The Council on Aging recently created and enacted a policy regarding dogs entering the senior center, Council on Aging vehicles and the public facilities surrounding the center.

The policy, which became effective on Aug. 14, will restrict the use of service dogs. The policy is to prevent dogs who are not assisting a person with a disability from entering the facility. Part of the reason is that programs such as Meals on Wheels are managed within the center.

The policy states that when the purpose of a disability-assisting dog is “not readily apparent,” the owner may be asked two questions: “Is the dog needed in order to assist with a disability?” and “What tasks or services does the dog perform?”

The dog owner will not be asked to identify or give specifics about his or her disability.

If the dog is not required by the owner to help with a disability, then the dog will not be allowed entrance to the senior center and its facilities. A dog said to provide emotional support or personal protection does not count as a disability-assisting dog, according the guidelines of the policy.

Service dogs that do qualify to enter the facilities are asked to stay with the owner. The dog must wear a lease or harness “unless the owner’s physical disability or the specific disability-assisting tasks of the service dog precludes doing so.”

If the dog poses a threat to anyone in the facilities or urinates, defecates or vomits within the facility, the dog shall be excluded from the grounds, but not the dog owner.

The policy was drafted using state and federal guidelines. Debra Raymond, the director of the Council on Aging, said physical copies of the new policy have been posted throughout the senior center.