Service Animal Q&A for Washington State

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Service Animal Questions
Q. What is the law that applies to non-discrimination and Service Animals?
The Washington State Law Against Discrimination prohibits unfair practices of discrimination against a person with a disability who uses a trained dog guide or service animal. The State Human Rights Commission was created to eliminate and prevent discrimination in employment, in credit and insurance transactions, in places of public accommodation, and in real property transactions. It is considered an unfair practice to fail to reasonably accommodate a person with a disability who uses a trained dog guide or service animal.
Q. What is a disability?
The rules of the Washington State Law Against Discrimination defines a disability as any abnormal sensory, mental or physical condition that:• Is medically cognizable or diagnosable• exists as a record or history• is perceived to exist.
Q. What is a dog guide?
“Dog guide” means a dog that is trained for the purpose of guiding blind persons or a dog that is trained for the purpose of assisting hearing impaired persons.
Q. What is a service animal?
“Service animal” means an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled person’s sensory, mental, or physical disability.
Q. What does a dog guide or service animal do?
Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. Service animals can perform myriad services for someone with a disability, including alerting deaf individuals to sounds (telephone, doorbell, fire alarms), alerting an individual with seizure disorder to an oncoming seizure, carrying and picking up things for someone who uses a wheelchair, and assisting with balance and opening doors.
Q. How can I tell if an animal is really a service animal and not just a pet?
There are no legal requirements for service animals to be specially identified. Some, but not all, service animals, wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or “certified” and/or have identification papers. If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. A public entity cannot require any proof of a person’s disability, or identification or certification of the service animal’s status.
A housing provider may ask for a health care professional’s statement that an individual is a person with a disability and will be assisted by a service animal. A housing provider may not ask for details or the nature of an individual’s disability.
Q. Can we restrict areas into which the service animal can go?
Generally, no. The service animal must be permitted to accompany the individual with a disability to all areas of the facility where members of the public are normally allowed to go, unless its presence or behavior creates a fundamental alteration or direct threat to safety. An individual with a service animal may not be segregated from others.
Q. What about any “no pets” policies?
Legally, a service animal is not a pet. You are required to modify your “no pets” policy to allow the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability. A “no pets” policy may be continued, but you must make an exception to your general rule for service animals.
Q. The county health department has told me that only a guide dog has to be admitted. If I follow those rules, am I violating the Law Against Discrimination?
Yes, if you refuse to admit any other type of service animal on the basis of local health department regulations or other state or local laws. There is no evidence that healthy, vaccinated, well-trained service animals are any greater threat to public health and safety than members of the general public. Health Department rules that apply to certain animals in food processing areas will, however, be considered on a case by case basis.
Q. Can I charge a maintenance or cleaning fee, or safety deposit for customers who bring service animals into my business?
No. As for any other program modifications provided to people with disabilities, you may not charge an additional fee related to the use of service animals. An agency may charge its customers with disabilities if a service animal cause damage so long as it is the regular practice of the entity to charge non-disabled customers for the same types of damages.
Q. Am I responsible for the service animal while the person with a disability is in my business?
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 for the animal.
Q. What if a service animal barks or growls at other people, or otherwise threatens people or other animals?
You may exclude a service animal from your facility when that animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. However, you may not make assumptions (speculate) about how a particular animal is likely to behave based on your past experience with other animals. Each situation must be considered individually.
Although an agency may exclude any service animal that is a direct threat to safety, 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.
Q. Can I exclude a service animal that doesn’t really seem dangerous but is disruptive?
There may be a few circumstances when an agency is not required to accommodate a service animal --for example, when doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of the business. For example, when a dog initiates unsolicited contact with people other than its owner (jumping on people, sniffing them, trying to be petted, etc.), the animal can be excluded. Any exclusion must be for reasons that are demonstrable, not speculative.
Q. Must I let in a service animal in training, or a person who does not have a disability who says the animals is trained as a service animal?
No. The Washington State Law Against Discrimination does not address service animals that are not trained. While you might choose to allow these animals entry, you do not have legal obligations to do so. Additionally, the State Law Against Discrimination protects the rights of individuals who have disabilities and are assisted by service animals, and does not pertain to non-disabled individuals who have service animals.
For more information, contact:
Washington State Human Rights Commission, 800-233-3247, 800-300-7525 (TTY)
or
Delta Society National Service Dog Center, www.deltasociety.org, 800-869-6898.
Information for this document was obtained from:
U.S. Dept. of Justice civil Rights Division, Office of the ADA, Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals (1996).Delta Society National Service Dog CenterKing County Office of Civil RightsWashington State Human Rights Commission
- http://www.hum.wa.gov/FAQ/FAQServiceAnimal.html
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homeless in Kitsap Part 2

homeless in Kitsap

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This video introduces and recognizes some of the quality people of Kitsap County and the Puget Sound area who serve the interests of those in need.

The presentation also makes effort to overcome some of the myths regarding homelessness and poverty.

Link to Part 2 of this video can be found in the menu to the right on the YouTube site.

homelessness is not a permanent condition

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Several months ago I made a personal decision to relocate, because I could, because my Dad had passed away recently and he no longer needed me to help him. I had some resources - enough to make the move, to find a place to live for myself and two cats. I had a basic plan, and the knowledge that I had to make things happen in a short time before my resources were spent. Whether I would be welcome in my new surroundings, whether I would find affordable housing on a limited income, whether I was making a good decision ...

How could I possibly know?

What I knew was that more than once before in my life I had started over, each time with Faith - that what I, and my family, later, would need, would be provided, and it always was, and we lived good, happy lives, raised two children to be proud of - I am proud of them both - and when they were raised, my wife and I agreed to go separate ways, after which I started over yet again.

Now, in Bremerton, Washington, yet another start, another 'existence' in my life, as I call it, is dedicated to giving back, in thanks for the many blessings which have allowed me to get this far and to live this long, and as well as I have; dedicated to helping other human beings in whatever way I can, particularly those who have no place to call home.

This blog is not about me, however.

There are hundreds of people in this community who in some way serve those in need, regularly - some of them daily - and the same is likely true in your hometown, so one purpose of this blog is to recognize those volunteers who cook and clean, deliver and provide transportation, or just sit and listen, caring, and then go beyond simple caring with inspired kindness.

We encourage you to make a stronger effort to recognize those in your own community who serve selflessly, and to support them and their efforts.

Just as important is an opportunity to break through stereotypical thinking about "homelessness" and to educate minds about reasons for being "in transition" which are not obvious to many of us when we are approached by someone who is in distress. For three weeks not long ago, I did not have a physical address - general delivery only - and even though I did not feel "homeless" at the time, a friend who knows what it is to be homeless assured me I was, however temporarily.

I have some firsthand experience with the thoughts and feelings that go with being "cut loose" from ties we often take for granted, and I have glimpsed how those thoughts and feelings can lead into a downward emotional spiral from which escape can be tough. Fortunately, I have no "substance abuse" issues which can demolish good decision making in tough times.

Yet it would be foolish of me to think I could not be homeless, more than "temporarily" homeless as I experienced in those three short weeks (which uncertainty made seem a long time) because I am aware that a change in health could sideline me suddenly at any time, or driving the local streets and highways could bring me in contact with an impaired driver. Then I might be unable to care for myself. Even if only for days or weeks, I could be dependent on someone else to make decisions for me, feed my cats, pay bills that would keep my utilities from being cut off and encourage my landlord to not evict me.

Such troubles can happen to any of us who are "one or two paychecks" from being "on the street" and that is why this blog intends to help more people understand that "homelessness" can happen to anyone, at any time, for unexpected reasons that are no fault of our own - so may this blog be an extension of your support group.

We accumulate so much "stuff" in this society, but we can only protect that "stuff" as long as we are physically and mentally able to do so; otherwise, we are dependent on family or friends, neighbors or even strangers, to assist in some way, if we become sick or incapacitated, and then, the walls we have built to protect ourselves and our "stuff" may become a prison for us, with no way out.

Third, far too many of our Veterans, from recent service and from decades ago, are without a solid place to stay, some without hope - men and women we have depended on who now depend on us, so anything I can do through the presence of this blog to connect with those who served, and to connect them to support in some way, I look forward to.

A fourth reason for this blog is to give voice to those who are without shelter, and to those who want to contribute their own ideas and solutions in these pages, so we hope to offer content here that will be from many people involved - articles of personal experience in being homeless, others about available services and how to connect with them, opportunities to be of service, individuals in need of encouragement and support, and maybe we can reveal some of the "secrets" about services that are somewhat "closely held" which not enough people who need them know are about.

My policy is "any question, any time - just ask me" and I am happy to provide proofreading and editing on request, but I will refer resume reviews to more capable volunteers. If I cannot answer your question, at least maybe I can direct it to someone who can answer, but it also gives me a chance to learn more.

Last, this blog will be 'monetized' in hopes we can work together to generate sufficient readership and following to provide a bit of income which can be used to defray a need, so come talk with us about what you see is needed out there, what we need to do more of, more often, or sooner, and let us help you to help others make this little seed of a blog one which might take root in other communities.

Your comments will always be appreciated here, and your feedback will be of value, maybe lifesaving, to someone, somewhere. So please welcome this blog as a resource, bookmark the site, and share the link with everyone you know.

Please come visit or stay with us a while as often as you can - Thank You
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