[Michlib-l] Comfort animals, support animals and therapy dogs

[Marty Ferriby]

Hello all -

We are seeing more people bringing animals with them to the Hackley Public
Library. The owners claim they are comfort animals, support animals and
therapy dogs.  Some of these people have even purchased support animal
vests or collars for their animals on the internet.

How are you handling this?

The State of Michigan ADA Compliance Office has a very helpful FAQ for
service animals, which are defined as "a guide dog, signal dog, or other
animal individually trained to provide assistance to a person with a
disability. *A service animal is not a pet*."

The Compliance Office further states that "Emotional support animals are
not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. The tasks
performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's
disability.  ...  *While comfort animals are often used as part of a
medical treatment plan, they are not considered service animals under the
ADA*.

"Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the person
with a disability cannot perform for him or herself....Some examples
include:
*  Alerting persons with hearing disabilities to sounds
*  Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with
mobility disabilities
*  Assisting persons with mobility disabilities with balance."

The Compliance Office FAQ goes on to offer specific questions and advice on
service animals, including the questions that we can ask patrons about
their animal, and other useful information.

Emotional support animals seem to be more of a grey area, and some of them
cause problems for other patrons and for staff.  We've had reptiles.  We
had 6 a week old puppy that was not housebroken.  Law suits have been
mentioned to us.  Other nearby libraries are said by patrons to be
completely friendly to all dogs all the time.  Is this true?

How are other libraries handling people who want to bring an emotional
support animal into the library?    I know that many airlines are now
allowing emotional support animals on planes.  But libraries?

Marty Ferriby, Director
Hackley Public Library
316 W. Webster Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49440
231-722-8003
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