Pets

 

Grounds of the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park during the Christmas Stroll

National Park Service

Where can I visit with my pet?

With some restrictions, you may bring your pet with you to George Rogers Clark National Historical Park.

Please follow all regulations regarding pets:

• All pets must be on a physical leash no longer than 6 feet (i.e. no electric collar "leashes").
• Owners should clean up after their pets and dispose of their waste in a trashcan.
• Pets may not be tied to trees, monuments, and/or other park structures.
• Pets are not allowed inside of the visitor center or within the Memorial, with the exception of service animals.
• Please do not leave your pets in vehicles during hot weather. Weather at George Rogers Clark is hot and humid during the summer. The internal temperature of a vehicle can soar to dangerous levels in a manner of minutes.

 

Top Reasons To Keep Your Dog on a Leash

1. Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost in the park.

2. Leashes protect dogs from coming into contact with animals who are rabid or simply aggressive.

3. Unleashed dogs can be intimidating to other park visitors. Leashing your dog allows all visitors to feel safe.

4. Just because your dog is well trained and friendly, doesn't mean that everyone's is. Keeping your dog on a leash means it will be safe from other people's canine companions.

5. Leashes keep wildlife safe from a dog's natural instincts. Unleashed dogs can harass, injure, and sometimes kill wildlife.

6. Leashes keep historic sites and important ecological areas safe from digging and biting.

7. Unleashed dogs increase the probability that dogs may be banned from your favorite public lands.

8. A leashed dog's keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or other visitors.

 

What Are Service Animals?

Service animals are allowed in the park and all park buildings.

"Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition."

- The Americans with Disabilities Act