General Requirements – Prohibitions against Discrimination:
(h) A public entity may impose legitimate safety requirements necessary for the safe operations of its services, programs, or activities. However, the public entity must ensure that its safety requirements are based on actual risks, not on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations about individuals with disabilities.

Permissible Service Animals

The ADA allows the zoo to take some action to prevent any danger to the animal collections and our guests. The zoo has the authority to deny access to areas on the basis that we and other zoos have observed and have documented safety concerns that justify restrictions access. The following actions are allowed:

1. An individual MAY be asked what services that animal provides to determine whether the animal in question is a needed service animal. We are NOT allowed to ask a guest what disability they have. We are not allowed to ask for any certification papers or written evidence of training.
   • Is the service animal required because of a disability?
   • What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? Or How would you describe what your animal does for you?
2. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship are not services identifies by the ADA as being covered. We ARE allowed to restrict access of these animals totally from the zoo grounds.
3. The rule defines service animals as either a “dog” or “miniature horse”. We are not required to admit any other of species under the ADA.
   • Emotional supports animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs and service animals in training are not service animals under Title II and Title III under the ADA. This excludes these animals from entering the zoo EVEN if they present and ID, Doctor’s note, etc.
4. The zoo is allowed to restrict access to Giraffe Feeding Deck & Vestibule, Lorikeets, WoW, Barnyard, Kangaroos, and Goats. These are areas where zoo animals will be in full contact with the service animals. Each person with a service animal must be shown these areas on a zoo map so they are aware of their locations.
5. A service animal still in training is not considered to be a service animal, until the training has been completed and the animal is certified.

When a Service Animal Enters the Zoo

When a service animal enters the zoo, personnel will advise a manager that a service animal is on grounds and inform the guest with the service animal of the restricted areas. The employee will also radio to all zoo staff that there is a service animal in the zoo.

If the function of the animal is NOT readily apparent, staff can ask two questions:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task the animal has been trained to do?
   • Examples of acceptable tasks: alerting for blood sugar, guiding for visually impaired, pulling a wheelchair, mobility support, anxiety attack
   • Examples of unacceptable answers: emotional support, therapy animal, anxiety support

If they owner can reasonably answer these questions, the animal should be admitted. If the owner cannot reasonably establish what work or task the animal performs, or is unwilling to provide the information, the animal may be denied admission to the zoo.

Procedure for Removal from Exhibit Area/Zoo

1. Conditions service animals can be removed from the premise:
   • The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it
   • The animal is not housebroken
   • The animal’s behavior must be observed by zoo staff and the animal’s handler given reasonable opportunity to get the animal under control or remove it from the location themselves.
2. Requirements if service animal is removed:
   • The individual with the disability must be given an opportunity to participate in the service, program, or activity without having the service animal on the premises; however, if this means endangering the wellbeing of the animal (e.g. placing them in a hot car), we will ask them all to return at a future date and time without their companions.
3. A service animal may be excluded with the animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others.