Service Animal Policy

Service Animals as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are allowed in the library. The library will only allow therapy pets that are working in the provision of pet assisted therapy treatment and education with a certified pet assisted therapy facilitator as defined in Rhode Island General Law 40-9.1-5 (a) in the library. No other animals will be allowed in the library. Members of the public who bring animals into the library that do not fall into the above definitions will be asked to remove them from the library.

Misrepresentation of a service animal is a violation of Rhode Island law.

Any service animal or therapy pet who is not housebroken, or displays aggressive behavior or disturbs others by growling, barking, or the like, can be asked to leave. Service animals must adhere to all standard rules, regulations, and laws within both the facility and the state of Rhode Island.

All service animals and therapy pets must be harnessed, leashed, tethered, or otherwise under the complete control of the owner (in the case of a service animal) or the facilitator (in the case of a therapy pet) at all times and cannot be let loose in the library.