Animals in restaurants and food stotes.
Service Animals
Understanding What is Allowed
Service animals are not required to wear identification or a vest and food establishments may not request documentation showing they are a service animal. Service animals are required to be housebroken to be with and under their handler’s control. Animals that fail to meet these behavioral requirements iiimay be removed from a business at any time. In these instances, their
handler must be granted an opportunity to receive goods or services without thep animal present. In addition, service animals must be on a harness or leash unless this would interfere with the animal’s task, or the
handler’s disability prevents the use of these devices.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has also indicated that food establishments are not required to allow service animals to be placed in shopping carts or use seating, food or drink provided for customer use only.
Penalties for False Representation
Those who represent an unqualified animal as a service animal or service animal in-training are guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by one or more of the following:
• Imprisonment for not more than 90 days.
• A fine of not more than $500.00.
• Community service for not more than 30 days.
Action by Food Establishments. If it is not obvious what task a service animal provides, a food establishment can legally ask these two questions:
1. Is the animal a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?
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