In photo, service monkey helps a disabled person eat a meal. The next time you're soaking up some sun on a beach in the Town of Oyster Bay, don't be surprised if you see a monkey laying on the towel next to you.

The Town is looking to update its code that deals with prohibitions against animals at Town facilities and to lift restrictions against animals used by the disabled. Currently only dogs are permitted when they are providing assistance to the blind or disabled, but over the years since the code was written, other types of animals have been enlisted into the care and support of the disabled.

According to the ADA (American's with Disability Act), such animals could be a dog, monkey, chimp, cat, bird, miniature pony, horse or even a pig that, for example, helps alert persons with hearing impairment to sounds, pulls wheelchairs or carries items for persons with mobility impairments or assists people with mobility impairments with balance.

"Currently, all animals except seeing eye dogs are prohibited from Town beaches and parks," explained Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker. "Under the proposed amendment, all animals will continue to be prohibited from Town beaches and parks unless the animal is a service animal trained to do such work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability and is accompanied by such individual pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act."

Although most service animals wear a special harness or collar, they are not required to have such

Town officials said, however, that the new ordinance, if enacted, will require that anyone on a Town facility with a service animal provide documentation attesting to that fact.

"Our personnell will be instructed to ask for documentation when necessary," said Phyllis Barry, the Town's spokeswoman.

A hearing on the proposed change will be held on the matter at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11 at Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay.