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Environmental Health Department Jasjit Kang, REHS, Director Muniappa Naidu, REHS, Assistant Director PROGRAM COORDINATORS Robert McClellan, REHS Jeff Carruesco, REHS, RDI Steven Shih,REHS Willy Ng, REHS Michelle Henry, REHS Elena Manzo, REHS SAN , joAouiN . A ite). COUNTY- Greatness grows here. SERVICE ANIMALS According to California Retail Food Code, Section 113903: A "service animal" means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Tasks performed can include, among other things, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting a person to a sound, reminding a person to take medication, or pressing an elevator button. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are also not considered service animals. The manager or operator of a food facility may only ask two questions of the handler to determine if the dog is a service animal: Is the animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? A public entity or private business may not ask for documentation, or proof, that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal; or require the animal to wear an identifying vest. It also may not ask about the nature or extent of an individual's disability. Titles II and III of the ADA make it clear that service animals are allowed in public facilities and have the right to be accommodated. A service animal must be allowed to accompany the handler to any place in the building or facility where members of the public, program participants, customers, or clients are allowed. Our department feels that a service animal riding in a shopping cart, for instance, is not a proper location for the animal. Based on the expected tasks that service animals perform, as outlined, it is unreasonable for a service animal to be in a shopping cart or behaving in a manner that is disruptive, unsafe, or creating a nuisance in any way. In addition, the business is not required to provide services or equipment for the service animal while performing their task of assisting the owner with a disability. If a service animal is creating a public health or safety hazard, the animal can be excluded from the food facility. Contact our office at (209) 468-3420 if you have any further questions regarding service animals. 1868 E. Hazelton Avenue I Stockton, California 95205 I 1 209 468-3420 I F 209 464-0138 I www.sjgov.org