Animals at the Library Policy

Animals at the Library Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for animals on Library premises.

Definitions

Library Premises - includes the interior and exterior of any library building or structure, as well as the surrounding land.

Service Animal - means a dog that has been, or is being, specifically trained to assist an individual with a disability, and includes a guide dog or hearing dog.

Therapy Pet – means an animal trained as part of pet-assisted therapy treatment and allowed in the library along with a certified pet-assisted therapy facilitator.

Policy

Bringing animals inside library buildings, except for service animals as recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act and R.I. General Laws §40-9.1-2,  therapy pets as defined in R.I. General Laws §40-9.1-5 (a), or those allowed during special library programs is prohibited.

The following policy guidelines manage animals on library premises:

1. Patrons who bring animals into the library that do not meet the above criteria will be asked to remove them from the library. Failure to remove them may result in police action.
2. Misrepresentation of a service animal is a violation of Rhode Island law.¹
3. All service animals and therapy pets must be harnessed, leashed, tethered, or otherwise under the complete control of the owner (in the case of a service animal) or the facilitator (in the case of a therapy pet) at all times and cannot be let loose in the library.
4. The person using a service animal is solely liable for any damage done to persons or library premises by the service animal.²
5. If a service animal or therapy pet is not housebroken, or displays aggressive behavior or disturbs others by repeated growling and barking, the owner shall be asked to remove them from the library. Failure to remove the animal from the library may result in police action.
6. Feeding animals in the library is prohibited.
7. Dogs on library grounds must be leashed and under the control of their owners at all times.³
8. Animals may not be left on library premises unattended. 

Revision History
Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees on December 10, 2025. Replaces Service Animal Policy.

 ¹ R.I. General Laws § 40-9.1-3.1- Misrepresentation of service animal.
 ² R.I. General Laws § 40-9.1-2 - Service animals in public places.
³ Cranston Code of Ordinances § 6.08.040 - Dogs to be kept under restraint.