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It's a delicately written piece of PR brilliance that leaves the question, "Hey can I take a kangaroo into McDonald's?" unresolved until the next time someone tries it.My first response is that I don't want to meet the monster who experiences any emotion other than joy upon seeing a kangaroo at McDonald's—it adds a little sunshine to an otherwise depressing experience. But is it OK to take a kangaroo into a McDonald's, legally and ethically? And can a kangaroo really help you with your medical problems?When I asked Dena W. Iverson, a spokesperson at the Department of Justice, about kangaroos being recognized as therapy animals in public, she shot the idea down. "There are two [animals] that are recognized under the ADA—dogs and miniature horses," she told me in an email. Indeed, a fact sheet for business owners goes deeper into the issue: "Under the ADA, 'comfort,' 'therapy,' or 'emotional support animals' do not meet the definition of a service animal."In other words, McDonald's can let you feed quarter-pounders to your "emotional support Burmese python" if it wants, but the company is not legally required to. (Curiously, restaurants do have to let you bring in a small horse, although that provision might be trumped by the local health code.)We are aware a customer called the authorities regarding this incident, who then investigated and took the steps to resolve the situation. Our policy is to make our restaurants accessible to all customers, including those with disabilities and special needs.
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