The Arlington School Board is considering a formal ban on petting dogs that are working as service animals.
As part of a July 22 Policy Committee meeting, School Board members reviewed a proposal to officially require that students and staff refrain from extraneous interactions with service animals, including petting them.
The change would add the following language into the service-animal policy:
“A service animal is not a pet and is not an emotional support animal. Students and staff may not approach the animal or attempt to pet it. The service animal is there to do its job and not for any other purpose.”
The change was the most significant in the five-year review of the policy that was described as “straightforward” by APS staff. Public comments will be accepted at a School Board meeting in late August, with adoption expected to follow.
In addition to dogs, miniature horses are allowed in Arlington school facilities if trained as service animals. Some individuals with disabilities prefer service miniature horses because of their longer active-service availability (up to 20 years) and reduced levels of allergens compared to canines.
An APS spokesperson told ARLnow that he was not aware of any miniature horses currently used for that purpose locally.
Service animals support individuals with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disabilities, according to the policy. The owner or handler of a service animal is responsible for its supervision and care — including feeding and cleanup — while on school property.
Photo via Donald Teel/Unsplash
