Service Animals (such as dogs) in the Library
Service Animal Definition: An animal (usually a dog) that has been individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a disability.
Examples of service animals that must be allowed into public accommodations under the ADA include:
- hearing dogs, which alert their handlers to important sounds, such as alarms and doorbells
- guide dogs, which help those who are visually impaired to navigate safely
- psychiatric service animals, which help those with mental or emotional disabilities by, for example, interrupting self-harming behaviors, reminding handlers to take medication, checking spaces for intruders, or providing calming pressure during anxiety or panic attacks
- seizure alert animals, which let their handlers know of impending seizures, and may also guard their handlers during seizure activity, and
- allergen alert animals, which let their handlers know of foods that could be dangerous (such as peanuts).
Emotional Support Animals: animals that provide a sense of safety, companionship, and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional disabilities or conditions.
- Under the ADA and Oregon law, owners of public accommodations are not required to allow emotional support animals, only service animals.
What can we ask?
- Is this a service animal?
- What task is it trained to perform?
We cannot ask or do:
- What is your disability (or any other information about the patron’s health).
- Do you have paperwork?
When can we ask a patron with an animal to leave?
- If the animal is not a service animal.
- If the animal is posing a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
- If the patron does not have control of the animal and/or is unwilling to control the animal.
- If the animal is not housebroken.
Approaching a patron with an animal
- Assume the best. Assume the animal is a service animal or the patron doesn’t realize they can’t bring their animal in to the library.
- This is most common with emotional support animals. Patrons just don’t know they aren’t allowed.
- I usually tell them I am assuming this is a service animal.
- This tells the patron I’m assuming the best.
- It gives the patron a chance to volunteer to leave.
- If it isn’t a service animal, focus on the well-being and safety of their animal. It isn’t safe for a non-trained animal to be in the library.
- They could get into a fight with another animal.
- They might get startled or scared and bite someone.
- Use it as an opportunity to offer sympathy and education. Especially in the case of emotional support animals.
Additional resources:
Circulation wiki page for Animals
Disability Rights of Oregon pdf document download