Item 8: Ordinance on Animal Regulations Regarding Service Animals

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: An Ordinance Concerning Amendment of Animal Regulations Regarding Service Animals Meeting Date: June 27, 2011 Agenda Item Number: 8 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT Changes are proposed to the Eugene City Code to strengthen support and enforcement for service animals, recognizing these animals as extensions of the humans they serve. BACKGROUND The council on June 20 held a public hearing on the proposed code changes, following an earlier work session on May 9, 2011. In the public hearing, testimony requested stronger enforcement of animal regulations and greater responsiveness. Staff will follow up with appropriate contacts in the Eugene Police Department and Lane County Animal Services (LCAS) to share these concerns. In recent years, there have been 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. 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. \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110627\S1106278.doc