Are Emotional and Support dogs allowed in FamilySearch Center
Last week a Sister brought her dog to the FamilySearch Center. It was not a service dog and the Sister was not disabled. Are emotional and support dogs allowed in FamilySearch Centers?
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We had the same question and finding nothing specific in the FSC-Ops guide we allowed it for a while.
However, after experiencing several animal related "biological accidents," (where the owner of the animal was less than cooperative in the "clean-up"), and more importantly, hearing from Patrons who suffer with animal fur or dander-related allergies (even if the animal is no longer present in the Center) we have adopted a strict "No Animals Allowed" policy for our Center.1 -
- What about other patrons with allergies, as bobjones pointed out?
- Where do you draw the line - when any animal can be claimed as an emotional and/or support animal (as airlines learned the hard way)?
- There are other ways, both in person and online, that consultants can help those individuals sincerely looking for assistance.
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Great question - and one we'd never faced (so we also needed an answer).
As a result, I just called the FamilySearch Library at Temple Square to ask about their policy. I suspect this has been well researched and discussed before implementation - and it seems like a very appropriate way to take care of the issue.
The animal must be certified, and the owner should have something such as a card identifying the animal as an approved service animal. Simply saying so is not enough. That ensures the animal is thoroughly trained, and that the owner has also gone through training with the animal in how to properly use the animal to avoid just such "accidents", etc. The owners are expected to not be playing with the animal while in the Library, and the animal must be clean, with an appropriate leash/harness, etc. (all things that would be covered in a proper service animal training program). If properly trained and utilized, a service animal won't be having "accidents" in the Library or our Centers, and won't be trying to move about while the patron is in the facility. That would also limit any spread of fur/dander around the Center that could potentially be a problem for other patrons (though I also suspect that service animals are carefully selected for that reason as well).
As of today, I'm briefing my staff that the same policy is to be utilized in our FSC. We need to be properly sensitive to legitimate needs of people that even sometimes appear outwardly the same as everyone else, but struggle with legitimate issues that most of us would find debilitating without the proper support of a trained service animal. But simply saying an animal is a "support" animal isn't enough. There are conditions that would be prohibitive for some people to be able to function well out in social situations and public places without a properly trained service animal and its owner. But as of today, long haired cats, iguanas, and llamas won't be entering our Center. I won't share here the absurd experience cited by the very knowledgeable FamilySearch Library representative about an experience they had with one patron! 🤣
—Chris
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I think by federal law you have to allow actual service animals….not emotional support animals.
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In addition to following any Federal or state laws which may apply to service animals, (and there is a difference in service animals and emotional support animals), the Stake President should be the go-to person to make final decisions and assist with any signage that needs to be posted.
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