Elizabeth Hartranft, from North Dakota, planned a February trip to Tampa with her husband as a getaway. “So February 13, we came to Tampa for a business meeting, our anniversary, and to recover from some bad news about a brain tumor,” she said. However, the trip turned sour after a late-night message from their Airbnb host.
She shared screenshots from an Airbnb chat showing that the host claimed she violated their reservation policy by bringing a dog.
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Initially asked to leave and pay a cleaning fee, Hartranft mentioned her dog, Red, was a service dog. Airbnb support confirmed that her dog couldn’t be denied based on their policy, but the host claimed to be allergic to pet hair.
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She and her husband were offered to stay the night with a full refund, but they chose to leave. They sought help from Advocates for Service Animal Partners, who advised them on their rights and filing a complaint.
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The host was charged with “denial of rights of the disabled,” a second-degree misdemeanor. The case is ongoing with a pretrial hearing scheduled for July 16.
Advocacy for Service Animal Partners team supported Hartranft, advising on their rights. Mary Peter, a service dog trainer, expressed the impact of service dog denials on veterans, emphasizing the need for public education and understanding.
