Service Animal Policy

Policy Statement

It is the policy of Hospitality House that service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are generally permitted at Utah’s Place and vehicles used to transport guests except as described below.

Definition

The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform. Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. This is the type of service animal with which most people are familiar. But there are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include:

• 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.

A service animal is not a pet.

Please note: The presence of an animal for comfort, protection or personal defense does not qualify as training to mitigate the effects of an individual disability and therefore does not qualify said animal as a service animal

A service animal may be asked to leave Utah’s Place and vehicles used to transport guests, if the animal’s behavior or presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. For example, a service animal that displays vicious behaviors towards people may be excluded.

Service Animals may also be excluded in areas where the presence of a service animal fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity or is disruptive.

Examples may include, but are not limited to, food preparation areas (that does not include dining room areas) vehicles used to transport guests.

In addition, animals not covered under the ADA service animal definition can be asked to leave Utah’s Place and vehicles used to transport guests. Questions related to the use of service animals should be directed to Executive Director at 530-271-7144.

Rules for Service Dogs while at Utah’s Place and vehicles used to transport guests.

Service animals must be immunized against diseases common to that type of animal. All vaccinations must be current. Dogs must wear a rabies vaccination.

Dogs must be licensed.

The owner shall keep his dog or other domesticated animals under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog or other domesticated animals to be at large off the premises or at any time while participating in the Hospitality House program unless under the control of a competent person. Under Control: The owner/keeper of the service animal must be in full control of the animal at all times. The care and supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of owner/keeper.

Cleanup Rule: The owner/keeper of a service animal must adhere to city ordinances regarding the cleaning up after the animal defecates.