KINGWOOD — Preston County Commissioners have adopted Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines for service dogs as the policy for dogs allowed in county buildings.
Several months ago, signs were placed on county buildings (other than the animal shelter), saying only service dogs were allowed. But there were no guidelines on what animals qualified.
On Tuesday, commissioners Dave Price, Don Smith and Samantha Stone adopted the policy proposed by County Administrator Kathy Mace.
The policy says only service dogs, police K-9s and shelter animals are allowed in county buildings.
Service dogs are defined by the ADA as “specifically task-trained to help an individual with a disability that substantially limits one or more life activities.”
Disabilities may include visual difficulties, hearing impairments, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizures, ambulatory issues, mental illness, diabetes and autism.
“However,” the policy notes, “to qualify, the task(s) must be related directly to assisting with the individual’s disability, not basic obedience, owner protection or pet tricks.”
The policy says emotional support and comfort animals do not qualify under ADA. And dogs are the only animals recognized under the Preston policy.
Only two questions can be asked of the dog’s owner, under the policy: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
All service dogs must be controlled by a harness or leash and accompanied by the owner at all times. Service dogs that bark excessively or are not housetrained can be asked to leave.
The policy goes into effect immediately. It can be amended, Mace noted. “I think that this is a good place to start.”
Commissioners referred to news stories about, for example, a snake brought into a library and a miniature horse onto a plane as “emotional support animals” as part of the reason for the policy.
In other actions Tuesday, commissioners agreed to a contract with the Thrasher Group to provide aerial photography of the county for the tax office, Emergency Management and the sheriff’s department. The contract is not to exceed $45,000.
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