(a) Live animals shall be excluded from within the retail food store operational areas and from immediately adjacent areas inside the store. This exclusion does not apply to edible fish, crustacea, shellfish or fish in aquariums. Live or dead fish bait shall be stored separately from food or food products. Patrol dogs accompanying security or police officers shall be permitted in offices, storage areas and outside store premises. Sentry dogs may be permitted to run loose in outside fenced areas for security reasons. Guide dogs accompanying blind persons or deaf persons shall be permitted in sales areas.

(b) While on duty, persons employed in the food operational areas of an establishment shall not care for or handle any pets or patrol/sentry dogs.