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VETERANS AFFAIRS <br />COMMUNI'rY REINTEGRATION <br />SERVICE CENTER <br />2400 River•Road <br />Eugene, OR 97404 <br />(541345 -5395 <br />DATE December 1, 2008 <br />TO Whom It May Concern <br />FROM Susan Harrison, MSW, CSWi <br />HCHV Outreach Social Work <br />' 1 400 River Rd. Eugene OR 9, <br />(541) 344 -5339-5 office / (541) <br />RE Mr. George F. Thompson <br />1457-IL2 Water Street, Springfield, OR 97477 <br />The intent of this letter Is to ven'fvN& Thompson's dog, Sairiantha, is a Service Animal- The <br />federal civil rights law-, theAdnerican's with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title 11.1, 28 C1 See. <br />36.104 defines a Service Animal as any animal that is individuafly trained to do work or perform <br />tasks for a person with a disability (the disability may not be visible). <br />By law, a Service Animal is not considered a pet. Most ,"service Animals are dogs; they can be <br />any breed or size and are not legally required to wear special equipment or tags. The ADA does <br />not require proof or'certification"oi the service dog's training, Service Animals are trained to do <br />specific tasks for the benefit of people with physical or mental impairments. In Oregon.. animals <br />in training are subject to the same rules as Service Animals. Again, there is no mandatory <br />certification required. <br />Federal (e.g., 28 CFR See. 36.302) and state laws protect the rights of individuals with <br />disabilities to be accompanied by their trained Services Animals in taxis, buses, trams. stores, <br />restaurants, doctors'olfices. schools, parks., hotels and other public places. Federal laws which <br />protect individuals with disabilities include the ADA: the Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988); <br />Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1 The Air Carrier Access Act (1986); and other <br />regulations. <br />N If federal state.- or local laws conflict., the law that provides greater protection for The <br />individual with the disability prevail. For example, if state laws grants access only by <br />services doi)s that do guide work and the service dog in question performs work other than guide <br />work, federal law will apply. The person with the disability must be permitted access with the <br />Service Animal. I <br />The person %,vho;s accompanied by the Service Animal is responsible for its stewardship <br />(behavior, care. and well-being), must obey animal welfare laws (such as ',cash, cruelty, or other <br />similar regulations) and is liable ['or- any darnage done by the Service Animal, <br />For more information about the ADA. contact the U.S. Department of Justice. ADA information <br />Line 800/5 14-0301 or 800/5 14-0383 JDD) <br />. . b -- T <br />0 In <br />FF <br />