‘Either Remove Yourself’ Or ‘Leave In Cuffs’

A woman with epilepsy says she was kicked out of a Nevada casino under threat of arrest when she showed up without her medical service dog.

Heather Vanus, a Reno resident with epilepsy, told KOLO-TV she was recently kicked out of the Nugget Casino Resort for not bringing her service dog, Cherry, who is trained to detect impending seizures.

“The Nugget is my family,” said Vanus, who visits the casino with Cherry up to five times a week. “They know who we are. When we come in, they automatically bring me water for my dog.”

However, two weeks ago, Vanus says she was approached by a security guard who told her she had to leave. Cherry was recovering from surgery, so Vanus left her at home, bringing her fiancé along.

“They said you can either remove yourself, or you can leave in cuffs,” Vanus recalled. Shocked by the encounter, she told her fiancé, “That really just happened.”

“Security told me that if she stayed at home, then I should have stayed at home with her,” Vanus said, despite telling them that her fiancé would have been able to handle a potential medical emergency in Cherry’s absence.

Vanus hopes the casino will take steps to better educate staff on handling cases involving service animals.

“Maybe this will make a difference because sometimes staff just isn’t trained,” she said.

The Nugget Casino wouldn’t comment on the incident but told KOLO it was committed to following ADA requirements.

“Service animals are always welcome at our property, and our team is trained to ensure that all guests are treated with respect and in accordance with federal and state laws,” the statement read. “We remain dedicated to offering an inclusive environment for all our guests.”