Service Animals
at CompDrug
CompDrug welcomes people with disabilities who use service animals. Our goal is to provide safe, respectful access to services while following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What Staff May Ask
If it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two questions:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Staff may not ask about the person's disability, require certification or registration, or ask the dog to demonstrate its task.
Where Service Animals Are Allowed
Service animals are generally allowed in areas where patients and members of the public are allowed to go.
In healthcare settings, this generally includes waiting rooms, clinics, examination areas, and other patient-accessible spaces.
Certain limited areas may be restricted when an animal's presence would interfere with legitimate safety or sterile-environment requirements.
Handler Responsibilities
The handler is responsible for keeping the service animal under control and for the animal's care and supervision.
Service animals generally must be leashed, harnessed, or tethered unless doing so would interfere with the person's disability or the animal's work.
CompDrug staff are not responsible for feeding, walking, supervising, or otherwise caring for a service animal.
Common Misconceptions
MYTH: A service animal must wear a vest.
FACT: The ADA does not require a vest, special harness, ID card, or other identification.
MYTH: The patient must show certification.
FACT: Staff cannot require certification, registration, training records, or identification as a condition of entry.
MYTH: Emotional support animals are service animals.
FACT: An animal that provides comfort simply by being present is not considered a service animal under the ADA. A psychiatric service dog may qualify when trained to perform a specific task.
MYTH: Certain dog breeds cannot be service animals.
FACT: Service animals cannot be excluded simply because of their breed. Decisions must be based on the behavior of the individual animal.
MYTH: Allergies or fear of dogs mean the service animal must leave.
FACT: Allergies and fear of dogs are not, by themselves, reasons to deny access. When possible, CompDrug should work to accommodate both individuals.
MYTH: Service animals must be registered.
FACT: There is no federally required service animal registration under the ADA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CompDrug ask a patient what their disability is?
No. Staff may not ask about the nature or extent of a person's disability.
If it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff are limited to asking whether the dog is required because of a disability and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform.
Does a service animal need paperwork?
No. CompDrug cannot require certification, registration, training records, identification, or medical documentation before allowing a service animal.
Can a service animal be asked to leave?
Yes, but only in limited circumstances.
A service animal may be required to leave if the animal is not housebroken, or if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to regain control.
If the animal must leave, the patient must still be given the opportunity to receive services without the animal present.
What if a service animal urinates or defecates inside CompDrug?
Service animals are required to be housebroken. If an animal is not housebroken, staff may require the animal to leave at that time.
An incident does not automatically mean the animal is permanently prohibited from returning. Future decisions should be based on the animal's behavior at that time.
What if the service animal is barking or disruptive?
A single bark or isolated incident does not necessarily mean the animal is out of control.
If the animal is repeatedly disruptive and the handler does not take effective action to regain control, staff may require the animal to leave.
What if another patient is afraid of dogs?
Fear of dogs alone is not a reason to exclude a service animal. Staff should work to reasonably accommodate both individuals when possible.
What if someone has a dog allergy?
An allergy does not automatically override another person's right to use a service animal.
When possible, CompDrug should work to accommodate both individuals, such as by providing additional distance or separate areas.
Does CompDrug have to care for or supervise the animal?
No. The handler is responsible for the service animal's care, supervision, and toileting.
Are miniature horses allowed?
The ADA has separate provisions for miniature horses that are individually trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability.
Whether a miniature horse can be accommodated depends on factors such as its size and weight, whether it is housebroken and under control, whether the facility can accommodate it, and legitimate safety requirements.
When a Service Animal May Be Removed
A service animal may be asked to leave when:
- The animal is not housebroken.
- The animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to regain control.
The patient must still be offered the opportunity to receive services without the animal present.