September 2017 Coach's Quiz

We’ve busted seven myths to help you comply with fair housing rules governing assistance animals. Now let’s look at how the myths could lead to fair housing problems in the real world. Take the Coach’s Quiz to see what you have learned.

INSTRUCTIONS: Each of the following questions has only one correct answer. On a separate piece of paper, write down the number of each question, followed by the answer you think is correct—for example, (1) b, (2) a, and so on.

QUESTION #1

Under our no-pet policy, we don’t have to allow so-called “companion animals,” which are no different from common pets. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #2

Only dogs that are specially trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities qualify as assistance animals under federal fair housing law. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #3

Our community has a strict policy against pit bulls and other dangerous breeds, so we don’t have to make an exception for an applicant with a disability who says his pit bull is an assistance animal. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #4

We can require all applicants who have animals to pay a pet deposit to cover any potential property damage the animal may cause. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: b

If you picked the wrong answer, Myth #1 could be to blame:

     Myth #1: All Animals Are Pets

Assistance animals are not pets under fair housing law. They’re animals that work, provide assistance, or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provide emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability, according to HUD. Despite your no-pet policy, it’s risky to refuse to consider requests by individuals with disabilities to keep assistance animals—no matter whether they’re called service animals, therapy animals, companion animals, or emotional support animals.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: b

If you picked the wrong answer, Myth #2 could be to blame:

     Myth #2: We Only Have to Allow Service Dogs

Although the ADA limits service animals to individually trained dogs, federal fair housing law recognizes that assistance animals may include a wide variety of species, which provide various forms of assistance—including emotional support—with or without specialized training.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: b

If you picked the wrong answer, Myth #5 could be to blame:

Myth #5: We Don’t Have to Allow Pit Bulls, Even If They’re Assistance Animals

You may adopt a pet policy with a blanket rule against pit bulls and other so-called “restricted breeds,” but HUD says that breed restrictions (along with size or weight limitations) don’t apply to assistance animals. Though you can’t apply a blanket ban on certain dog breeds, HUD says that you may exclude an assistance animal when the animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others and its owner takes no effective action to control the animal’s behavior so that the threat is diminished or eliminated.

QUESTION #4

Correct answer: b

If you picked the wrong answer, Myth #6 could be to blame:

  Myth #6: We Can Require Residents to Pay Pet Deposits for Assistance Animals

You can’t require an applicant with a disability to pay a pet deposit, or any other extra fees, as a condition of allowing him to keep an assistance animal. Under the law, assistance animals are not considered pets, so you must consider reasonable accommodation requests to waive pet fees for persons with disabilities who use assistance animals.