SMYRNA, Tenn. — The popular fast-food restaurant Burger King is famous for the slogan “have it your way,” but a veteran said that’s not the case after she brought her service animal with her.

Ginny Orndorff said she walked into the fast-food restaurant on Almaville Road Tuesday afternoon with her service dog, Shadow. A manager asked her to leave.

Orndorff has had Shadow for four years. The dog is trained to detect when Orndorff is having high or low blood sugar.

Shadow also knows when a panic attack is coming on due to PTSD from serving in the military.

When Orndorff refused to leave, the manager called the police.

Orndorff has cellphone video from her encounter with the officer.

“If he tells you that you have to leave, you have to go,” the officer said on the video.

“Because he is denying me service because of my service dog?” Orndorff asked.

Orndorff said the manager told her she could not have a dog inside the restaurant due to county health codes.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if the state or local health codes prohibit animals.

The officer told Orndorff the matter was civil and not criminal.

“If he is denying me on an illegal basis, why can’t I go in and order my food?” Orndorff said to the officer.

“Because I am not the manager of this place,” the officer responded.

“It’s not like he is an optional accessory. According to the law he is a piece of medical equipment just like a cane, a walker or a wheelchair,” Orndorff said.

Orndorff said the manager also asked for documentation. Under the ADA, that is not required.

Staff can only asked these two questions:
•Is the dog a service animal?
•What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

“I am trying to show him the law on my smartphone, but neither of them want anything to do with it,” Orndorff said

Orndorff said the manager offered to bring food out to her, but still denied serving her inside the restaurant.

She eventually left.

“I don’t need or want anything but an apology and for people not to be challenged like I was today, because what if the next person isn’t as strong as I was?” Orndorff said.

Smyrna police say they are investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, numerous calls and emails sent to the local Burger King restaurant and the national franchise have not been returned.