There is an article in the LA Times, dated July 18th:
"A seeing-eye ferret? Now 'service animal' defined more narrowly"

<http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/18/health/la-he-service-cats-20110718>

According to this article, "the government" has issued a new definition
for Service Animal. The new definition says:

"Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work
or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability,
including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other
mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic,
trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this
definition."

Does anyone know anything about this? I don't know what "the
government" in this context means. State? Federal? Since the Americans
with Disabilities Act is federal, it *should* be the federal
government. Is this clarification due to a court decision? An agency
ruling? An Act of Congress? (is Congress doing anything other than
arguing about the debt ceiling right now?)

Anyone know any more about this? Seems to me it's a major blow to the
very concept of service animals. It completely invalidates "Helping
Hands", for instance; the agency that trains Capuchin Monkeys to assist
quadriplegics. And pretty much ignores the idea of psychological
support.

-Claire

[Posted in FML 7135]