[Flagdu] Zoo Policies on Service Animals

[alexis collins]

dear all last year i went to little rock to viset my sister we went to the 
little rock zoo i took my gide dog upton we had a great time the staff was so 
kind. i called and told  the zoo i was comeing and would have a guide dog hope 
this helps david bearden




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From: Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
To: NAGDU List <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; FLAGDU List <FLAGDU at NFBNET.ORG>; 
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sat, May 7, 2011 9:09:35 AM
Subject: [Flagdu] Zoo Policies on Service Animals

Dear All, 
    One of the initiatives of the National Association of Guide Dog Users is to 
assist in the creation of more consistent policies as it relates to the use of 
service dogs in zoos. according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and 
guidance from the Department of Justice, an individual accompanied by a service 
animal is allowed access to any area other patrons are normally allowed unless 
doing so would cause a direct threat to the health or safety of others that 
cannot be mitigated by a reasonable modification of policies, practices, or 
procedures or significantly alters the essential elements of the goods or 
services offered. Even in hospitals, the centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention cautions that the threat must be real and not based upon an 
assumption of a threat.
    why then do zoos have such an issue with service animals? Some zoos contend 
it is a regulation of the United States Department of Agriculture, although I 
have not been provided any objective evidence that the USDA has any such 
regulations. I will be speaking with an official from the USDA this coming week 
to get further clarification. 

    We are also working with the American Zoological Association (AZA) to 
develop some model policies concerning service animals in zoos. we are hoping to 
have representatives from the USDA, AZA, and Animal Kingdom at our seminar on 
July 5 to discuss this issue with us.
    In preparation for this meeting, I surveyed the various policies of zoos on 
their website and have attached the results of this survey. I find it 
interesting that there is such wide variations on the policies, leading me to 
believe they are more arbitrary than founded in any evidence of direct threat. 
Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
National Federation of the Blind
813-626-2789
President at NAGDU.ORG
HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG