[nagdu] Education of public key to service dog compliance

[Ginger Kutsch]

Education of public key to service dog compliance

By Nanci Hutson

The Daily Courier 

Source:
http://dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1086&ArticleID=148317

 

PRESCOTT, AZ - A clearer explanation of the U.S. Department of Justice
American Disabilities Act's service dog regulations is likely to make it
easier for stores and restaurants to honor the needs of customers with
disabilities, advocates and national store chain officials said this week.

 

Wal-Mart corporate spokesman Aaron Mullins said its stores have long
prohibited dogs in shopping carts, except when customers make a case the dog
must be close to them for their safety. With the ADA's rules now
specifically interpreted such that stores are not required to allow service
animals in shopping carts, Mullins said the managers and staff can better
enforce rules intended to benefit all of their clientele.

 

Natural Grocers corporate spokesman Jeremy Jones said all of its stores are
ADA complaint, and so customers with service animals are welcome. As for
customer abuses of the law, Jones said he has no knowledge of any particular
local store problems.

 

In Prescott, some store and restaurant owners, as well as the Yavapai County
Health Department, recently stated they regularly receive complaints about
possible ADA regulation abuses. Most often the complaints related to whether
someone has a legitimate service dog, one able to perform specific tasks as
required by the ADA for someone with a classified physical or mental health
disability.

 

Service animals are defined by the law as dogs that perform tasks to benefit
their disabled owners.

 

Store owners and restauranteurs cannot ask a person about their disability.
They can, however, ask if the person is accompanied by a service animal and
what task that dog is trained to do for them. Service animals do need to be
able to obey an owner's commands, and cannot pose a threat to anyone else,
according to ADA regulations.

 

State and local advocates for the disabled, as well as service dog owners
and trainers, hailed the July update of the ADA's technical service document
because it makes clear the law's intent.

 

Local service dog trainer Andy Lloyd, who is quite familiar with the ADA
regulations and FAQ updates, said the new FAQ document offers local
businesses and restaurants more leverage.

 

"They don't have to deal with the abuse," Lloyd said.

 

The Food Safety Industry Council of Yavapai County has spent the last few
months researching and developing public education posters about ADA service
dog rules. Two designs have so far been approved, with additional designs
related to regulation updates possible in the future, officials said.

 

Come September, the council is expected to let area restaurants pick the
designs they prefer and wish to locate outside their establishments, said
Food Safety and Health Education program director Nicole Lund of the
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

 

Aware of the educational effort, Lloyd said she welcomes anything that
better informs the public so no one is confused about what is or is not
allowed in public places. She recently conducted a seminar at the Whiskers
Barkery to answer questions about the proper protocols related to service
animals. Service dogs and business owners attended. From the questions, it
was clear that some of the ADA regulations and criteria are still
misunderstood or misinterpreted.

 

Lloyd said she sees this recent update as a step in the right direction. She
favors additional ADA requirements related to proper service dog training.

 

At this time, the ADA has no specific training or licensing criteria for
service dogs. In addition, Lloyd said there is sometimes confusion about
service animals, emotional-support dogs and therapy dogs. Only service
animals are allowed in all public establishments and on public
transportation, the law states.

 

"I really support the rights of those who need service dogs, but that right
must be used ethically," Lloyd said.