Why can I not refuse guests with service animals?

[Vivian860]

I am at a loss...AirBnB says we HAVE to accept service dogs. This is not ok with my homeowners insurance or my attorney. As a host I have to consider all this:

- Other guests with allergies

- Service animal potty in/on furniture

- Scratching up wood floor

- Tearing up furniture or fabric decor

- Barking (I have other guests in the same building)

- Dog not being on a leash

- Picking up after animal and where do they discard that

- Dog attacking my dog, guests, etc. whos insurance will cover that attack?

- Renting a fabric cleaner to remove pet allergens 

This is simply unacceptable and AirBnB must side with hosts and not guests. I have a house rule that excludes pets; this should undoubtedly include service animals. There are plenty of other hosts that are fine with accepting animals but the hosts that do not should not be required to accept them just because hey are deemed 'service' animal. 

I think AirBnB should give hosts that do not accept service animals or any animal the option of holding an extra down payment of our choice; incase damages are done and cleaning, show proof of guest's homeowners/tenant insurance policy that has coverage for their pet, no continual barking or they must leave and must be leashed at all times when on the premises. 

[Sarah977]

@Brian2036  My dog also adopted me, not the other way around. Appeared at my house at the age of 5/6 months, 13 years ago, looking healthy, not starving, not mangy, not abused. No idea where she came from, but she's been guarding me and my place ever since. 

She's a big hit with guests. Has a big bark, doesn't bite. Same color as yours.

I definitely consider her "my dog". The cat is a different story. Couple years ago a guest asked me what the cat's name was. I said it didn't have a name, because I was still in denial about having a cat, not being a cat person. The guest named the cat.

[Sarah4009]

@Sarah977 

Sounds like you allow guests to bring dogs when visiting your place...?

[Sarah977]

@Sarah4009  100% no. I have a no pets listing. My dog is an alpha female and doesn't abide with other dogs in her territory. 

Not to mention I have never allowed any dog I've had on the furniture or the bed, nor have they been destructive. And my dog won't even pee in my yard, she trots off to an empty field. I don't need guests who sleep with Fido, let him chews things up, and leave poo piles in the yard.

I love my dog, but I'm not one of those people who just love dogs in general. Or rather, I like dogs, but not the behavior some dog owners allow.

[Sarah4009]

@Sarah977 

@Kristin108 

FOLLOW UP:

Successful resolution so can't  thank you all enough for your support  and suggestions, with a special shout out to Kristin who told me not to give up. It took many messages & phone but someone at Airbnb finally"got" it and changed cancellation status to one done by Airbnb  (not me) & refunded the $100 "penalty" it had taken for saying I me canceled.

This situation is truly a nightmare for hosts. The Airbnb policy clearly states hosts can cancel if a guest violates a No Pet policy and then seriously dings you if you say no to guest, only to find out,  after confronting guest,  that guest  is claiming it's  a Service Animal. How is a HOST supposed  to know that, if GUEST is not required to provide any information whatsoever?  Are we supposed to use a Magic 8 ball or consult a psychic? And how does a Host communicate certain additional "rules" for an SA or ESA such as proof of vaccination, or no dog on bed, furniture,  etc., or can't be left alone for a nanosecond, ask for security deposit-  if a guest can withhold such info anytime prior to checkin??? Insane.  

Well, thanks  again, all!

[Kristin108]

@Sarah4009 

So glad you got it taken care of.

Please remember to send feedback! It is now the ONLY way Airbnb takes note of issues.

I just had 3 nightmare issues arise that were badly botched by the customer service rep.

All they did was say they couldn't talk on the phone because of a bad internet connection. Then when I tried to escalate it, the gal said her shift was ending at 8:20... ??

I think they are trained to deescalate the situation by saying that... When she did finally transfer the case, the new rep. immediately closed the case without contacting me... 

It's unacceptable...

Cheers,

Kristin

[Dianne-Redmond0]

If a guest claims they have a service animal, we have the right to request proof. I have had so many issues with guests claiming a service animal. A repeat guest stated actual service ani.als have $6k in training per animal 

[Kristin108]

@Dianne-Redmond0 Just replied to this but was blocked by this site...

[Kristin108]

When ever I reply with actual information my messages are getting blocked!

[Sarah977]

@Kristin108  Your messages aren't getting blocked. When you compose a longish post, it often times out. What you need to do is copy your post before hitting Reply, so if it disappears, you can just quickly paste it into a new response box and hit Reply again.

And personal info like phone numbers or email addresses will get blocked.

[Kristin108]

@Sarah977

Thanks Sarah,

I will try that...

But I still think it was blocked, as it was a short reply...

[Sarah977]

@Kristin108  Hard to know. I have sketchy internet and when I'm not getting a strong signal, I find that sometimes happens as well, even if it's a short post.

[Michelle53]

@Dianne-Redmond0   Under ADA Law, you may not request documentation for a Service Animal. 

• When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

A Service Animal is defined as a dog, under the ADA, no other animal.  Miniature horses have been trained to perform tasks as Service animals but are covered in a different section of the AW. 

[Jonathan6]

Nobody in this thread has had an issue with "Service Animals", their issue is with the emotional support animals that are not covered under the ADA.  It is simply ABB's policy to  force hosts to accept ESAs regardless of the stated policies of the host and the rules of their dwellings.  It leaves hosts in a bad situation.  My state only protects the rights of those with service animals and I can be fined by my association for a non-owner animal on site.

[Michelle53]

@Jonathan6  I agree, Service Animals - really Service Dogs, the only animal considered a Service Animal under the ADA - and ESAs should be considered separately. 

In my state, I may not ask for documentation for a Service Dog, however, it is legal to ask for an ESA recommendation letter from a licensed healthcare provider, under the Illinois Fair Housing Act.  

The issue with Airbnb policy is it places both Service dogs and ESAs (which can be any animal) under the general heading of Assistance Animal. 

"For Hosts

You’ve received a booking request and now you are wondering if you are required to accept assistance animals. Generally, yes, unless there’s a threat to health or safety. As stated in our Nondiscrimination Policy, Hosts are expected to reasonably accommodate reservations where an assistance animal may be present, even if their listing/house rules state “no pets.”

Please be aware that under Airbnb’s Nondiscrimination Policy, Hosts can’t charge extra fees to guests with an assistance animal."

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1869/assistance-animals

"A Host may ask a guest to remove a service animal if:

1. The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it
2. The animal is not housebroken

In either scenario, the Host must still give the guest the opportunity to stay at their place without the animal. And given their role in providing service or emotional support, assistance animals shouldn’t be left alone at a listing."

I've never tested it, but it would seem that if you are allowed under State Law to ask for an ESA letter under the Fair Housing laws of your state, one shouldn't be prevented from doing so, but that's just my opinion as a non-attorney.    Airbnb policy doesn't clarify whether one is prevented from asking whether an assistance animal, if that is how it is described,  is a Service dog or an ESA.

[Linda3399]

This policy needs to be updated. The guests do not even need to notify us they are bringing animals, we can't charge extra for deep cleaning to protect future guests from allergies, and we don't have to ask for certification of the service animal. Please change this policy.