Connor Kane and his service dog, Sep. 28, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The owner of Flagstone Bar & Grill is apologizing after asking a blind customer to remove his guide dog from the restaurant.
“I sat up the whole night thinking about it. Like, why did I go in there? Why, you know, why me? Why am I treated differently? Just because I’m blind and I use a service dog to get around? She’s my eyes. Like, if she’s not with me, I’m running into things and I don’t feel safe,” said Connor Kane.
He says shortly after arriving, two bartenders and a manager said his dog wasn’t allowed inside. When the manager brought the owner out to speak with Kane, the situation escalated.
“He made it pretty clear he didn’t want to serve us. At that point, he’s like, ‘You guys need to leave,’ and I’m like, ‘Ok.’ So, he escorted us out of the back of the restaurant and we left,” said Kane.
Both state and federal law protect service animals in restaurants.
Kane posted about the denial on Facebook.
In a Facebook post Monday, bar owner Jesse Valeri said he believed state and local health codes prohibited service animals inside the licensed premises. He said he enforced that policy after a patron, Connor Kane, brought in a guide dog last week. Valeri said he later consulted an attorney and learned he was wrong.
I, Jesse Valeri Own and Operate the Flagstone Bar & Grill, which is an establishment that holds a food license. I had always understood that State and local health codes prohibit animals from being present within the licensed premises. For this reason, I have adopted a policy of prohibiting animals from being in the premise. A Patron recently brough his dog into the establishment, and I explained that I needed to enforce our rule, even after it was explained that the dog was a guide dog. As it turns out, I was wrong.
After consulting with my attorney, I was advised that the American’s with Disabilities Act generally allow service animals in public areas of my establishment, even if the State and local health codes prohibit animals on the premises. I want to apologize to the patron for my misunderstanding of the law and would invite Mr. Kane and his dog back any time. I would also like to thank the numerous people who educated me on this important issue.
Since I do not have Mr. Kane’s contact information, I am unable to reach out to him directly. Mr. Kane, if you feel comfortable, please contact the Flagstone Bar & Grill Facebook page so that I can get in touch and apologize to you personally.
Outagamie County Public Health explained the state food code and exception in a statement:
“Service animals are allowed in customer areas of restaurants in Outagamie County, said Steve Seitz, Environmental Health Supervisor. “Under the Wisconsin Food Code, animals are generally not allowed inside food establishments. An exception is made for service animals that assist a person with a disability. Service animals may be present in customer areas as long as they are under control and do not create a health or safety risk.”
Valeri apologized and invited Kane and his dog back any time. He also asked Kane to contact the restaurant through its Facebook page so he can apologize personally.
Kane reacted to the apology by saying:
I feel he is trying to backtrack because of the attention. We tried to talk to him last week and he dismissed us and made me feel unwelcome and like I was less than everybody else. There are many other reviews from people being kicked out for having service dogs, but he didn’t apologize to them or ask his lawyer when they left reviews. I am glad they are reconsidering, but it’s gross to treat people the way he treated me and it’s gross to pretend to not know that it’s wrong.
Kane has already filed a formal complaint with both the state and U.S. Department of Justice.
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