3.I. SERVICE ANIMAL POLICY The Pelican Bay Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) is committed to granting reasonable accommodations to the Foundation restrictions, when appropriate, to afford individuals with disabilities the opportunity to use and enjoy the Foundation Common Areas and Amenities. Reasonable accommodations may include waiving or varying the Foundation rules or policies to allow a member or guest with a disability to keep a service animal. A “Service Animal” is an animal that is trained to perform work or certain tasks specially related to a disability for the benefit of an individual with a disability (a “Service Animal”). Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, customarily referred to as “Emotional Support Animals”, do not qualify as Service Animals and are not granted an accommodation under the Foundation’s rules or polices for the use of the Foundation’s Common Areas and Amenities. Service animals perform many types of services for those with disabilities, including, but not limited to: A guide animal serves as a travel tool by a person who is legally blind. A service animal helps a person who has a mobility or health disability. Duties may include carrying, fetching, opening doors, ringing doorbells, activating elevator buttons, steadying a person while walking, helping a person up after a fall, etc. Service animals sometimes are called assistance animals. A seizure response animal assists a person with a seizure disorder. The animal’s service depends on the person’s needs. The animal may go for help or may stand guard over the person during a seizure. Some animals have learned to predict a seizure and warn the person. Service Animals are not considered pets under the Foundation’s policies; they are akin to necessary medical devices, such as a walker or wheelchair. Service Animals will be governed by this policy and not by the Foundation’s pet policy. The Foundation requires all members to recognize and respect the federally protected rights of individuals with Service Animals and for all individuals with Service Animals to recognize and respect the rights of other members and their expressed health and safety concerns regarding the Service Animal. All members are therefore expected to cooperate with each other to resolve any issues that may arise regarding such rights. 1. Application. 1.1 Individuals holding a Foundation issued membership card and/or their guest(s) may apply to the Foundation for reasonable accommodation to be accompanied by a Service Animal in the Foundation Common Areas and Amenities. 1.2 The Foundation’s approval of a Service Animal extends to a specific animal only and is not transferable to another animal. If circumstances change, a new application should be submitted to the Foundation. 1.3 The individual may submit a request online or in-person to the Foundation requesting reasonable accommodation for the individual’s disability. The individual is not required to disclose the nature of his/her disability. Adopted by Board of Directors 08/19/24 1.4 The individual must provide written verification that s/he has a disability, and that accommodation is necessary to give the individual an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the Foundation Common Areas and Amenities. The individual should obtain a signed letter on professional letterhead from his/her healthcare provider to the Foundation answering the following questions: 1.4.1 Is the person disabled as defined by the fair housing laws? 1.4.2 In the health care provider’s professional opinion, does the person need the requested accommodation (use of a service animal) to have the same opportunity as a non-disabled person to use and enjoy the Foundation Common Areas and Amenities? Note: If it is readily apparent that a Service Animal is trained to perform work or tasks associated with a disability, then a reasonable accommodation will be granted as requested without the need for a signed letter on professional letterhead from his/her healthcare provider. 1.5 The Foundation will not request information that discloses the diagnosis or severity of an individual’s disability or any medical records relating to the disability, however, the individual requesting the accommodation may voluntarily provide such information if so desired. The Foundation will keep the information particular to the request confidential, as is required by Florida law. 2. General Rules. 2.1 The individual must make the request for reasonable accommodation and register the Service Animal with the Foundation. 2.2 All Service Animals must be licensed in compliance with local laws. Service Animals must also be vaccinated against rabies and other diseases typically found in that animal and must wear a tag displaying its vaccinated status. 2.3 Service Animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the Service Animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents them from using these devices, in which case the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or other effective controls. 121 Pelican Bay Member Guide 2025 PelicanBay.org
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