LAYTON — Layton City is reminding residents of the city’s policy on pets inside grocery stores. 

In accordance with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, city officials said in a news release the only animals permitted inside grocery stores or restaurants in Utah are trained service animals.

Pets that provide emotional support, comfort, well-being or companionship do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of a trained service animal and are not legally allowed inside any grocery stores or restaurants, according to the release.

“Having a fraudulent service animal in a grocery store may tend to erode the rights and authenticity of legitimate people with disabilities who do have legitimate support animals,” city officials said.

While public accommodations are not to ask about the extent or nature of a person’s disability, they are allowed to find out if an animal qualifies as a service animal by asking if it’s required because of a disability and what task or work the animal has been trained to perform, according to the release.

City officials said purchasing special tags or vests online for pets does not qualify an animal to be a service animal.

They also outlined specific guidelines/qualifications on service animals in grocery stores.

The service animal must:

• Be under the control of the handler (have a harness, leash or other tether unless the handler is unable to use one due to disability)
• Not be placed in grocery carts
• Be housebroken

Store personnel are allowed to ask a person with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if it isn’t meeting the above qualifications or it is out of control and the handler isn’t taking effective action to control it, according to the release.