Companion and Emotional Support Animals

(Consider This Before You Say No) 

1. Federal, state and local civil rights laws all require that [housing providers] reasonably accommodate disabled applicants and residents;  these laws apply to both physically and mentally disabled persons.
2. In cases when the disability of an applicant or resident is not obvious or apparent (usually a mental or emotional disability), you have the right to ask for enough information (from doctors, nurses or other health care professionals) to verify that the person requesting  a companion animal is actually disable and that he or she explain the medial or emotional relationship between the disability and the need for  companion animal.
3. Do not refuse a request for a companion animal simply because it has not received special training, is not certified or even licensed by a government authority, or because it does not wear a special identification collar or harness.
4. However, even where the disability is demonstrated and the need for a companion animal has been explained, you do not have to accommodate any animal that is or becomes unruly or disruptive, unclean, and/or unhealthy to the extent that the animal’s behavior or condition poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
5. While companion animals are not pets (and are therefore not subject to pet deposits and charges like that), it is proper to require all animals in your buildings to be properly vaccinated by  a Veterinary doctor and that their owners properly dispose of all waste and observe all leash laws in accordance with local health laws.