- What are the laws that apply to my business?
- What is a service animal?
- How can I tell if an animal is really a
service animal and not just a pet?
- What must I do when an individual with a
service animal comes to my business?
- I have always had a clearly posted "no
pets" policy at my establishment. Do I still have to allow
service animals in?
- My county health department has told me
that only a seeing eye or guide dog has to be admitted. If I follow
those regulations, am I violating the ADA?
- Can I charge a maintenance or cleaning fee
for customers who bring service animals into my business?
- I operate a private taxicab and I don't
want animals in my taxi; they smell, shed hair and sometimes have
"accidents." Am I violating the ADA if I refuse to pick up
someone with a service animal?
- Am I responsible for the animal while the
person with a disability is in my business?
- What if a service animal barks or growls at
other people, or otherwise acts out of control?
- Can I exclude an animal that doesn't
really seem dangerous but is disruptive to my business?
- Updates and in closing.
__Alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds.
__Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with
mobility impairments.
__Assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance.
No. Neither a deposit nor a surcharge may be
imposed on an individual with a disability as a condition to allowing a service
animal to accompany the individual with a disability, even if deposits are
routinely required for pets. However, a public accommodation may charge
its customers with disabilities if a service animal causes damage so long as it
is the regular practice of entity to charge non-disabled customers for the same
types of damages. For example, a hotel can charge a guest with a
disability for the cost of repairing or cleaning furniture damaged by a service
animal if it is the hotel's policy to charge when non-disabled guests cause such
damage.
Yes. Taxicab companies may not refuse to
provide services to individuals with disabilities. Private taxicab
companies are also prohibited from charging higher fares or fees for
transporting individuals with disabilities and their service animals than they
charge to other persons for the same or equivalent service.
No. The care or supervision of a service
animal is solely the responsibility of his or her owner. You are not
required to provide care or food or a special location for the animal.
You may exclude any animal, including a service
animal from your facility when that animal's behavior poses a direct threat to
the health or safety of others. For example, any service animal that
displays vicious behavior towards other guests or customers may be
excluded. You may not make assumptions, however, about how a particular
animal is likely to behave based on your past experience with other
animals. Each situation must be considered individually. Although a
public accommodation may exclude any service animal that is out of control, it
should give the individual with a disability who uses the service animal the
option of continuing to enjoy its goods and services without having the service
animal on the premises.
There may be a few circumstances when a public
accommodation is not required to accommodate a service animal--that is, when
doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of the
business. Generally, this is not likely to occur in restaurants, hotels,
retail stores, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities. But when it
does, for example, when a dog barks during a movie, the animal may be excluded.
--Businesses may ask if an animal is a service
animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform, but cannot
require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability.
--Allergies or fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying
access or refusing service to people with service animals.
--Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties.
(Duplication of the above Frequently Asked Questions is
encouraged. Last update January 22, 2002).
