My mother has been living in AL for 1 year and is now having problems with pets at the facility. Does anyone have experience with this?

My understanding as an activity professional dogs fit into these categories:
Service Dog - this dog I able to go anywhere the owner goes and it is no longer allowed by law to ask the owner for proof of being a Service Dog. The Service Dog is trained for specific tasks for a specific individual and should not be wandering into others rooms. It should also be leashed.

Therapy Dog: A Therapy Dog is a dog that is well-trained by professionals and can visit from room-to-room however; it is standard protocol for the owner to ask each patient if they would like a Therapy Dog visit. They should not be off a leash when around patients and should be highly trained to respond to directions.
Having a "Therapy Dog" in and out of an office area all day does not constitute what the intent of a therapy dog is for.

Comfort Pets: Comfort pets are NOT protected by the same guidelines as a Service Dog. “Comforting” or “giving love”, although clinically proven to be beneficial for people, is not acknowledged as a trained “task” by the Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA. (Is a ‘Comfort Dog’ a Service Dog?By joann_turnbull on February 21, 2009 at 7:00 AM).
The so called Comfort Dog" should not be allowed in food areas or patient rooms and should be with the owner in his office only - if in fact he really needs it there.
My guess is you hit the nail on the head. The owner thinks he has found a way to have his dog at work daily. You could call the health dept and ask them to do an inspection.
The down side is that you can register your dog online and get real cool looking credentials that really mean nothing. If someone says this is a comfort dog it is not allowed in a restaurant, theaters, etc. Unfortunately we are seeing more Service Dogs because the ADA states you can not ask for proof of the task so once someone says " this is a "service dog" it can go anywhere. It should also be leashed.
Good luck and you have options. Contact local agencies re: this pet in food areas and regarding misc. pets of leash as well. It should not be happening unless it is in a specified area with the owner only.

Good to know this is something to ask about when checking out places. My mom would be absolutely miserable without any animals around. I worry she will come unglued if she can't take her cat should that day come. Guess I better start putting together my list. Just like pet-friendly hotels.

cak2135 - "the man" in question IS the owner.

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-more-hospitals-are-letting-pets-visit-their-sick-owners
Also, it would be a disservice for pets to not come visit, it’s very therapeutic. All that needs to be changed are behaviors of the humans i.e. toys on the floor and pets should always be leashed - that’s a given.

see below 

I would not choose a nursing home or AL for myself or my husband if they did not allow children and pets. That said, everyone's tastes are different and this is something that should be understood up front.

That cotton picking NH has a man who won't keep his dog on a leash? Make him; go after him yourself if the NH won't. Bark orders at the man. I just love to bark orders

Reminder: This is an Assisted Living not longterm care. Animals are not allowed in longterm care unless...a certified service dog. Residents are allowed animals as long as they take care of them. If they can't care for them, then they aren't allowed. I would start with the owner and explain that your Mom does not like dogs and to keep this in mind when he allows his dog to wander about the place. If this "is" a service dog, he wouldn't be jumping on people.

Igloo572

ALL dogs have hair NOT fur!
Fur bearing animals are mostly wild animals like mink(raised by some for their soft fur) Be that as it may, people should not be exposed to any animal they aren't comfortable with. There are true "Service Dogs" and these are allowed in dining rooms (note guide dogs for the blind etc.) Not aware that any animals are allowed in kitchens that prepare meals for the public!

My sister lives in a memory care community, among the residents are several dogs, two cats, caged birds, some fish tanks... Actually, it was a feature that drew us to this place. The caregivers are encouraged to bring their children on some weekends. All this makes a homier environment to those of us who like that sort of thing. It was obvious when we visited that there were free-roaming animals, and if we didn't like that, we would have looked elsewhere.
The animals are attended to, the carpets cleaned regularly (mostly due to human messes, not the animals) and misbehaving animals are sent away.
It is a personal choice, and one of the considerations when choosing a facility for our loved ones, and an excellent question to ask - before moving in - whether or not animals are allowed.

I've visited numerous AL facilities and one did have a resident dog that was very well trained. Individuals were allowed to bring their animals for visits. There are comfort dogs and should be certified. There are many facilities that have therapy dogs that visit residents and it's been proven to help with anxiety and calms them. The therapy animals are never off leash. If resident dogs are allowed to pee and poop at will anywhere that's a different story. I understand not everyone appreciates dogs or any animal for that matter but before you sign the papers you should be aware of this. You should make it known that your Mom/Dad would prefer no interaction with the animals.

It never occurred to me that people would have problems with animals being in long term care facilities. Even when my dad was at a rehabilitation center, they welcomed animals there.
My dad is now in a veteran's home and they have 2 resident cats and 2 resident dogs. I would imagine that they don't let them into the kitchen but they can roam anywhere else. The residents there love them and they are pet and held regularly. When I bring my dad's dog (which is mine now), I'm quickly surrounded by wheelchairs and walkers because they all want to pet him. They even have a large cage with birds in it -- so did the rehabilitation center he was previously at.
I was thrilled to see the animals there and would have been disappointed if they weren't.
This veterans home is run by the state and is better run/kept and cleaner than any other local facility we looked into.
Anyway, if animals are not wanted and are a big concern, than that should be the first question for the administration office when checking out a place. it should also be written into the contract so there won't be a misunderstanding later.
God bless

CTTN55: The dog did have a harness of some sort; can't remember if he had a vest. I was worrying about something else at the time. Since animals can raise anxiety in some people, I'm not for using dogs in the ER. Most people there already are anxious enough.

I would think the presence of animals would be a welcome diversion. I know I would enjoy it.

Rainmom and Igloo572, what wonderful responses! Looks like "comfort" animals aren't regulated at all in many states in elder facilities. I LOVE Igloo's idea of getting the evidence via camera.

karenbrown has described the way a therapy dog should be used. The dog that LittleBear described in that hospital was absolutely being utilized inappropriately. That handler should have asked before imposing his animal on every patient. "Comfort" dog does NOT equal "Therapy" dog. LittleBear, I'm curious...did that dog that upset your father have the "Therapy dog" vest? I suspect it didn't. 

And while we're at it, can we keep the children out too?

What a great question to ask for National Pet Month! I am biased about this because I love dogs. I think there are pros and cons to having dogs in a facility. Studies have shown that children growing up with dogs are healthier than children who don't have pets. Google it! I'm not sure how that works with seniors. Why do you think dogs are any unhealthier than people? Don't people throw up? Don't people spread disease? A person won't catch distemper or other dog diseases from a dog. Rabies, yes. But, dogs must be vaccinated for rabies by law. There are a few dog health conditions that can be spread to humans but a healthy dog should not be a problem.

Dogs have also been shown to cheer people up and keep them emotionally healthier. What about the residents without relatives to visit or interact with? Isn't it nice for them to have a cheerful furry companion to make them smile? There are a lot of positive emotional benefits to having dogs in a facility. Why deprive other residents of a bright spot in their day because of a personal dislike. I'm sure that is a way to compromise.

My dog was visited by a therapy dog when he was in the hospital. If a dog is allowed in a hospital then why wouldn't they be allowed in nursing homes? Hospitals must know about the impact of dogs on health or they would not do it. Nature is in our DNA. It has been proven that looking at trees while healing makes you heal faster. Maybe petting dogs is also just as healing. Embrace nature. Don't fight it.

What a great question to ask for National Pet Month! I am biased about this because I love dogs. I think there are pros and cons to having dogs in a facility. Studies have shown that children growing up with dogs are healthier than children who don't have pets. Google it! I'm not sure how that works with seniors. Why do you think dogs are any unhealthier than people? Don't people throw up? Don't people spread disease? A person won't catch distemper from a dog. Rabies, yes. But, dogs must be vaccinated for rabies by law. The only disease I'm aware of that dogs can spread to humans is strep throat and I've never had a dog that had strep throat so I'm not sure if it's common. Dogs have also been shown to cheer people up and keep them emotionally healthier. What about the residents without relatives to visit or interact with? Isn't it nice for them to have a cheerful furry companion to make them smile? There are a lot of benefits to having dogs in a facility. Why deprive other residents of a bright spot in their day because of a personal dislike. I'm sure that is a way to compromise.

My dad was greeted by a therapy dog when he was recovering in the hospital. If dogs are allowed in hospitals I don't see why they would not be allowed in nursing homes. Medical studies must back up the impact on health or they would not allow it. By the way, did you know that patients in rooms with a view of trees recover faster than patients with no views of trees?  Nature is in our DNA. Don't run from it. Embrace it!

Must be a new trend. I was in the ER with my dad recently and someone came through with a comfort dog. The visitors enjoyed it, but the patients did not. I love dogs, but I asked the handler to remove the dog from our room since my dad had his own problems to contend with and gets stressed by the presence of animals who sniff, jump, and otherwise are just themselves. This needs to be very carefully thought out. I would let management and the administration know about the situation.

I have a therapy dog that I take to nursing homes. We had to pass a test, take classes and need to re-certify every 2 years. I have to show his certification and vet records to every facility I go in. It is a requirement that they are never off leash and must always wear the therapy dog vest. Most residents love the visits but I always ask every resident if they like dogs before I take my dog near them. I respect their answer if they tell me they are afraid or just don't like dogs. And I remember who likes and who doesn't like dogs for future visits.
I also get annoyed by people who claim to have a therapy dog and don't have the vest on. It costs money to train and certify a therapy dog and if you see a dog without the vest they most likely are not certified.

Thanks guys, these are great answers and I will follow up accordingly. Thanks a lot.

Rainmom - awesome info! platinum stars for you!

amitebird - I have a suggestion & it will entail either you putting on your best Nancy Drew or getting a grandkid to put on their best Veronica Mars….. there will be a pattern to the poodle's route. This is a big standard poodle isn't it? (Folks like them cause they are pretty smart and have hair rather than fur so less doggy smell.) You all take photos & videos with the phone & especially the trek into the kitchen & any scattered dog toys or dog sh*t. I'd aim to get several different days. Jumping on residents especially good. Download all onto flash drives. I'd do 4, you don't need much room so 10GB is plenty room. Those are often given out free at community events or trade shows. So if you or you have family who goes to trade shows, they may have several lying about unused as they are kinda too small to do any real work with. Do a brief cover Memo on the poodle concerns without your name.

Then you anonymously mail a drive to:
-State Dept of Health - Facilities Inspection Division
- whichever local TV station has an "action reporter"
- the ombudsman for this facility or if there isn't one as its AL and not a NH, then to whomever is the head of the ombudsman program at the Area on Aging for your city or region.
- and the last one you keep.

If this AL is part of a chain - like Brookdale or Atria - I'd do another drive & send to corporate HQ & addressed to head of community affairs/outreach.

Dogs & their gear are high on the reason for falls. If someone should get bit, that's another concern.
Liability will be huge.

I found this site on line. Hit the link below or copy and paste and it will take you to information published by the University of Iowa regarding the topic of animals in nursing homes. Scroll down paste the first 20 or so mini pages and you find information broken down by state. If could be helpful.

https://nhlp.law.uiowa.edu/sites/nhlp.law.uiowa.edu/files/NHLP-AnimalsinNursingHomes.pdf

I agree with NYDaughterinLaw - my dad is in a nursing home. a couple of times a week a dog is brought in to visit - well trained, on a leash, and only for the residents who enjoy him. My dad likes to brush him. Otherwise, my dad's nursing home has a cat that stays there in the public areas. Alot of residents enjoy having the cat sit in their laps and they pet it. This cat is clean and gentle.

But NO animals go into kitchen/dining areas or in the resident's rooms. Only the public areas. The caregivers also know and have communicated to the dog handler which patients like / do not like dogs and this is very much respected.

sounds like some owners are getting lazy and bring a pet in when it should be home.

There isn't a state in the country with a health department that allows animals in the kitchen, food preparation areas, or in dining rooms. There isn't a state where dogs are allowed to be walked off leash in public areas. Write to the health department - provide descriptions of the dogs and the dates you observed the behavior - and copy the AL's director. That will get their attention real quick.

This was one of my pet peeves (pun intended) with my mom's memory care facility

A year ago when mom was mobile but very unsteady with a walker - the place had two old house dogs and residents had at least three others including one the size of a German Shepard that would dash through the place as a dog will

Then there's the staff that brings their dogs and their kids to work as well - mayhem and memory care don't mix well

The most egregious part of all this was that there's no one to take care of the menagerie after 5 pm so of course the dogs are in the dining room and when they have to go they pee and poop all over the place

Unfortunately, some of these pets have died and now there's just one old house dog who's so grumpy he has bitten several times including children visiting the facility

We had a dog for nearly 15 years so it's not that I don't like them but somewhat like kids - you may love your own but somebody else's - not so much

I admit it - I'm a dog lover. In fact, I wish more humans were like dogs. Dogs don't know how to lie.

If the management told you one thing when you moved mom in and are now doing something else - yeah, I'd be ticked off as well.

I think a call to the health department may be problematic in that - they'll likely send a health inspector but you're gambling on odds that the dog will be in the kitchen at the time the inspector shows up. Although, the visit in itself - based on a complaint might get the owner to leash his dog - at least for awhile - until the owner gets all entitled and lazy again. 

With this being the owner who is bringing the dog in - you may be between a rock and a hard place. No one to go over his head to. In this situation- your ombudsman is probably your best shot.

Do take a good look at the rent agreement- usually there's a rules and regs page. See if there is any rule in writing that the owner is breaking. If that is happening you may have a legal leg to stand on. But then bringing in an attorney always runs the risk of backlash against your mom - and you don't want that.

It sucks. Just one more thing the elderly have to put up with - the constant loss of control over their own lives and environment must eat away at their very core.

On a side note - I'm the biggest b*tch in the neighborhood- no pun intended- when it comes to leashing dogs and picking up poop. One man has changed his route because I'd yell at him from my window - lol, I'm sure the neighborhood kids call me "Crazy, Old Lady Rainmom". Anyhoo - poor dogs, it's not their fault!  And yes, I have a sister-in-law who fraudulently takes her dog on planes and into restaurants. It makes me completely insane!

When we moved in we were told that about once a week they were bringing in a pet for everyone to visit with. Also they were allowed to visit in rooms, but must always be on leashes. I never imagined a dog would be allowed in the dining room or the kitchen. This is very recent. I think they're slipping. I will check with the state to get the rules and go forward from there.

I think there are state rules about safety, hygiene and heath in all long term care facilities. I'd check with your state to report the matter. Also, see if there is an Ombudsman who can help intervene.

I think it's awful how so many people get on this "service animal" boat and claim their average pet is a service animal. It's so pathetic. It takes away from the true service animals

There are a lot more facilities out there that don't allow pets than those that do.

Surely you were aware that this facility allowed pets when you moved in?