Sorry, No Dogs

NOTICE for entering Depot Park: The City of Whitefish has notified us of the following ordinance prohibiting dogs (and other animals) from attending special events such as Whitefish Arts Festival:

City of Whitefish Ordinance 117, 5-1-1916, of City Code Section 7-3-3.B.4. “No owner, keeper, attendant or harborer of any dog, cattle, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, fowl or like animal shall allow or permit any such animal in or upon any public park within the City during any organized athletic event, or special event authorized or permitted by the City, providing and excepting herefrom owners of seeing eye dogs or dogs for the hearing impaired.”

The 2010 revision to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a “service animal” as a dog that has been 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.

The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. A dog that is in training to become a service animal is not considered a service animal.

Comfort Animals

Comfort or emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals. The key difference between a service animal and a comfort animal is that a service animal is trained to do work or perform tasks, whereas a comfort or emotional support animal is not.

Service animals in training, comfort animals, and pets are subject to the park’s pet regulations and are not allowed.

Thank you for your understanding,

Shannon Fremont-Smith
WAF Director