Open Forum

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Hi - ESAs are not required to have access to public places by law, with the exception of housing and air travel with a doctor's order. That being said, given that you're a military museum and that many of your veterans would probably have ESAs, I think it would be a very welcoming signal to your visitors if they're allowed to bring them, to provide them comfort. 

You'd have to take a look at your collections, exhibits, etc. to determine if ESAs would pose a significant risk, but if you decide you can protect your collection well enough, one way to handle it would be to admit them using the same behavioral standards that the ADA requires of service animals. One thing to consider though is that ESAs aren't limited to dogs and miniature horses - is your museum prepared to welcome pigs, birds, ferrets, etc.? It could get a little crazy...!

Our museum regularly includes therapy dogs in our Great Hall for public programs; we work with local shelters or groups to bring in dogs who have their TDI certifications, so we know they're well trained and have the right temperaments, along with liability insurance through the TDI organization. Would this be a good compromise for you? Do you think your visitors would respond well? 

Feel free to reach out to me directly about this if you'd like!

------------------------------
Sandra Smith
Vice President, Engagement and Enterprise
Senator John Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Hi Sandra,

All great points.  I like the standardization of behavior ... makes it less subjective and easier, quite frankly, to hold both to the same expectations.  I have never heard of TDI but will look into it and see if we can start building some relationships with the local shelters, as you suggested.  Definitely need to limit type of animal for the ESAs, especially since there is more flexibility.  Thanks so much for your feedback and recommendations!

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON MBA
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-09-2017 10:40 AM
From: Sandra Smith
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

Hi - ESAs are not required to have access to public places by law, with the exception of housing and air travel with a doctor's order. That being said, given that you're a military museum and that many of your veterans would probably have ESAs, I think it would be a very welcoming signal to your visitors if they're allowed to bring them, to provide them comfort.

You'd have to take a look at your collections, exhibits, etc. to determine if ESAs would pose a significant risk, but if you decide you can protect your collection well enough, one way to handle it would be to admit them using the same behavioral standards that the ADA requires of service animals. One thing to consider though is that ESAs aren't limited to dogs and miniature horses - is your museum prepared to welcome pigs, birds, ferrets, etc.? It could get a little crazy...!

Our museum regularly includes therapy dogs in our Great Hall for public programs; we work with local shelters or groups to bring in dogs who have their TDI certifications, so we know they're well trained and have the right temperaments, along with liability insurance through the TDI organization. Would this be a good compromise for you? Do you think your visitors would respond well?

Feel free to reach out to me directly about this if you'd like!

------------------------------
Sandra Smith
Vice President, Engagement and Enterprise
Senator John Heinz History Center
Pittsburgh PA

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

HI
We have been in the process of developing a policy as well. For now we determine on a case by case basis. For us the issue is mostly centered around potential allergies and interactions with our animals on our rooftop.
We have had no negative issues arise from the few occassion that dogs, cats, etc.. have been a visitor's ESA. We also have many animals on our rooftop that several of our members consider to be a form of ESA-( chickens, snakes, geckos)

We have been trying to find good welcoming language around this issue while also instituting some guidelines for ESA's that keeps everyone having a great experience in our institution.

As a side note, our HR firm doesn't have much to say about the issue, unless it is related to an employee wishing to bring an ESA to work.

Look forward to hearing what other's experiences have been.

Sincerely,
Sandra

------------------------------
Sandra Bonnici
Associate Director of Education, Diversity and Inclusion
Madison Children's Museum
Madison WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Hi Sandra,

Thank you for your feedback.  I'm more than happy to share whatever language we end up drafting for our policy with the AAM community.  Not sure if it will fit everyone since we are a military museum, but it may be a good start for other museums wanting to do the same.

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON MBA
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-09-2017 11:00 AM
From: Sandra Bonnici
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

HI
We have been in the process of developing a policy as well. For now we determine on a case by case basis. For us the issue is mostly centered around potential allergies and interactions with our animals on our rooftop.
We have had no negative issues arise from the few occassion that dogs, cats, etc.. have been a visitor's ESA. We also have many animals on our rooftop that several of our members consider to be a form of ESA-( chickens, snakes, geckos)

We have been trying to find good welcoming language around this issue while also instituting some guidelines for ESA's that keeps everyone having a great experience in our institution.

As a side note, our HR firm doesn't have much to say about the issue, unless it is related to an employee wishing to bring an ESA to work.

Look forward to hearing what other's experiences have been.

Sincerely,
Sandra

------------------------------
Sandra Bonnici
Associate Director of Education, Diversity and Inclusion
Madison Children's Museum
Madison WI

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

At Vizcaya this is an ongoing challenge. Our policy is not to allow ESA's mainly because they are not trained in the way a service animal is and can pose liability issues and possible threats to visitors and service animals that are properly trained. We follow ADA practice when we observe an individual who clearly has an animal that is not a service animal which is to ask the 2 legal questions. In most cases people answer the questions in a way that forces us to allow entry. From that point if the animal acts out in anyway outside of the expectations of a service animal such as showing aggressive behavior or barking we reserved the right to ask the visitor to remove the animal form the property.

------------------------------
Mark Osterman, Ed.D.
Adult Learning and Engagement Manager
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami, FL 33141
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your feedback.  That was actually an internal suggestion (to not let any ESAs in), but I don't think it's the right answer for us because many of our visitors will probably have ESAs (either in lieu of a service animal or while waiting to be assigned one).  Whatever our policy ends up being, however, we definitely need to take behavior into consideration and how to address it.

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-10-2017 09:30 AM
From: Mark Osterman
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

At Vizcaya this is an ongoing challenge. Our policy is not to allow ESA's mainly because they are not trained in the way a service animal is and can pose liability issues and possible threats to visitors and service animals that are properly trained. We follow ADA practice when we observe an individual who clearly has an animal that is not a service animal which is to ask the 2 legal questions. In most cases people answer the questions in a way that forces us to allow entry. From that point if the animal acts out in anyway outside of the expectations of a service animal such as showing aggressive behavior or barking we reserved the right to ask the visitor to remove the animal form the property.

------------------------------
Mark Osterman, Ed.D.
Adult Learning and Engagement Manager
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami, FL 33141

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

I recently found this article from Denver(link below) and it has some great insight on how to tell the difference between Service Animal and ESA's, and what some states doing to try to prevent people from passing their animals off as trained service animals.  I like the comparison to people who use handicapped parking spots and aren't handicapped! 

http://www.9news.com/ext/news/nation-now/article/73/6ByRRx30RyE0cW0iuGAGOA

------------------------------
Lyne Johnson
Office Manager
Boot Hill Museum
Dodge City KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Hi Lyne,

This is very helpful!  Thanks!

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-10-2017 10:51 AM
From: Lyne Johnson
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

I recently found this article from Denver(link below) and it has some great insight on how to tell the difference between Service Animal and ESA's, and what some states doing to try to prevent people from passing their animals off as trained service animals.  I like the comparison to people who use handicapped parking spots and aren't handicapped!

http://www.9news.com/ext/news/nation-now/article/73/6ByRRx30RyE0cW0iuGAGOA

------------------------------
Lyne Johnson
Office Manager
Boot Hill Museum
Dodge City KS

Original Message:
Sent: 11-08-2017 12:22 PM
From: ZELPHA ANDERSON
Subject: Emotional Support Animals

​I am researching how other museums are handling the issue of allowing emotional support animals (as opposed service animals) into their facilities and would like your input. We are clear on the service animal issue but ESAs pose a different challenge. Do any of your museums allow ESAs and, if so, what is your criteria, how did you develop it, and do you have any lessons learned – positive or negative – thus far? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Reply

------------------------------
ZELPHA ANDERSON
Chief, Visitor Services
National Museum of the United States Army
Fort Belvoir VA
------------------------------