The Act prohibits discriminations against any person “because of race, color, sex, religious creed… handicap or disability, or…due to use of a guide or support animal…or because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals.” Denying such persons access to public accommodations is prohibited.ĭenying access to puppy raisers “happens occasionally,” said Guide Dog Foundation Communications Director William Krol, with states differing on the issue. Rosan has maintained that as a puppy raiser she was protected under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Puppies are subsequently returned to the Foundation for formal training as guide dogs. Puppy raisers foster the dogs from the time they’re about eight weeks to 14 months old, teaching them essentials of house training, obedience and socialization.

The settlement will include another confidential document and a letter of apology signed by Rosan, Coburn said.Īn Ardmore resident and former part-time Haverford Free Library employee, Rosan filed a complaint with PHRC after she was not permitted to visit the Haverford Township Free Library with Henry, a puppy she was raising for Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, New York. And if the puppy causes a disturbance in a public accommodation the puppy raiser must remove the dog at once, Coburn said.

Additional terms provide that such puppies must be at least six months old. Reviewing general terms of a pending consent order, Rosan’s attorney Lawrence Coburn said parties agree that puppy raisers working with organizations that train and raise puppies for service as guide/support dogs for the disabled will be deemed handlers or trainers of support animals, as those terms are used in Section 5(i)(1) of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. HAVERFORD – A Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission public hearing concerning allegations that the Haverford Township Free Library discriminated against Deborah Rosan, who raises puppies intended to serve as disability support animals, adjourned quickly Tuesday when parties reached a pre-hearing settlement.

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