Service Dog Policy – ADA Compliance
At AJS Lodge & Oven, we welcome guests with disabilities who are accompanied by service dogs in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This policy is committed to ensuring equal access and a respectful experience for all visitors.
What Is a Service Dog?
Under the ADA, a service dog is a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability. The work or task must be directly related to the person’s disability. Examples include guiding individuals with visual impairments, alerting to sounds for guests with hearing loss, pulling a wheelchair, reducing the impact of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety or PTSD, or helping with seizure response.
Service dogs are working animals, not pets, and are distinct from emotional support animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, or companion animals, which are not service dogs under the ADA because their primary role is to provide comfort rather than perform specific trained tasks.
Where Service Dogs Are Allowed
Service dogs are permitted to accompany their handlers in all areas of our lodge and dining facilities where guests are normally allowed to go. This includes guest rooms, common areas, and outdoor spaces accessible to guests. We do not require service dogs to be confined to specific rooms or areas.
No Documentation or Certification Required
We do not require any documentation, registration, certification, or special identification for your service dog. Under the ADA, you may be asked only two questions when it is not obvious the dog is a service animal:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
We cannot ask about the nature of your disability, require medical documentation, or ask that your dog demonstrate its task.
Care and Supervision
Handlers are responsible for the care and supervision of their service dogs, including feeding, toileting, grooming, and behavior. Service dogs must be under control at all times (leashed, harnessed, or tethered unless disability prevents), and well‑behaved so they do not disrupt other guests.
When a Service Dog May Be Excluded
While rare, there are limited circumstances when a service dog may be asked to leave, such as if the dog is not housebroken or is out of control and the handler cannot regain control. In these instances, we will still provide goods and services to the handler without the presence of the service dog.
Fees, Deposits, and Policies
We do not charge additional fees, deposits, or cleaning charges for guests with service animals beyond what is charged to other guests. If damage occurs in a guest room, standard damage policies apply equally.