Carolina Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer UpdatesUnder North Carolina law, pretending an ordinary pet is a service animal can actually be a crime. The problem is, who knows whether a dog or some other animal is truly a “service dog,” or instead a pet owner has obtained “fake” Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) markings because they want their companion to go everywhere they do. Some folks think it’s funny, finding a way to game the system. To others, especially those truly in need of assistance or others who have substantial allergies, it’s more than a joke.
A recently filed lawsuit involving Fox Business anchor Jackie DeAngelis shows why the distinction between pets and legitimate service animals can have consequences well beyond whether a dog belongs in the grocery store.
A September 5, 2026 article in the New York Post reports DeAngelis sued Whole Foods over a dog attack inside its Columbus Circle store in Manhattan. According to the lawsuit, filed August 20, DeAngelis was shopping in the store when a black pit bull allegedly bit her left hand. She says the September 2023 attack required surgery and left her with permanent scarring, disfigurement, and limited mobility.