An Upscale Manhattan Arts Club Bans Heiress Over Service Dog Incident

This situation has taken a rather bizarre turn.

A luxury arts club in Manhattan has banned Karen Feld, the heiress to the Ringling Bros. fortune, after she allegedly refused to have her service dog wear a diaper. Feld is reportedly upset about this treatment and has filed a lawsuit against the club.

The National Arts Club, located in Gramercy Park and historically frequented by notable figures like Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt, has effectively expelled Feld from the venue, as stated in her lawsuit.

Feld, a journalist whose father owned Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was attending events at the club with her two small dogs, Mango and Beignet. She claims these dogs assist her with PTSD and a seizure disorder, as outlined in the suit.

According to the lawsuit filed this week in Manhattan Supreme Court, the club’s food and beverage director told Feld to leave a gathering on May 19 where she was a guest.

Feld had intended to return the following day for a luncheon hosted by the Silurian Press Club, a group for veteran journalists of which she is a board member.

However, the club’s incoming president later conveyed that she could not attend the luncheon with her service dog unless it was wearing a diaper. The complaint asserts that the club cited “hygiene concerns.” Feld, on the other hand, insists that her dogs had been “professionally cared for.”

Feld has a role as a socialite and gossip columnist. A report mentioned that she felt “humiliated” after being barred from events with colleagues at the club.

For over two decades, Feld had attended events at the National Arts Club without complaints about her service dog, according to the lawsuit.

Federal and state regulations mandate that service animals be allowed in public spaces, which seemingly extends to the National Arts Club given that it organizes events for non-members.

Moreover, businesses have limitations on what they can ask regarding service animals, restricted to whether the service animal is necessary and what tasks it performs. Interestingly, the Americans with Disabilities Act does not require service animals to wear any special gear like vests or even diapers.

The club issued a statement denying Feld’s allegations, claiming her dogs had caused two accidents inside the building, which they documented.

Feld’s father, Irvin Feld, famously saved the circus after purchasing Ringling Bros. in 1967. Feld often brings her dog in a travel carrier bag to events.

In her allegations, Feld claims the National Arts Club is retaliating against her by trying to intimidate the press club’s ability to hold events while her lawsuit is ongoing.

In response to the situation, the National Arts Club maintains that Feld’s claims are baseless and asserts they look forward to defending themselves in court.

Interestingly, Feld has a history of legal disputes, having previously filed lawsuits involving diverse issues, including claims regarding her service dog.

Her estranged brother, Kenneth, who is now worth $2.5 billion, took control of the family business and rebranded it as Feld Entertainment.

Feld’s attorney did not provide any comments on the matter.