Policy: Service animals are allowed and welcomed (by law) on the premises at anytime. Additionally, well behaved, leashed or contained animal companions are welcomed on the premises as long as they have acquired the appropriate approval from the Animals Receiving Kindness (ARK) Ministry, and their guardians keep them under control and clean up any mess they might leave.
Animal companions are allowed in the classrooms and Holmes Hall, in designated areas, for special ARK Ministry events (i.e., pet blessing and adoption event). Animal companions are allowed in the Sanctuary for Sunday services in a designated area. Animal companions may be allowed in the Sanctuary, in a designated area, for special occasions, upon written approval of the Director of Operations and/or Senior Minister.
Animals must be kept on the floor at all times. They are not to be on the pews/chairs or in someone’s lap.
ARK has the right to ask any congregant, whose pet is being disruptive during services or is interfering with another congregant’s worship experience, to remove their animal from the service (e.g., barking, or any other disruptive behavior).
ARK has the right to withdraw, decline or refuse any application for approval, any currently- approved application, or any pending application based on mitigating risk factors, as determined by ARK, the Director of Operations, the Board of Trustees and/or the Senior Minister.
On Sunday mornings, individuals and their animal companions must be seated in the designated sitting area before the service begins, and the animals must never leave be left unattended.
Procedures: Congregants, who want their animals to be able to attend services and or special occasions/events, must be interviewed and approved in advance by an ARK representative.
The ARK Ministry will assign a member to check the sanctuary after each service to make sure that the area is clean.
ARK will make sure the rooms are clean after events in the classrooms.
ARK will have on hand an enzyme cleaner, spot cleaning machine, black light, a closed receptacle as well as bag dispensers for potty bags.
An ARK representative will meet with the Director of Operations, every three months, to provide a policy status and see if these procedures need to be altered.
