Service animals are welcome at Keesler Published July 28, 2010 By Gregory Lewis 81st Training Wing Legal Office KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Have you ever been dining or shopping in an establishment and suddenly you notice someone in the area accompanied by an animal. Instinctively, you ask yourself, "Why that animal is permitted inside?" However, what you may not realize is the animal may be more than a companion animal or "pet" as we like to call them and is medically a "service animal." Most people have seen service animals before -- typically the large Labrador retriever or German Sheppard helping a blind person navigate his or her way. However, service animals come in a variety of sizes and breed each depending on the nature of the person's disability and the function of the animal to assist the handicapped. Although service animals can be small in nature, all are individually trained to assist individuals with disabilities. For instance, some animals are signal animals and can detect the onset of a psychiatric episode or calm the effects of one. Smaller animals may sit in the lap of a person who suffers from manic-depression, paranoia, delusional thoughts and other mental or neurotic disorders. Under the American with Disabilities Act, businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people who use service animals into all areas of the facility where customers normally go. Disabled persons who are accompanied by a service animal can't be separated from their animal, charged extra fees, isolated from other patrons, treated less favorably or be asked to remove the service animal from the premises, unless the animal is a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people with service animals. Some service animals wear special collars, harnesses or have identification papers. However, these requirements are state specific. When there is uncertainty that an animal present in an establishment at Keesler is a service animal or companion animal, the correct question for staff to ask, "Is this a service animal required because of a disability?" This eliminates the any intrusion into a person's medical condition. Additionally, requiring proof before permitting the service animal to accompany the person is a violation of the federal statute. Let's be kind and respect the privacy of disabled persons by using the proper etiquette