Please note RPL’s current Patron Rights & Responsibilities policy says that patrons are to refrain from “Bringing in animals or pets except for properly leashed and trained service animals.” The section aims to ensure the access, public health, and safety of those visiting the library – those requiring service animals and those not.
If a situation escalates to cause concerns about access, public health, or safety, please remind the patron of this policy. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division,
Q. What questions can a covered entity’s employees ask to determine if a dog is a service animal?
A. In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.
In Massachusetts, the law requires staff to take individuals at their word.