Legal Question in Disability Law in California

I have a business and a service animal is placed in a shopping cart. I feel that it is unsanitary for the animal to be in a shopping cart. Customers use this cart for there groceries. I cannot find anything online to print and show the customers that these animals are not allowed. My question is if I am correct and where can I locate this documentation?


Asked on 11/04/12, 1:04 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Deborah Barron Barron Law Corporation

I do not think there is anything in the law that discusses whether a service dog can be placed in a shopping cart. You have to allow service dogs in your place of business to accompany their owner and they must be close to their body. Since small children can sit in the front part of the cart, I would think a small dog could also ride there in a similar manner. As for the main part of the cart, I think it would be unreasonable for the dog to ride in there since they would be further away from the owner. The dog's service is to assist its owner in different ways depending on the disability. The dog may need to be close if they are to detect something such as a stroke or seizure. Some people with mental illness use the dogs to calm and comfort them and so the dogs need to be close to control anxiety attacks.

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Answered on 11/05/12, 10:55 am


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