Fake Svc Dogs a Growing Problem
Clicky I find it sad that people feel the need to abuse the system. One would think they would be grateful they are physically well enough to perform their own tasks. Trained service dogs are s...
Forum Discussion
This is a real problem for us landlords. We used to advertise NO PETS. I love animals and have dogs myself. But animals in a rental is a nightmare. No one cares for the property as much as you do to begin with and a rental with a pet is worse. Allowing an animal would mean that on down the road, a person with allergies would not be able to rent because of residual effects. The newspapers we use no longer allow us to advertise "NO PETS" because we must allow service animals. However, in the ADA's definition of "service animals," they are NOT considered pets. Guess we need to educate the newspaper staff, eh?
But here is the entirely "new" concern. . . while the ADA defines service animals as DOGS only, in some cases miniature horses are permitted and I have read also that a type of monkey can be permitted. The monkey is able to open items for the handicapped person. Okay. . . Enter the FHA. . .FAIR HOUSING AUTHORITY. They have their own definitions. They don't care how qualified a potential renter is, their goal is to make sure landlords rent to anybody. . . so they further define "companion animals." This is ANY animal who provides some type of comfort to the owner. It could be a SNAKE, a FISH, ANYTHING. No license or certification is required, no questions could be asked, no paperwork needed. All it takes is for the person to call it a "compassionate companion." You cannot deny a potential renter for a compassionate companion and if you do, you can be in big trouble. A "compassionate companion" does not need to be trained, licensed, certified, etc. It merely provides "comfort and compassion" to its owner.
So that means that once you have a rental with a compassionate companion, you will not be able to keep any renter from having one because you cannot require any sort of certification, etc. Since my dogs do that, I guess they are compassionate companions.
It's getting too complicated for us.
Dale
But here is the entirely "new" concern. . . while the ADA defines service animals as DOGS only, in some cases miniature horses are permitted and I have read also that a type of monkey can be permitted. The monkey is able to open items for the handicapped person. Okay. . . Enter the FHA. . .FAIR HOUSING AUTHORITY. They have their own definitions. They don't care how qualified a potential renter is, their goal is to make sure landlords rent to anybody. . . so they further define "companion animals." This is ANY animal who provides some type of comfort to the owner. It could be a SNAKE, a FISH, ANYTHING. No license or certification is required, no questions could be asked, no paperwork needed. All it takes is for the person to call it a "compassionate companion." You cannot deny a potential renter for a compassionate companion and if you do, you can be in big trouble. A "compassionate companion" does not need to be trained, licensed, certified, etc. It merely provides "comfort and compassion" to its owner.
So that means that once you have a rental with a compassionate companion, you will not be able to keep any renter from having one because you cannot require any sort of certification, etc. Since my dogs do that, I guess they are compassionate companions.
It's getting too complicated for us.
Dale
