POLICY REGARDING NON-DISCRIMINATION FOR APPLICANTS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES
All animals deserve safe and loving homes where they are welcomed as a family member. All people, including those with disabilities, have the potential to provide and care for animals with unique and varied needs, and should have full and equal opportunity to adopt animals. It is therefore Bark Bark Wag’s policy to ensure people who have disabilities (or are members of any other category protected by state or federal law) are not discriminated against on the basis of their protected characteristics.
When evaluating whether to approve an applicant’s request to adopt, and an applicant’s choice of a specific animal, Bark Bark Wag does not require persons who have disabilities to meet standards or criteria different from those applied to persons who do not have disabilities. Bark Bark Wag does not assume that a person who has a disability has any limitations based on generalizations, stereotypes, speculation, or subjective beliefs. Bark Bark Wag conducts individualized assessments of each applicant’s present ability to meet the adoption qualifications and criteria. The same criteria is applied to applicants regardless of disability (or any other protected basis). When evaluating whether to approve an applicant’s request to adopt or their choice of a specific animal, Bark Bark Wag inquires generally about a person’s (or family’s) ability to perform animal care functions, including functions that may be unique to a particular animal’s needs. These inquiries are not made to single out any particular applicant, but are inquiries made to anyone seeking to adopt, regardless of disability or other protected characteristic. There are circumstances, depending on the specific needs of a pet, where an inability to perform certain animal care functions will result in a lawful denial of an application. It is essential that Bark Bark Wag receives complete, accurate information about the specifics and environment of applicant households in the adoption application, for the sole purpose of assessing and selecting the most appropriate homes for the individual needs of animals under our care. If an applicant is unable to meet any qualifications or criteria on their own, but can do so through the assistance of others, Bark Bark Wag will consider that assistance in its assessment. The potential assistance of others will not automatically result in satisfying the criteria for a given animal but is a factor that will be considered in an effort to meet the needs of both the applicant and the particular animal.