Freezer Burn Service Animal Policy

Revised: APR 2025


When your four footed friend is also your helper, bringing your Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal to Freezer Burn is just living as usual! 


In Alberta, Service Dogs are protected under the Service Dogs Act, while Emotional Service Animals and Emotional Support Dogs are not. Service Dogs receive specific training to assist individuals with visible or non-visible disabilities, and are legally entitled to access public spaces. Emotional Support Dogs and Emotional Support Animals (ESA’s), while providing comfort and companionship, are not trained to perform specific tasks and do not have the same rights to public access as Service Dogs. 

Freezer Burn is held on Private Property and we do welcome Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals (ESA’s), but we require all participants bringing your Service Dog or ESA to adhere to this policy while on the private venue of Freezer Burn.


Purpose

The purpose of a Freezer Burn Service Animal Policy is to ensure that individuals who rely on Service Animals—typically people with disabilities—are treated equitably and have access to event spaces, services, and opportunities without discrimination.


Who is a Service Dog?

A Service Dog is a canine (or other animal but usually a canine) that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a visible or non-visible disability. Service Dogs must have passed passed an assessment from a Provincial Government approved Service Dog provider, must have graduated from a program accredited by Assistance Dogs International, or been qualified by an organization contracted by a provincial or territorial Government in Canada to train or assess service dogs to standards equivalent to the Alberta Training Standard.


We require a Service Dog Identification card for your Service Dog presented at the Gate when you arrive. This identification card should list the animal name, the handler name, an Identification number, and a date of expiration. It is required that this identification be carried with you when you and your animal are out and about at the venue. 


What is an Emotional Support Animal?

To be considered an ESA, an animal must be recommended by a licensed mental health professional as part of a treatment plan to a person with a disabling mental health disability, and has been conditioned to provide support or comfort to that individual. We require a photo identification card or letter from a licensed mental health professional indicating the animal is an emotional Support Animal. 


Where can my Service Dog go?

During the event, your Service Dog is free to accompany you anywhere you go! We do request that you respect the wishes of individual personal spaces, and ensure that consent is received if bringing your Service Dog into someone's personal and private space. We also recommend not boarding Art Cars or accessibility carts with your Service Dog. 


If other participants are present who are allergic to dogs, or are afraid of dogs, the rights of both parties should be taken into account. A reasonable compromise should be found, which may include understanding that Service Dogs receive extensive training and testing to ensure they are appropriate in public spaces and do not pose a risk. Persons with allergies are encouraged not to touch a Service Dog and the handler may use a small mat or bed that can be removed for cleaning in places with ground cover or seating. The Rangers will be of assistance in finding options for dealing with conflicting interests.


Where can my Emotional Support Animal go?

Emotional Support Animals (ESA’s) may accompany you anywhere you may experience the effects of a mental health condition and wish the support of your animal, but please take into consideration that your ESA is not protected the same as a Service Dog and may not be welcome in all spaces that Service Dogs are. We do request that you respect the wishes of individual personal spaces, and ensure that consent is received if bringing your ESA into someone's space. We also recommend not boarding Art Cars or accessibility carts with your ESA. 


You may NOT bring your ESA into a kitchen area where food or drinks are being served that is not your own. ESA’s are welcome in the Medical and Sanctuary areas ONLY if the handler requires assistance.


Responsibilities of Service dog handlers

  • Ensure your Service Dog is easily visually identified as a working animal
  • It is the responsibility of the Service Dog handler to maintain control of the dog at all times.
  • Service Dogs should not growl, bark aggressively, snap, bite, or lunge.
  • If the Service Dog displays behaviours that are aggressive, damage property or are disruptive to other participants, the Service Dog team may be asked to leave.
  • The handler is responsible for any damages caused by their Service Dog.
  • Handlers are required to clean up or make arrangements to clean up after their dog if their Service Dog toilets on event grounds.


Responsibilities of Emotional Support Animal handlers

  • It is the responsibility of the ESA handler to maintain control of the animal at all times.
  • If the ESA displays behaviours that are aggressive, damage property or are disruptive to other participants, the Support Animal and handler may be asked to leave.
  • The handler is responsible for any damages caused by their ESA.
  • Handlers are required to clean up or make arrangements to clean up after their animal if their ESA toilets on event grounds.


The Hazards of the Venue

Be aware that Freezer Burn takes place on an active farm, with livestock, coyotes, feral cats, and wide open spaces. In addition to that, the festival is a noisy, hectic place where you can expect yelling, fire, crowds of people, and fireworks. Participants may also not understand Service Dogs are doing a job, and not to be petted. You will be responsible for the safety of your service or support animal while on the farm. Also keep in mind that the prevailing attitude of most ranchers is to "remove" strange dogs that are chasing their livestock. Of course, trained Service Dogs and Support Animals do not engage in this sort of uncontrolled behaviour! 


Out and About

While on the venue, you must make sure your Service Dog or Support Animal is easily visually identified as a working animal, and safe. This means your animal must wear some sort of visual marker, to let others know they are a working animal. Vests or small backpacks with the logo of your training school are a popular choice. Even a couple "Working" badges that are easily seen from all sides, such as on a harness. 


  • We strongly recommend lights for nighttime excursions. 
  • Your animal must be tethered to you when out on the festival grounds, via harness, carrying case, leash, or guiding handle. 
  • You must make sure your animal is safe from dangers they may not comprehend, such as golf carts, fireworks, and pyrotechnics. 
  • When your animal is not out working he or she must be secured in your camp. By this, we mean in an escape resistant space, such as a trailer, or a crate, or enclosed space. 
  • Service Dogs or Emotional Support Animals may not be left in vehicles in the parking lot. 
  • Service Dogs or Emotional Support Animals may not be left unattended outside your personal enclosed space (example: the animal may not be left tethered to a stake by a rope all alone outside your tent/ RV.)


Please note that just as parents and guardians are responsible for their minors, you are responsible for your Service or Support Animal. Production reserves the right to eject any guardians from the event, if they fail to properly supervise and care for those they are responsible for. This includes the handlers/ owners of Service Dogs and Support Animals. You must ensure your animal is secured or with you at all times on property, and visually identified as a working animal whenever you are out of your camp with your animal. 


Interacting with Service Dogs


Do not distract

To perform their jobs, Service Dogs must focus on their handler and the task they are doing. Service Dogs are trained to very high standards and typically ignore distractions, but they are not perfect. A distracted Service Dog could make a mistake that puts them and their handler in danger. Some things that can distract a Service Dog are:

  • calling to the dog
  • making kissing, barking or other sounds
  • petting the dog without permission


Do not offer food

Service Dogs are trained to ignore food on the ground and not to beg for food. Feeding a Service Dog could make them sick, which could take away their handler’s independence.


Do not be offended if

  • A Service Dog handler will not let you pet their dog. The dog is working and should not be interrupted in the performance of their duties.
  • a Service Dog handler doesn’t stop to chat. They may be in a hurry or have other reasons not to be able to stop and talk, like any other participant might. Allow a Service Dog handler to go about his or her or their business just as you would anyone else.


Treat Service Dog handlers with dignity

  • Speak to the handler, not to the dog.
  • Do not ask personal questions about the handler’s disability.
  • Do not ask for the dog to do a demonstration of their skills.
  • Do not photograph or record a Service Dog team without permission.


Thank you for Asking Ahead

Please follow the directions of event volunteers, and always feel free to ask for a Producer if something needs to be sorted out (not every volunteer is familiar with this animal policy). We want you and your animal to enjoy the weekend!