!

[@youtubeaccount8056]

just awful how they were treated!!

[@Kayla-ep2bi]

Probably because it's an emotional support animal and they don't have the same rights as service animals. This man bought a fake certificate too! 🤣 You can't serve in the military if you are disabled, and you can't have a service dog without a disability. I wish people would stop bringing their untrained pets in public and putting service dog teams at risk to have their dog with them... I also wish news stations would do the slightest bit of research before doing a story on service animals. They didn't need to submit paperwork because that does not exist. They also can not exempt service dog teams unless they are not acting like one in which case they can be kicked off. Edit: lol in the video you can clearly see that the certificate he hands to the lady at 00:31 says 'Emotional Support Animal.' He didn't even try to hide it... please don't bring your pets out in public. They can cause other teams serious harm if they get distracted and miss an alert. People with real service dogs NEED their dog to be with them and focused. People like this do not.

[@sdigf3167]

Ummmm, what part of VETERAN did you miss? Stop fakespottong. You are worse than the pet owners.

[@Kayla-ep2bi]

@@sdigf3167 lol just because someone has a disability and is a veteran doesn't mean it's okay for them to break the law. 🤣

[@sdigf3167]

@@Kayla-ep2bi Are you ok? You seem disoriented. Nowhere did I say he was free to break the law. You said he couldn’t serve, but being a veteran means he is NOT currently serving.

[@Kayla-ep2bi]

@@sdigf3167 you said I was "fakespotting." You seem particularly angry for absolutely the wrong reasons so I don't think I'll interact with you again. Have a nice day. 👍

[@sdigf3167]

@@Kayla-ep2bi 🙄

[@MrWilliamwade]

i was kicked off amtrak in the middle of nowhere tonight for the same reason.

[@shakeyj4523]

You left your dog unattended? Maybe don't do that.

[@MrWilliamwade]

@@shakeyj4523 hah. No. Never did.

[@shakeyj4523]

@@MrWilliamwade Why did they kick you off?

[@MrWilliamwade]

@@shakeyj4523 because I had a registered service animal, that’s why. You dense fuck.

[@my_master512]

I think them kicking them off the train is 100% wrong but that said him trying to conflate this like they don't care about military when this has nothing to do with the military has everything to do with a K-9 on a unattended

[@danteramkaran439]

Go back to Mexico all hail Donald trump for the wall 😊

[@rviper2003]

He kind of screwed up if he said they were both, 1:38 never ever bring up "emotional support dog" ever. If the dog is both stick with Service Dogs 100 percent of the time. The emotional part will cause you problems.

[@mwilliams1330]

Agreed, the Asshats who abuse the ADA by taking their ESA'a everywhere are causing major issues for those who use and need support animals, but his lack of clarification on what service his 'medical device' provides is the issue. There are certain medical needs (what many might refer to as emotional issues) that indeed qualify under the ADA, but when you blur the lines you are just asking for problems.

[@sdigf3167]

@@mwilliams1330 Saying your Service Dog provides emotional support does NOT mean the dog is an ESA. He dog clearly met the guidelines for a Service Dog since he was task trained. EVERY SINGLE SERVICE DOG ALSO PROVIDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. It is the training that matters.

[@sdigf3167]

It's really not his fault that the employees are untrained. I get what you are saying, but it still was illegal to kick him off.

[@davidjackson7281]

All animals of any kind should not be allowed on public transit. It is cruel. If you need emotional support or service bring a human. These people that think rules don't apply to them are selfish.

[@nancismith7705]

So blind people can’t take their service dogs with them when they fly? The Service Dog is their eyes! Of course the dog flys with them!

[@davidjackson7281]

@@nancismith7705 Thanks for pointing out there is a good exception to everything when following the rules and not taking advantage of a situation. This irresponsible guy did neither.

[@PurrBetweenThePages]

humans cant smell seizures an hour before they start. A dog can.

[@davidjackson7281]

@@PurrBetweenThePages Bet that happens all of the time on Amtrak.

[@ichussslangday5530]

😢

[@rosanasfernandez]

💔

[@sgtmitchell]

Emotional support dogs are not the same as service dogs. Service dogs are federally protected, support dogs are not. Anyone can get a support dog but to get a service dog you have to go through training and so does the dog. Support animals don't go through the same training.

[@Ausgar-yc1yl]

Handlers do not have to go through training, you can train your own service dog.

[@msmakos1]

Service dogs ARENT emotional support animals. ESA's arent federally protected. So Amtrak did the legal thing. They CAN refuse a pet.

[@nikfiasco]

But a service animal in training IS federally protected in the same way that an already trained service animal is. He states multiple times that although his dog also provides emotional support, it is a service animal in training, who already knows tasks (explicitly states medication reminding) and was not behaving inappropriately.

[@msmakos1]

@nik-tz4wt federal law DOESNT protect service dogs in training. Before you comment to a service dog handler of 4 years. Educate yourself because federal law ONLY protects fully trained service dogs. Also, emotional support pets ARENT the same under the ADA law. It states that.

[@tmgibbons]

I sit here trying to plan a trip with my emotional support dog I have anxiety x1000,please get with it

[@bigsnacks6485]

Emotional support dogs are not allowed

[@jamesoverholt878]

Blame the people who tried to bring emotional support peacocks on planes, not Amtrak. It should also be noted you can get an ESA certificate online for $50

[@BluePlanet1]

So? The ADA has been in force for 30 years. Under the ADA you can’t even ask for any form of documentation for a legitimate service dog, the only two questions that can legally be asked is “is that a service dog?” and “what task is it trained to do?” and that’s it.

[@Kayla-ep2bi]

@@mattt7396 They're not wrong in the slightest. If you look at the video at 00:31 you can see him hand the woman a certificate (bought online) that says 'Emotional Support Animal.' Esas don't have public access rights because they don't require training like service dogs do and can cause harm not only to other service dog teams, but also the general public.

[@sdigf3167]

@@BluePlanet1 You got the questions wrong.

[@KennethFKlein]

I hate seeing those ads on Facebook. It really steams me honestly

[@Aussie_Hawaiian_boy]

Lol lol that not a service dog

[@mwilliams1330]

and how do you know this? While ESA's are not support animals recognized by the ADA, there are individuals diagnosed with disabilities WE might consider emotional, but are indeed qualified to get a support animal that is under ADA regulations.

[@sdigf3167]

Yes it is.

[@sdigf3167]

@eboston7591 Cool, than it's good this dog is a Service Dog.

[@sdigf3167]

@@mwilliams1330 ESAs are any untrained animal. A Service Dog must be trained in a task or work. They can also provide emotional support, but that is not what gets them access.

[@sdigf3167]

@eboston7591 It DOESN"T matter what it said. HE said it was a Service Animal. The VEST said it was a Service Animal. You don't get to deny access based on a piece of paper that is NOT required.

[@Savetheworldfirebidennow]

You should not have left the dog unattended

[@shakeyj4523]

True. You have the dog on a leash, and you have them right outside the door if there is not enough room in the bathroom. You never leave your dog unattended. This was his fault.

[@judithhenn541]

Happened to me also

[@jenniferv3952]

Even if that animal is a service dog, some people are highly allergic to those things.

[@rviper2003]

That is irrelevant, there is NO federal law that protects the people that are allergic

[@villagesportsentertainment1630]

Then they should protect themselves when in the public…..we can carry all those allergens and sit next to you and give you the same reaction……they need to admit that they just have issues with the dog!

[@KennethFKlein]

Nice verbiage Karen. “Those things”? Dogs are living breathing animals with thoughts and feelings. Get a life.

[@easywindalan893]

I suggest the rude in the caboose.

[@alexandrawilson1998]

Shame on the fake service dog and handler and good job to the cops

[@cubey]

Off the pigs