[NAGDU] Cleveland Zoo's service animal policy. Please advise.

[Marianne Denning]

I don't think the issue of service dogs in zoos has been resolved yet. At
this time, they have the right to stay with you. I have not heard this has
changed.

On Wed, Sep 14, 2016 at 10:09 AM, Deanna Lewis via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Hi all,
> This list has been eerily quiet lately...
> I'm going to be in Cleveland, OH this weekend and my friend and I may be
> visiting the Cleveland Zoo while there. I looked at their website and
> pasted below their "policies" for service animal users. Please read over
> them. Now, there is one part that I feel isn't congruent with the ADA, and
> that is, number 1. You must agree to be accompanied by a Zoo employee for
> your entire visit. I know that Nagdu was once concerned by this policy. So,
> I'd like others thoughts on this. Should I try to argue about this policy
> if I do visit the Zoo? I know that many guide dog users do not have the
> desire to visit zoos, or do not want to take their dogs, and that is
> perfectly fine. I, however, have wanted to take my dog to a Zoo for quite
> some time, but I don't like the idea of having a Zoo employee follow us
> around all day.
> Please read the rest of the policies and let me know your thoughts. Thanks
> so much
>
> Guests with service animals will:
>
>   1.  Agree to be accompanied by a Guest Services Associate for the
> duration of visit and agree to remain out of restricted areas. The type of
> service animal may determine which areas may be restricted. For example,
> service dogs (canines) are restricted from entering the following areas:
>      *   Wallaby Walkabout
>      *   Contact Yard
>      *   Lorikeet Landing
>   2.  Under the ADA all service animals must be under the control of it's
> owner/handler. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered,
> unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the
> individual's disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the
> individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or
> other effective means.  The care and supervision of the service animal is
> the sole responsibility of his or her owner.
>   3.  In the event that a Zoo animal should respond adversely to the
> presence of the service animal the owner/handler will move promptly away
> from the immediate area to avoid injury to the Zoo animal due to fright or
> panic.
>   4.  Service animals may not cross over barriers or otherwise come in
> close proximity to the Zoo's animal collection.
>   5.  Owners will be responsible for all actions of the service animal
> including the clean-up of all defecation from the service animal.
>   6.  Owners will be held responsible for any damages or injury caused by
> their service animal.
> Service animals may be excluded from the Zoo grounds or a portion of the
> Zoo grounds for the following reasons:
>
>   *   Aggressive behavior by a service animal toward any other person,
> including guests.
>   *   An animal that is not being controlled by its owner.
>   *   An animal that elicits extreme fear or aggression from a Zoo animal,
> creating a direct threat to the health or safety to itself or others that
> cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation.
>   *   An animal that is not housebroken.
>   *   An animal whose behavior (e.g., barking) fundamentally
> alters/disrupts shows or presentations.
>   *   An animal who is showing signs of severe illness creating health
> issues or direct threat issues to the health and safety of others that
> cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation (e.g., severe diarrhea,
> vomiting, bleeding).
> If a service animal is excluded from the Zoo grounds or a portion of the
> Zoo grounds, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will make reasonable accommodations
> to permit the guest to continue their visit. These accommodations will not
> include kenneling or stabling the service animal.
> For additional information about our Service Animal Policy, please contact
> us at 216-661-6500.
>
> Deanna and Mambo
>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053