Rats Approved As Serivce Animals Amid Protest from Tea Party and Feds

The city council in Hesperia, CA approved a pair of rats as service animals on Tuesday, in spite of the federal government’s declaration that dogs are the only service animals and a protest by the local Tea Party.

On March 15, the federal government tightened its definition of what constitutes a service animal as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new classification sanctions only dogs and in some cases, miniature horses.

The Act was signed into law in July 1990, but it never clearly defined which animals can be used as service animals. This led to all sorts of the animals being given the privilege over the past 21 years including: pigs, cats, monkeys, snakes, lizards and others.

Hesperia’s Law

The new regulation will have an impact on the entire country, except the small town of Hesperia where the city council voted 4-1 to allow any species of animal with a doctor’s note certifying their status - to be a service animal.

The issue began earlier this month when resident Danni Moore requested the city council pass an ordinance to allow two rats that sit on her shoulders to help control seizures become service animals.

The council approved the first step of the regulation on March 1 which would allow Ms. Moore to bring her rats into public buildings and businesses.

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