Can I bring my Service Animal to a Love Self-Catering property?
For guests traveling with a service animal, Love
Self-Catering will accommodate, and require our property owners to accommodate,
these animals. We will not decline or charge an extra fee to guests who have a
service animal trained to assist with their disability. This policy applies to
all homes regardless of pet policies. You should
notify us of the intended presence of any assistance dogs, prior to making a
booking.
What is a Service Animal?
An “service animal” or “assistance dog”, is generally a dog
that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an
individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be
directly related to the person’s disability. An assistance dog is not a pet and
is viewed as an extension of the person.
Some common types of service animals include:
- Guide dogs for the blind
- Hearing alert dogs for the deaf
- Seizure alert dogs
- Assistance dogs for a handler with autism or other
developmental disability or mental illness, such as Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)
Are emotional support animals considered service animals?
Emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals
because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task. They
are companion animals who help their owners cope with the symptoms of emotional
and mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
If you intend to bring an emotional support animal to a Love Self-Catering property,
you may only select a property that advertises as pets welcome. Emotional support
animals are not allowed in properties that are not described as pet friendly.
Can Love Self-Catering inquire about my service animal?
Love Self-Catering employees and property owners, caretakers
and managers can ask two questions:
Is
the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
What
work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Rights of Service Animal Handlers
Assistance dog/service animal handlers don’t have to
disclose their disability or what causes their disability, but they must be
willing to confirm that the animal is a service animal and attest to what task
the animal performs. A guest cannot be asked for any documentation for
the dog, respond to any requests for a task demonstration, or answer any
questions about the nature of their disability.
Responsibilities of Service Animal Handlers.
A service animal must always be under the control of its
handler. A service animal cannot be left alone in the property.
Service animals must be harnessed or leashed, unless the
individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere
with the service animal’s safe and effective performance of its tasks. In that
case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal,
or other effective controls.
The service animal must be trained to go to the bathroom
outside the house or only in a special place. They must pick up after the
animal and dispose of waste appropriately.