"A service animal is not a pet" when it is working and performing it's duties for the disabled person. They use this phrase as a way to advise business owners and others that they are not discriminating and that they do not have to now allow "pets" into businesses, but rather that these "specially trained" working animals are more than mere pets, they are special animals with a purpose to their masters.
I usually carry their rabies license and some business cards I've made up to hand to people who tell me no dogs are allowed. Sometimes I have to tell two or three people but I have never had to leave. If they persist in asking questions I give them a copy of the FAQ. Sometimes I mail a letter later and I always try to thank them on the way out especially if it is a restaurant.
You don't have to tell a hotel or apartment manager that you have the animal and they cannot charge you extra like a cleaning deposit or anything. Of course, you would have to pay for any actual damages the dog may cause just as anyone would.
This is a federal law so it takes prcedence over ny state and local ordinances. So, if an establishment that serves food for instance tries to tell you they will be shut down by the health department you can assure them that that is not the case. Your dog is the same as a seeing eye dog that everyone is familiar with.
Anyway, I hope you can all read the law and the interpretations of it and figure out if it might work for you or anyone in your family. |