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Resident urges Apple Valley to allow therapy and emotional-support animals in city facilities; council leaves policy with staff
Summary
A resident asked the Apple Valley City Council to broaden facility rules to permit therapy and emotional-support animals in places such as the senior center and library; council members and staff said current policy allows service animals and that facility-level rules are delegated to staff and will not change tonight.
During the audience-participation portion of the Nov. 13 Apple Valley City Council meeting, a resident identified as Carm asked the council to change city code or policy to allow therapy dogs and emotional-support animals (not just service animals) inside city facilities, including the library and senior center.
Carm said therapy animals are commonly used in reading programs at the library and argued the code was too limiting for people who rely on non-service companion animals. "My request was to have that code changed to include, like, at least therapy dogs or emotional support animals," Carm said.
The mayor and council members responded that staff who run city facilities have the authority to set and enforce facility rules and that the current decision is not to expand access to non-service animals. The mayor noted Dakota County runs the libraries, so library-specific policy would be handled by the county. Council Member Bridal cited safety and allergy concerns and said some residents would prefer that dogs not be permitted in certain settings.
The mayor suggested Carm first discuss concerns with the relevant staff (for park and rec facilities, the mayor cited Park & Rec Director Eric Carlson) and with Dakota County for library policy. No ordinance or code change was proposed or voted on during the meeting.
Next steps: staff advised the resident to follow up with department staff or Dakota County as appropriate; council took no formal action to change city policy.
