v>service animal. But Rose who has to deal with
When we see the visually impaired with their seeingemotional or mental impairments does not get
eye dog, we think nothing of it. The dog does notafforded the same rights.
make us uncomfortable because they are the mostHealth Department officials met with a local service
common pet. Dogs are man's best friend – so toagency, the Southwest Center for Independent Living,
speak. Seeing eye dogs can go everywhere: the bus,which is acting as an agent for Rose. The Health
restaurants, the mall, and even the restroom. ThoseDepartment told the agency that Rose must produce
that are visually disabled need these four leggedsome kind of federal ruling or certification that the
creatures as service animals, as animals they canmonkey is a service animal under the ADA before it
depend on.will consider allowing her to take the money into public
So let's look at another animal: the monkey. We canplaces, said Kevin Gipson, Director of Health.
and do pay to watch monkeys be exploited at aScience has shown on that a monkey can be
circus without a problem. We can go to the zoo anddomesticated. In fact, monkeys have the ability to
see them caged up, tis also seems to cause noactually communicate where as mans best friend (the
problems. We enjoy monkeys as a from ofdog) does not. Anatomically, monkeys are the most
entertainment. But we would appear as a generalphysically like humans and perform similar functions
public we cannot deal with a monkey being in thewhich could help anyone with an anxiety problem.
same space as a domestic animal.Meaning, those with anxiety issues can interact with an
Debby Rose of Springfield, Missouri, suffers from ananimal that is very much like themselves.
anxiety disorder (an emotional disability) that makes itCynthia Magnuson, a spokesperson from the Justice
really difficult for her to go to public places like the mall,Department in Washington, told the Springfield
restaurants, the grocery store, and places like that. SheNews-Leader that while the law is somewhat vague
has had her macaque monkey, named Richard, joinabout emotional support animals, there is still a law that
her in all of her outings. Rose feels that the federalcovers the subject. “We have actually
Americans with Disabilities Act should allow Richard asprosecuted cases where people have had emotional
her service animal.support animals,” she said. “It's kind of a
There's not a lot of people are on the same page asfine line, but the law errs on the side of protecting
Rose. Her family says that she truly cannot performindividuals that are disabled.” An emotional
simple functions like being in public without her monkey.disability is a disability nonetheless.
So here is the problem, the blind population (those thatIs the real problem here, the monkey?
are physically impaired) have the right to have a