Protecting Service Animal Owners’ Rights

Bobbi is an adult with diabetes and physical impairments who uses a trained service dog. Her diabetic-alert dog, Auggie, jumps and barks at Bobbi when there are changes in her blood sugar levels. He also wakes her if her blood sugar alarm goes off while she sleeps and she cannot hear it. One day, while Bobbi was walking Auggie inside the apartment building, the apartment manager asked Bobbi to pick up her dog and told her that dogs were not allowed to walk inside the building. Bobbi informed her that Auggie is a diabetic-alert dog and requires the ability to jump to alert her. However, the manager told Bobbi that she must carry Auggie or use a dog stroller indoors, per the apartment management company's policy. Bobbi tried to use a stroller, but Auggie had difficulty jumping out to alert her about her blood sugar level changes. This policy hindered Auggie from performing his job, putting Bobbi at risk. Our staff worked with Bobbi and requested reasonable accommodation on Bobbi's behalf, seeking permission to walk her service animal inside the complex regardless of rules to the contrary. Management approved the accommodation request, and Bobbi can now use her service animal without interference.