Comment submitted by Christine Hill

I would like to address the issue on accommodations with a service animal. There are many unsuitable animals for assistance dog work. I agree that dogs are very suitable, but there is also another species of animal that is suitable, which is the miniature horse or miniature pony. I do beleive that size restriction should be considered. The reason I think a miniature horse is suitable is they are in proper use today. there are not many of them, but they are suitable. Horses have the intelligence to learn how to guide a blind person, stop when a car comes and many other tasks that have been proven this species of animal can do. In addition, horses have been used for centuries to help man and mankind. Even Bonnie Bergin says she got the concept of a service dog when she saw disabled people using burros in other countries. Burro is not a miniature horse, but certainly related to a horse that shows these kinds of animals have assisted the disabled naturally. Police that use horses have proven they can live in a urban setting, live in a high rise and be clean as well. Miniature horses can be trained to be docile and are not threatening nor a danger to humans in public. Allowing the Miniature horse allows people to choose between a dog or another animal. There are pros and cons for each, but as a service dog user, it is disheartening to have health issues and a short life span for a dog. Horses live much longer than dogs and they can assist a person for many more years where you would have to get 2-3 dogs in the working life time of a horse. NOt many people will choose to have a miniature horse for their guide, but I do believe the law should be written to allow these animals as a service animal. They have proven themselves to be safe, reliable and do the job.