Laws for service dogs?

by **adare** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:31 pm

I am currently renting a home from a family member. And I have a 3 year old daughter with severe epilepsy. Now we are thinking of getting a service dog for her. Since her siezures hit at any point in time. During the day or night. Now my family and I have no contract for renting since we are family. But they said no pets. Not even fish. So I'm wondering by law in WA state can I get a service dog and they can't really do anything about it. I don't mind a rent increase either. But family I'm renting from would rather treat us like tenants not family. So just wondering what I can do. Since we can't get the seizures. Under control with meds yet. She's currently on 2 different adult doses of zonegran and keppra.

by **sebastiano53** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:32 pm

I am currently renting a home from a family member. And I have a 3 year old daughter with severe epilepsy. Now we are thinking of getting a service dog for her. Since her siezures hit at any point in time. During the day or night. Now my family and I have no contract for renting since we are family. But they said no pets. Not even fish. So I'm wondering by law in WA state can I get a service dog and they can't really do anything about it. I don't mind a rent increase either. But family I'm renting from would rather treat us like tenants not family. So just wondering what I can do. Since we can't get the seizures. Under control with meds yet. She's currently on 2 different adult doses of zonegran and keppra.

Service animals are usually allowed a lot of places that "pet" animals are not.(stores, etc.)
Legally, they may be able to do something about it like kick you out, since you signed no contract, but if it is that big of a problem, then I would go and find somewhere else to live where they allow dogs.

by **salvadore94** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:33 pm

Service animals are allowed by LAW to be permitted in ANY location in which the disabled individual is. This does include where ever you live. The landlords are not allowed to raise rent. Imagine if they raised your rent because your daughter was on medication. It is the same principal. You can always go down to your local police station and confirm this. Most officers are more than willing to help :)

Also, any business which denies access to a location can be punishable by law since they are technically breaking the law. What you can do is find the exact clause which states this and copy it and keep it in your purse or wallet.

by **curney13** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:42 pm

No you cant i know it sucks but you may try to talk them into it but theres no legal loop hole even if they say no i say just get the dog and see whether or not they do anything I owned and trained a service dog (in her prime was the number 1 meth findinh dog in the country) and when i moved into a new apartment they said no dogs over 30 pounds and said i could keep her there sp she went back to the company i got her from i moved in and realized altho they say thay they dont actually enforce it whatsoever my friends dog is 50 pounds, the guy across the street has 2 boxers, and this guy down the road a little has 3 pitbulls

by **bergh39** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:46 pm

No you cant i know it sucks but you may try to talk them into it but theres no legal loop hole even if they say no i say just get the dog and see whether or not they do anything I owned and trained a service dog (in her prime was the number 1 meth findinh dog in the country) and when i moved into a new apartment they said no dogs over 30 pounds and said i could keep her there sp she went back to the company i got her from i moved in and realized altho they say thay they dont actually enforce it whatsoever my friends dog is 50 pounds, the guy across the street has 2 boxers, and this guy down the road a little has 3 pitbulls

The service that would provide your service dog can answer all your questions far more accurately than anyone here. Contact the Epilepsy service dog organization for Washington State and ask them. I would be very surprised if your landlord can refuse to allow you to have a Service dog, but all States have different laws.

by **shipley** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:53 pm

If you can FIND a service dog organization willing to train and place in such circumstances, then any landlord cannot discriminate against a legitimate service dog. But no organization will place a dog into an unstable situation to work with such a young child - she needs medical attention to get her seizures under control, and when she is a teenager she can look into being trained WITH a dog that will be able to help her deal with seizures.

What you want is a dog that will detect seizures before they occur, and there is no one on the planet who can train a dog to do so - some can, some can't and some that can detect them can't be trained to reliably alert you properly that they are occurring. The place organization will train a dog to seek help, carry medication, etc, and then they hope that the dog will someday catch on and learn how to alert before the seizure occurs - in order to be useful in the trained tasks, the dog needs to be working with someone that is old enough and independently functioning enough to have situations where they are alone with the dog, and probably alone outside of the home. Your daughter is too young to be put into any situation where there is NOT a caring adult present that could do everything that a service dog could do and more.

Good luck!

Advertisments:

Useful Links: