LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 108.02 Service Animals in the Workplace
  PROCEDURES
  1. The owner/handler must advise management immediately of the presence of a service animal in the workplace. Management can ask if the animal is a service animal and what task the animal has been trained to perform.
     
  2. Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department) employees may not ask questions about the service animal’s owner’s disability.
     
  3. DMH employees may not ask for certification or a special ID card as proof of the animal’s training, and the person with a disability using a service animal may not be required to use a specific entrance, exit or area within DMH’s facilities.
     
  4. The owner/handler of the service animal should be informed of the DMH policy on “Service Animals in the Workplace.”
     
  5. DMH is not responsible for the care (food, water, etc.) of a service animal, or for providing a special location for the service animal to relieve itself.
     
  6. Service Animal Etiquette and Standards of Behavior
     
    1. When the owner/handler of a service animal is an DMH employee, he/she must provide a sign in their work area notifying co-workers, clients and visitors of the presence of the service animal.
       
    2. DMH managers may need to provide accommodation to other workers and clients who may have animal-related allergies or fears.
       
    3. DMH employees shall not touch/pet a service animal, or the person it assists without permission. Petting a service animal when the animal is working distracts the animal from its tasks, and touching the person without permission may provoke an unwanted reaction from the animal.
       
    4. DMH employees shall not make noises at the service animals; it may distract the service animals from doing their job.
       
    5. DMH employees shall not feed the service animals without permission as it may disrupt the service animal’s schedule. 
       
    6. The owner/handler of any service animal that makes unsolicited contact with anybody other than the owner/handler or shows aggression toward people or another service animal will be directed to remove the service animal from the premises.
       
      1. Unprovoked aggressions will result in permanent removal from the workplace.
         
      2. Provoked aggressions will be reviewed and appropriate corrective action will be taken to prevent future provocation.
         
    7. Owners must ensure their service animal is able to lie quietly beside their owner without blocking aisles, doorways, etc.
       
    8. DMH employees shall not separate or attempt to separate an individual from his or her service animal.
       
    9. A service animal should stay within 24 inches of its owner/handler at all times unless the nature of a trained task requires it to be working at a greater distance.
       
    10. The owner/handler is responsible for all service animal needs including:
       
      1. Providing for all of the service animal’s needs (food, water, etc.).
         
      2. Providing appropriately scheduled exercise and hygiene walks outside the premises.
         
      3. Removing or arranging for the removal of the service animal needs including removal of all animal waste.
         
    11. The owner/handler with a service animal that poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others will immediately be directed to remove the service animal from the workplace.
       
    12. Employees, clients, or visitors who bring a non-service animal (pet) to a DMH workplace will be directed to remove the animal immediately to an appropriate and safe location. 
       
      1. If the owner of the non-service animal is a DMH employee, the time required to complete the animal removal activity will be treated as unpaid leave and may be subject to disciplinary action.
         
    13. Violators of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can be required to pay monetary damages and penalties.