1. Policy Statement
Family Promise of Puget Sound (FPOPS) is committed to promoting the safety, health, and comfort of all individuals, staff, and volunteers within our facilities. This policy outlines our guidelines regarding animals on FPOPS premises, distinguishing between service animals (which are always welcome as legally required) and other animals. We fully recognize and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Washington State law regarding service animals.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all Family Promise of Puget Sound facilities (Day Center, Night Shelter, offices, etc.), and to all individuals, staff, volunteers, and any visitors. It specifically addresses the presence and conduct of service animals and other pets within FPOPS programs and facilities, regardless of who owns or brings the animal.
3. Guiding Principles
* Legal Compliance: Adhere strictly to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Washington State law regarding service animals.
* Safety and Comfort: Balance the needs of individuals with service animals with the safety and comfort of all individuals in our communal and work environments.
* Health and Hygiene: Maintain a clean and healthy environment for everyone, particularly in a communal setting.
* Clarity: Provide clear guidelines for identifying service animals, managing their presence, and for the strict conditions under which other animals may be present.
* Respect and Dignity: Treat all individuals with dignity and respect, recognizing the vital role service animals play in the lives of people with disabilities.
4. Definitions
* Service Animal: A dog or miniature pony that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of1 an individual with a disability. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s2 disability. Examples include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.
* Emotional Support3 Animal (ESA): An animal that provides comfort or emotional support to an individual. ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability and are therefore not considered service animals under the ADA or this policy.
* Pet: Any animal kept for companionship or pleasure that does not meet the definition of a service animal.
5. Distinguishing a Service Animal from an Emotional Support Animal/Pet
To determine if an animal is a service animal, Family Promise of Puget Sound staff may ask only the following two questions:
1. “Is this animal a service animal required because of a disability?”
* The expected answer should be “yes” if it is a service animal.
2. “What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?”
* The answer should describe a specific, trained task the animal performs directly related to the individual’s disability (e.g., “The animal is trained to alert me to impending seizures,” or “The animal retrieves medication for me”).
* If the animal’s function is solely to provide comfort or emotional well-being, it is an Emotional Support Animal and not a service animal under this policy.
Staff are NOT permitted to ask:
* About the person’s disability.
* To see documentation of the person’s disability.
* To require the person to demonstrate the service animal’s tasks.
Note: While Washington State law specifically recognizes dogs and miniature ponies as service animals, Family Promise of Puget Sound will recognize any animal that performs a task as a service animal, consistent with the spirit of providing necessary accommodations.
6. Facility Rules for Service Animals
If an individual (individual, staff, volunteer, or visitor) has a service animal that meets the criteria outlined in this policy, they are welcome to bring it with them to Family Promise of Puget Sound facilities. To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone, the handler must ensure the following:
* Leash or Harness: The service animal must be kept on a leash, harness, or other tether at all times, unless the individual’s disability prevents the use of such a device or the use of a tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks. In such cases, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
* Waste Management: The handler is responsible for immediately picking up and properly disposing of all waste created by their service animal.
* Behavior Control: The handler must maintain control over their service animal’s behavior. The service animal must not be disruptive, aggressive, or pose a threat to the safety or well-being of other individuals or the facility.
7. Policy for Pets (Non-Service Animals)
Family Promise of Puget Sound understands that pets are important companions. However, to ensure the health, safety, and comfort of all individuals, the following strict conditions apply to pets:
7.1. Pets for Individuals (Shelter Program)
* Pets are not permitted inside the Day Center and Night Shelter facilities.
* Individuals may keep their pets in a secure, individual-provided kennel or carrier located outside the shelter building in a designated outdoor space, which will be communicated by staff.
* The individual is solely responsible for the care, feeding, waste management, and well-being of their pet. This includes providing all necessary food, water, and shelter for the pet in its outdoor kennel.
* The individual must immediately pick up and properly dispose of all waste created by their pet.
* Pets must be controlled at all times and must not be disruptive (e.g., excessive barking), aggressive, or pose a threat to the safety or well-being of other individuals, staff, volunteers, or the community.
* Pets must be healthy and current on all required vaccinations, as per local regulations. Individuals may be asked to provide proof of vaccination.
* Pets are strictly prohibited from entering any indoor areas of the Day Center or Night Shelter facilities, including common areas, sleeping areas, or offices.
7.2. Pets for Employees and Volunteers (Offices & Facilities)
* Pets are generally not permitted inside FPOPS administrative offices, Day Center, Night Shelter, or other indoor facilities when accompanying employees or volunteers.
* Any exception to this general rule must be pre-approved in writing by the CEO or a designated Program Director, and will only be considered in rare circumstances and with strict adherence to specific conditions (e.g., in a private office, never in communal or individual-facing areas, and only if it does not pose a distraction or allergen risk).
* Even if approved, the employee or volunteer is solely responsible for the pet’s behavior, waste management, and ensuring it does not disrupt the work environment or the comfort of others.
* Pets brought under an approved exception must be healthy, vaccinated, and house-trained.
8. Removal of a Service Animal or Pet
Family Promise of Puget Sound may ask an individual to remove a service animal or pet from our facility if:
* The animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it.
* The animal is not housebroken4 (applies to service animals inside, and pets/approved animals in designated areas).
* The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be mitigated by reasonable modification of policies or procedures. This includes aggressive behavior, excessive barking, or other disruptive conduct that fundamentally alters the nature of our services.
* For pets (individual or employee/volunteer), if the handler fails to adhere to the outdoor kennel requirement (for individuals) or other conditions outlined in Section 7.
If a service animal or pet is removed, FPOPS will make reasonable efforts to provide the individual with a disability (in the case of a service animal) or the individual/employee/volunteer (in the case of a pet) the opportunity to participate in the service, work, or program without the animal.
9. Responsibilities
* Individuals with Service Animals/Pets: Responsible for ensuring their animal adheres to all facility rules and for providing accurate information about their service animal’s tasks or their pet’s care.
* All Staff and Volunteers: Responsible for understanding and implementing this policy respectfully and consistently, knowing the permissible questions to ask, and ensuring proper adherence to all animal guidelines.
* Program Directors/CEO: Responsible for providing training on this policy, approving any exceptions for employee/volunteer pets, and addressing any complex situations or disputes regarding service animals or pets.
10. Policy Review and Revision
This policy will be reviewed annually by the CEO and Program Directors, or more frequently as needed, to ensure its continued effectiveness and alignment with current laws, regulations, and best practices.