People with certain impairments in Connecticut have the legal right to carry their service animals practically anyplace.
People with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by their service animals in restaurants, hotels, shops, theaters, and other public places under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Connecticut’s public accommodations statute. Connecticut’s statute is more restricted than the ADA in that it only includes dogs that aid persons who are blind, deaf, or mobility-impaired; unlike the ADA, it does not cover psychiatric support animals or service animals that assist those with other sorts of impairments. Public accommodations in Connecticut, on the other hand, must adhere to both state and federal regulations.
Continue reading to find out which public accommodations are covered, which animals are considered service animals, and what guidelines you may need to follow with your support animal.
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In Connecticut, what animals are protected?
Only people who utilize service dogs for certain impairments are protected under Connecticut’s public accommodations statute. Blind people must be permitted to bring their guide dogs into public places. The regulation also protects those who are deaf or have mobility issues and rely on service dogs. People who utilize service dogs to help them with other impairments, such as mental or intellectual problems, are not protected under Connecticut law. However, as stated below, the ADA does protect people with various impairments, and public accommodations in Connecticut are required to comply with the ADA.
A service animal is a canine that has been taught to do disability-related duties for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental handicap, according to the ADA. A miniature horse may potentially qualify as a service animal in certain situations. In addition to guiding dogs and hearing dogs, the following service animals must be permitted in public facilities under the ADA:
psychiatric service animals, who assist their handlers in managing mental and emotional disorders by halting self-harming habits, reminding handlers to take medicine, searching for intruders, or offering relaxing pressure during anxiety or panic episodes.
Seizure alert animals warn their handlers of oncoming seizures and may even protect their handlers during seizure activity, while allergy alert animals warn their handlers of potentially toxic foods or other substances (such as peanuts).
Neither Connecticut law nor the ADA address what some refer to as “emotional support animals”: animals whose presence gives a feeling of protection, friendship, and comfort to persons suffering from mental or emotional disorders. Despite the fact that these animals often provide therapeutic advantages, they are not trained to do particular activities for individuals with impairments.
In Connecticut, what qualifies as a public accommodation?
Certain persons with disabilities have the right under Connecticut law to carry their service animals on all means of public transportation (such as buses, trains, and ferries) and into all places of public accommodation. A public accommodation is any establishment that serves or provides products, services, or facilities to the general public. It contains public buildings, commercial structures and lots, hotels and inns, restaurants, and entertainment or resort facilities.
The scope of public accommodations is similarly wide under the ADA. Religious institutions, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, on the other hand, are not considered public accommodations under the ADA. This is true even if the religious body provides secular services, such as a day care facility that accepts children regardless of whether they are members of or associated with the religious institution. Private clubs (member-controlled nonprofit organizations that are very selective, demand significant membership fees, and were not formed to avoid compliance with civil rights legislation) are likewise not protected by the ADA. However, if a private club makes amenities accessible to nonmembers, such facilities are subject to the ADA’s public accommodation regulations.
Service Animal Guidelines
A public accommodation may not ask you questions about your impairment or request certification, identification, or other evidence of your animal’s training or status under the ADA. Whether it is unclear what your service animal does, the business may just inquire if it is a service animal and what responsibilities it does for you. Connecticut law mandates that guide dogs and service dogs wear a harness or an orange collar and leash while entering public places.
The ADA and Connecticut law both prohibit public establishments from charging a special entry charge or asking you to pay any other additional fees in order to have your service animal with you. You may, however, be required to pay for any damage your animal causes.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) authorizes a public accommodation to refuse your service animal if it presents a clear hazard to health and safety (or example, if your dog is aggressively barking and snapping at other customers, the facility can kick the dog out). Your animal may also be excluded if it is not housebroken or if it is out of control and you are unable or unwilling to regulate it adequately. Even if your service animal is not permitted, you have the right to access the public facility.
Connecticut Housing for Service Animals
Housing discrimination is illegal in Connecticut, including discrimination against those with physical, mental, or learning impairments. The state’s fair housing legislation also compels landlords to make reasonable adjustments (such as modifying their regular rules and practices) if a person with a handicap needs to enjoy and utilize the property. The statute, however, makes no particular mention of service animals.
Fortunately, the federal Fair Housing Act expressly outlaws discrimination against persons who utilize service animals in housing accommodations. You must have full and equal access to all housing facilities, and you may not be charged an additional fee for having a service animal (although you may have to pay for damage your animal causes). A “no pets” restriction in your lease or rental agreement does not apply to your assistance animal.
Housing facilities must allow service dogs and emotional support animals if required for a person with a handicap to have an equal chance to utilize and enjoy the house, according to the federal Fair Housing Act. To be eligible for this provision, you must have a handicap and a disability-related need for the animal. To qualify, the animal must labor, provide duties or services, or lessen the emotional impact of your impairment.