Animal Policy

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor endeavors to be welcoming and accommodating to all persons. The following guidelines indicate what is expected of a person bringing a service dog into the church, and what is expected of members of the congregation in helping to make the experience positive for everyone involved.

With the exception of service dogs, the presence of animals, (e.g., pet dogs and cats) in the church building, shall be limited to special occasions, organized and supervised by members of the church. Service dogs, on the other hand, have free access to the building. As defined by the American Disabilities Act, a service dog is any dog assisting a person with a disability. Service dogs directly assist their owners with daily tasks and are meant to be with their owners at all times. Certification of training is not required, although most persons who use service dogs do have an ID of some sort for their dog. Types of service dogs include dogs for the blind, hearing and signal dogs for the hearing impaired, and assistance dogs that help by picking things up, pulling wheelchairs, etc.

In the sanctuary, the service dog shall remain on the floor, adjacent to the person responsible. In general, the service dog shall be kept on a leash, off the furniture, and under control of the individual using the dog. Regarding food service areas, common sense shall prevail, with consideration given to the guided person’s right to utilize their dog to maintain independence and mobility.

The person bringing the service dog into the church building shall be financially responsible for any damage caused by the animal. It is expected that the person bringing the animal into the building will inform the minister or church officers of any safety issues, special considerations, or dangers the animal may pose to children or adults in attendance, so that these concerns can be addressed and shared with the congregation when appropriate. Since a service dog is a working dog, members of the congregation should not seek verbal or physical contact with the dog by beckoning or calling, or attempting to engage the dog in play, and should not pet the dog.