Item B: Animal Code - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Animal Code Meeting Date: May 9, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT The Human Rights Commission’s Accessibility Committee identified changing the “dangerous dog ordinance” as a work plan priority in 2009-2010. This work session will introduce information about protecting service animals from dangerous dogs, and forecast other potential animal code changes that could strengthen support and enforcement for companion animals and community members. BACKGROUND Within the last three years, there have been at least two instances in which a service animal was injured by a dangerous dog in Eugene. These actions caused great expense to the owners and significantly impacted their ability to function normally for the prolonged period without a service animal trained to meet their needs. The City Code does not distinguish service animals from domestic animals, and provisions in place for attacks on domestic animals do not provide sufficient protections or redress for people who rely on service animals. For a combination of reasons, this issue has been delayed in coming to the council since the Accessibility Committee developed its proposal. With the animal services review now underway, a two- step code change process would first address service animals. A second set of animal code changes would be developed in collaboration with the City of Springfield and Lane County, as the jurisdictions examine whether greater consistency could promote more effective enforcement. New protections and sanctions related to service animals would take the approach that these animals are extensions of the person they are serving. People with disabilities have come to rely on professionally trained animals to help them live more independent lives. Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos. Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers. \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110509\S110509B.doc