Purple Heart recipient denied ride on NJ Transit bus due to service animal

NEWARK (WABC) -- A veteran is speaking out after he says he was denied a ride on a New Jersey Transit bus because of his service animal.

Daniel Wright doesn't go anywhere without his service dog Tank.

"A daily need," he said. "Actually, he's a daily need.

Despite the honor of receiving a Purple Heart, 11 years and four combat tours in the Marines and Army have left him with PTSD, which is where Tank comes in.

"There were times I couldn't even sleep with my wife because I was acting out in my sleep," he said. "That's actually why I have Tank. He wakes me up during night terrors, finding my medicine, he can go get my medicine."

Tank may be a pit bull, but he is a registered service dog, clearly marked with his vest and tag. Wright hasn't had any issues traveling with Tank since recently moving to Newark, until this week, when he tried to board an NJ Transit Route 1 bus.

"I put my hand out, and people were getting on," he said. "Then when I went to get on, he slammed the door...And I'm like, 'Hey, what are you doing?' He's like, 'You can't bring dogs on the bus.' I said it's my service dog, he's like 'I don't care.''

NJ Transit officials tell Eyewitness News they are investigating Wright's complaint and issued a statement that, in part, reads, "Service animals are permitted on board all of our modes: bus, rail, light rail, and Access Link, and we take our responsibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities act very seriously."

Wright said another Route 1 bus did stop for him and allow his service dog on, after he showed his military ID.

"I just need awareness brought that there's a lot of veterans out here with service animals," he said. "They don't have to be blind or deaf to have a service animal."

Wright filed a formal complaint with NJ Transit.