| When we see the visually impaired with their | | | | service animal. But Rose who has to deal with |
| seeing eye dog, we think nothing of it. The | | | | emotional or mental impairments does not get |
| dog does not make us uncomfortable because | | | | afforded the same rights. |
| they are the most common pet. Dogs are man's | | | | |
| best friend so to speak. Seeing eye dogs | | | | Health Department officials met with a local |
| can go everywhere: the bus, restaurants, the | | | | service agency, the Southwest Center for |
| mall, and even the restroom. Those that are | | | | Independent Living, which is acting as an |
| visually disabled need these four legged | | | | agent for Rose. The Health Department told |
| creatures as service animals, as animals they | | | | the agency that Rose must produce some kind |
| can depend on. | | | | of federal ruling or certification that the |
| | | | monkey is a service animal under the ADA |
| So let's look at another animal: the monkey. | | | | before it will consider allowing her to take |
| We can and do pay to watch monkeys be | | | | the money into public places, said Kevin |
| exploited at a circus without a problem. We | | | | Gipson, Director of Health. |
| can go to the zoo and see them caged up, tis | | | | |
| also seems to cause no problems. We enjoy | | | | Science has shown on that a monkey can be |
| monkeys as a from of entertainment. But we | | | | domesticated. In fact, monkeys have the |
| would appear as a general public we cannot | | | | ability to actually communicate where as mans |
| deal with a monkey being in the same space as | | | | best friend (the dog) does not. Anatomically, |
| a domestic animal. | | | | monkeys are the most physically like humans |
| | | | and perform similar functions which could |
| Debby Rose of Springfield, Missouri, suffers | | | | help anyone with an anxiety problem. Meaning, |
| from an anxiety disorder (an emotional | | | | those with anxiety issues can interact with |
| disability) that makes it really difficult | | | | an animal that is very much like themselves. |
| for her to go to public places like the mall, | | | | |
| restaurants, the grocery store, and places | | | | Cynthia Magnuson, a spokesperson from the |
| like that. She has had her macaque monkey, | | | | Justice Department in Washington, told the |
| named Richard, join her in all of her | | | | Springfield News-Leader that while the law is |
| outings. Rose feels that the federal | | | | somewhat vague about emotional support |
| Americans with Disabilities Act should allow | | | | animals, there is still a law that covers the |
| Richard as her service animal. | | | | subject. We have actually prosecuted cases |
| | | | where people have had emotional support |
| There's not a lot of people are on the same | | | | animals, she said. It's kind of a fine line, |
| page as Rose. Her family says that she truly | | | | but the law errs on the side of protecting |
| cannot perform simple functions like being in | | | | individuals that are disabled. An emotional |
| public without her monkey. So here is the | | | | disability is a disability nonetheless. |
| problem, the blind population (those that are | | | | |
| physically impaired) have the right to have a | | | | Is the real problem here, the monkey? |