Police removed a man from the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center after he insisted on bringing his dog into the Emergency Room and caused a disturbance.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man who claimed his dog was a service animal was removed from the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center Emergency Room by police after causing a disturbance.
An officer was dispatched to the ER at about 10:04 a.m. on May 28 regarding a disorderly subject. Upon arrival, the officer lasted a man who said he had been in a verbal argument with a doctor regarding the man taking his dog into the Emergency Room.
The man told the officer that his dog was a service animal and that he did not need to have identification or documentation showing what type of service he provides.
However, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the two questions that can be asked about service animals are: “Is the animal required because of a disability?” “What work or task does the animal perform?” Additionally, while a person does not need to have the animal certified in Arizona, medical documentation for a service animal is required.
While dogs have been used as service animals in various aspects – such as seeing eye dogs for the blind – due to the proliferation of people claiming their dogs as service dogs when no apparent service is actually being provided, businesses have begun to clamp down on allowing certain “service” animals on their properties.
According to the ADA, people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all “public accommodations,” including restaurants, schools, grocery stores, theaters, businesses, motel, etc. Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks or work for the benefit of a person with a disability. In some cases, a miniature horse may also qualify as a service animal, as defined by the state of Arizona’s regulations of service animals.
However, neither the ADA or Arizona’s service animal law includes “therapy dogs” or “emotional support animals.” While those animals may give comfort to owners with psychiatric or emotional disabilities or conditions, they are not trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers and public accommodations are not required to allow emotional support animals under either Arizona or federal law.
Additionally, a lawful, true service animal may be excluded from a public accommodation if it either poses a direct threat to health or safety, is not housebroken, is out of control, poses an undue burden on the establishment or if it fundamentally alters the nature of the establishment or goods or services it provides.
At MGRMC, the man and his dog were removed from the ER after hospital security requested the officer to do so.
