Please Leave your Pet at Home

Pets, including cats, birds, small animals, and emotional support animals as well as animals in backpacks are not allowed in the garden. Only ADA certified service animals may be brought into the garden.
‍
Dogs in the garden:
Birds and other animals think of dogs—even the friendliest ones— as predators. Animals have a keen sense of sight, smell, and hearing; The presence of a dog, even on a leash, will disrupt their normal behaviors. In natural areas where dogs are not allowed, people get to see and enjoy more wildlife. Metro’s science team reviewed 54 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, as well as 23 professional reports and the research is consistent and compelling: Dogs negatively impact wildlife.

The presence of dogs causes wildlife to move away, temporarily or permanently reducing the amount of available habitat in which to feed, breed and rest.
Animals are alarmed and cease their routine activities. This increases the amount of energy they use while simultaneously reducing their opportunities to feed.
Repeated stress causes long-term impacts on wildlife including reduced reproduction and growth, suppressed immune system functioning, and increased vulnerability to disease and parasites.
Dogs transmit diseases (such as canine distemper and rabies) to and from wildlife.
Dog waste pollutes water and transmits harmful parasites and diseases to people.
Stress hormones may cause male songbirds to reduce their territorial defense, females to reduce feeding of their young, nestlings to have reduced weight and poor immune systems, and adult birds to abandon nests.
Even the scent of dog urine or feces can trigger wildlife to avoid an area. Therefore, the impacts of dog presence can linger long after the dog is gone, even days later, potentially affecting a large number of wildlife species including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

*Excerpted and adapted from METRO'S PET POLICY

What is a Service Animal?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are NOT considered service animals under the ADA and are not allowed inside the garden.

In addition, if a service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, staff may require that the animal be removed from the premises, in accordance with ADA rules and regulations.

For more information on this, please visit: https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html