Where CAN'T service dogs go?

[Ruby2010]

Hi all.  In my quest to collect information, this is a question I haven't been able to find a comprehensive answer for.  What kinds of places can't you go with a service dog? 

[Nianhel]

Sterile environments such as operating rooms. Some laboratories (dangerous chemicals or procedures, and again possible contamination). Food prep areas.

[Carey]

I think some federal buildings also

[state_of_nowhere]

Places that aren't covered under the ADA aren't an automatic for public access. Native American Tribal Councils, Churches, sterile environments (think any place where "street clothes" aren't allowed), private clubs, federal court rooms, and places that are not open to the general public. This doesn't mean SDs are NEVER allowed in some of these places. Exceptions are made (eg: at the discretion of the judge, they can be allowed in the federal court room).

[Kirsten]

Is there anywhere that service dogs are not permitted?
(An article on the front end of the site)

[Kirsten]

Oh, and don't forget fundamental alteration, reasonable accommodation, and direct threat.

You can be refused access to a rescue shelter for abused cats -- fundamental alteration
You can be refused access if it would be too costly to permit it (can't think of an example off the top of my head)
You can be refused access to some amusement park rides with a service dog (dog can become a projectile) -- direct threat

You can be denied access if the dog's behavior is inappropriate, ie the dog is behaving in a dangerous or threatening manner or is out of control or disruptive (due to his own behavior, not just because people can't mind their own business).

You can be denied access to facilities where weapons are not permitted if the dog has been trained as a protection dog (ie to bite) which would therefore make him a weapon.  A dog with no attack/protection training wouldn't be considered a weapon.

[Carey]

Yeah some places that aren't covered under ADA do make acceptions on a case by case basis. Chloe goes to church and church functions with me. They don't have to allow her but they welcome her with open arms so that is one example of a place that can turn you away or make an expection

[Ruby2010]

What do you mean by private club? XD

So far it seems like mostly places I wouldn't be likely to go very often anyway.

[Kirsten]

A yacht club, a gentlemen's club, a country club...any place with exclusive membership.

[Kirsten]

Any church actually worth being a member of gladly accepts service animals.  It's actually a good test of a church's morals.  Even some Mosques allow service dogs (though not in the prayer room--for good reason).

[Ruby2010]

Well this has been helpful.  It doesn't seem like any of that would be problematic, on the off chance I needed to go to any of those kinds of places I could get a human to assist me.  What about places like doctors offices?  I know I could have never taken an SD to my old allergist, he was allergic to everything. 

[cowlypso]

Don't get me started on the allergist...  By the way, I just officially signed my state-level complaint today.  I'm pretty sure that the case worker who wrote the complaint was participating in a contest to see how many times she could use the word "accommodation" in a single sentence.

[Carey]

I don't know about allergist because I have never been to one but Chloe goes to the doctor with me. The only exception is if I know I will be having xrays or MRI's or something like that. I also don't take here if I have to go to the ER. I don't know if I could or not but usually if I am in the ER I either got there by ambulance or I'm there with someone (like one of my kids). When I was in the hospital last time (admitted and in my own room) the nurses told me a few times that Chloe could be brought in to visit but I didn't take them up on that. Of course...I live in a tiny faming community and even though the hospital is in another town about an hour from here everyone in this area knows us so it might be different in a big city or something

[cowlypso]

Okay, so the serious answer...  Your service dog can go with you to the doctor's office, because that is a place of public accommodation. 

If you will be unable to handle your dog (say you're going to have serious work done at the dentist, or having an MRI or something) you cannot expect that the office staff will take care of your dog for you (that's not their job), so you should leave the dog home.  If you're just going to the dentist for a routine check up, then the dog is probably okay.  My dentist's staff is happy to take my dog out of the room while they shoot x-rays.  I've actually never had any problems with taking him to longer tests, either (I've always called ahead to find out).  I had an MRI that I had forgotten about, so I didn't leave my dog at home that day.  So I stopped in about an hour before the appointment and asked them if arrangements could be made, or if I should drive him home and come back.  They said that it was no problem, and that he could be locked in the dressing room.  When I showed up for the appointment, the desk staff looked at him and said that there was no need for him to have to sit all alone in the dressing room, because they would be happy to have him hang with them at the desk.  But this is a case of the staff going beyond the legal requirements.  The best advice is to either leave the dog home or bring a back-up handler.

If you're going to be in the hospital, the best advice is again to leave the dog home.  If you're in the hospital, you are sick enough that you probably won't be able to fully take care of and handle the dog.  But if you are alert enough to handle the dog and can arrange for his care, then they generally can't exclude him.  When I was in the hospital for three days, the nurses said my dog could come visit, so he did (and he even crawled up into bed with me, after the nurse said it was okay).  But I'm really glad that I didn't have to worry about keeping track of him, feeding him, or toileting him while I was there.  One of the hospitals in my area will let patients' pets visit them as long as they get the proper forms filled out by the doctor and the vet. 

The allergist is sort of a gray area in the law.  The DOJ does say that allergies are not generally a reason to exlude a service dog.  The allergy would have to be so severe that it rises to the level of a disability (anaphylactic shock or similar).  So if your allergist just ends up with a runny nose, then legally that's not a good enough reason to exclude the dog.  I had an allergist before I moved that had no problem with me bringing my dog in.  Then I moved and went to a new allergist once, and after that they called me and said that I would not be allowed to bring my dog into their building because they were worried about other patients having serious reactions.  So they were arguing that the presence of the dog would be a fundamental alteration.  It is possible that a court could decide that a dog in an allergist's office could be a fundamental alteration, but no court has looked at that issue yet, so nobody knows what the answer is. 

[Ruby2010]

Hmm.  I have bad asthma quite severe food allergies, anaphylactic and others, but I do not currently have an allergy/asthma guy anymore.  He retired and I have to find a new one.  Maybe when the time comes, if I had an SD perhaps they would be willing to give me the first or last appointment of the day to cut back on how many other patients would be around.