Service Animals

The U.S. Department of Justice enforces Title II of the ADA and the associated regulations and standards that apply to state and local governments. DOJ also enforces Title III of the ADA which applies to businesses, non-profits, and other public accommodations. Under the ADA, service animals are dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The County welcomes persons with disabilities who are accompanied by service animals in all of our buildings, programs and activities. No identification or special tags are required. Service animals must be harnessed or leashed unless those devices would interfere with the work the service animal performs. In cases where the service animal is not leashed or harnessed, the handler must have the service animal under voice or signal control. If a service animal becomes disruptive a County staff person may ask that the service animal be removed. The County will consider the use of miniature horses as a service animal on a case-by-case basis. Contact the ADA Compliance Team to discuss this.

Service Animals
Vice Chair Charlie Crawford, with service animal Mason, and Chair Trish Gallalee, with Memphis, arrive at a meeting of the Commission on People with Disabilities (CPWD).
Service Animals
Memphis assists Trish with her coat before the start of CPWD meeting.

In Maryland, state law permits service animal trainers accompanied by a service animal in training to participate in County programs and events unless admitting the animal would create a clear danger of a disturbance or physical harm. For more information check:
law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2010/human-services/title-7/subtitle-7/7-705

For more information on service animals:

The Department of Justice has a comprehensive fact sheet on service animals and their use in both Title II and Title III buildings and facilities:
www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) enforces ADA regulations for transit services including Montgomery County’s Ride-On system. The FTA definition of service animal is broader than the definition used by DOJ and is not limited to dogs. For more information check:
ftawebprod.fta.dot.gov/ContactUsTool/Public/FAQs.aspx?CategoryID=4

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act requirements in housing situations. The Fair Housing Act protects people with disabilities in housing and includes an even broader definition of service animal. Requests for service and support animals can be made under the reasonable accommodation process:
www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/library/huddojstatement.pdf