I went with a friend last night to a rather expensive restaurant. We'd had reservations for 3 weeks, and it was her treat to celebrate Itzl's recovery.
And I love her dearly for many reasons, and not least for what she did last night.
When we entered the restaurant, the maitre d' approached us quickly.
Yay! Good service! I should hope so, since this was not an Applebee's (the most expensive place I can afford to eat those rare times we eat out), but several income levels above that. Applebee's would be considered slumming it (those poor little rich people have no idea how fun it is to dine at a pop-up taqueria where the tacos are fierce and 50¢ and the music pounds through your feet and everyone scatters when the police pull up, which is where Itzl and I usually eat out).
Sadly, the maitre d' wasn't in a hurry to seat us, but rather was horrified that we had a dog with us and wanted to get us out before anyone noticed.
Before I could point to Itzl's tag or pull out an ADA card, my dear friend put on her snootiest look, threw her pointy nose up in the air and said, "You would refuse service to a $30,000 dog*?"
The maitre d' stopped, mouth open slightly. Then he closed it, bowed slightly, and simply said, "This way, please, ladies."
Itzl was in his new orange carrier that has a side that unfolds into a mat for him to sit on so he isn't sitting on people germy places. Because of his small size, I usually seat him beside me on a chair pulled close enough that he can easily touch me when we're seated at a table (we prefer booths - more room for us). My friend knew this so she directed the maitre d' to pull the chair around and Itzl stretched his way out of his carrier and sat in my chair while I arranged his mat, then delicately stepped over and sat on his mat.
I sat beside him and my friend sat across from us so I could watch her talk (her voice is in a range I have difficulty hearing, so I'm finally beginning to learn sign as a language and not just as a supplement, and so is she). I signed "chicken" for Itzl, and he signed "no" back (remember when I told you I'd found a book on teaching animals how to sign? Itzl thinks it's the greatest thing to be able to join in the conversation - he's already mastered 'yes', 'no', 'door', 'good', 'siren' and 'bad dog' - which he applies to ill-behaved children, adults, and other dogs indiscriminately), so I read through the menu until he signed 'yes' and that's what we ordered for him. (steak, if you're interested, with asparagus in a Bearnaise sauce, and a bowl of sparkling water with a spritz of lemon - half the steak went home for Xoco, who loved her steak every bit as much as Itzl loved his).
My friend laughed. The maitre d' was impressed that Itzl understood the menu and placed his own order. Now, if only Itzl would learn to use a spoon or fork...
We included Itzl in the conversation. He would sign 'yes' or 'no' to our questions and we made sure to ask questions he understood so he could participate. He'd alert to sounds for me, and was quick to alert when the waitress approached so we'd look at her. When she asked questions about the meal, Itzl signed 'good' 'yes' at her. When we interpreted it, she asked if he'd do it again. He signed 'yes', then 'good' 'yes' again.
The food was good, but honesty, you'd think they'd never encountered a well behaved service dog before. The staff kept finding reasons to come by our table and talk to Itzl and have him answer back.
When we were ready to pay, we learned they'd comp'd Itzl's meal.
They also said they'd be pleased to serve a $30,000 dog any time.
I hope we didn't set the bar too high for future service animals at that restaurant.
*The average cost of raising and training a signal dog is about $28,000, from the cost of the dog itself, to the time and training it receives, vet care, food, toys, damages from being a puppy and teen dog, to the training the handler receives to partner up with the dog (which includes room and board for the partner-to-be). Most organizations that provide service dogs absorb most or all of that cost, or don't count all of the expenses related to training a service dog, so it usually doesn't cost the person getting the dog anywhere near that much. If the service animal fills several needs, that value increases.
So, yeah, Itzl is worth at least $30,000.
No pics of Itzl in the restaurant because my friend and I both forgot cameras!
So here's a gratuitous not-restaurant pic of Itzl: