Animals

Service Animals

Service animals are animals trained to help individuals with disabilities carry out the activities of daily living in a safe manner.

Examples of service animals include, but are not limited to, animals that:

• Guide a blind or visually impaired handler around obstacles
• Alert a handler with diabetes about low blood sugar levels
• Protect a handler with epilepsy during seizures
• Calm a handler with autism in an environment with too much sensory stimulation
• Retrieve out-of-reach objects for a handler with a physical disability
• Alert a handler who is deaf or hard of hearing about sounds

Most service animals have completed a prescribed training program and received certification.

Participants wishing to attend SideBurn with a service animal are welcome to do so. We ask that all participants wishing to bring their service animal provide notice at least 14 days before the event start, via email, and attach the appropriate official documentation to the Equity Chair at serviceanimals@sideburn.ca.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals (ESA) are those animals that are required by persons with a disability, as confirmed by a licensed healthcare practitioner.

Individuals wishing to bring an ESA to SideBurn are required to provide an up-to-date letter from a licensed healthcare provider confirming:

1. that they have a disability,
2. that the disability causes them to have specific restrictions and/or limitations, and
3. and that they require the ESA to address some or all of the specified limitations and/or restrictions.

Kindly provide this letter to us at least 14 days before attending SideBurn, by email to the Equity Chair at serviceanimals@sideburn.ca.

We will notify you, upon receipt of the above letter, of whether we have approved your request. We may have further questions for you before granting any approval. Please note that, in the absence of an up-to-date letter from your healthcare provider containing the above information, we reserve the right to refuse entry to any ESA.

Guidelines for Service Animals and Approved ESAs

Those individuals with Service Animals or Approved ESAs are required to abide by the following rules when at SideBurn:

• Service animals and ESAs must be properly supervised by their owner, or a qualified person at all times. No animals may be unattended (for example alone in your RV, tent, or vehicle) at the event at any time.
• Service animals and ESAs must be leashed at all times.
• You are responsible for the removal of all animal waste from the site. This is a leave-no-trace event. We do not provide animal waste disposal service – please do not place the waste in the porta potties.
• You are required to ensure all aspects of the animal’s well-being are looked after during the event. SideBurn does not provide first aid services for non-humans, nor is food or water available.
• Check in with the Equity Chair when they arrive on-site to obtain your animal’s event ID card.The animal must be well-behaved at all times, any forms of aggression towards people or other animals will not be tolerated.

Flame Ontario does not assume any liability for the safety or conduct of your service animal at the event. Those bringing their service animals assume full liability for any injuries that could be sustained by their animal, or for injuries inflicted by their animal on other participants while on the event property.

Not complying with the requirements for service animals and approved ESAs can result in expulsion from the event and/or future event attendance refusal.

Pets

SideBurn does not allow pets at the event.