Service dogs are dogs that have been individually trained to perform a specific task for individuals who have disabilities. The disabilities can vary greatly, and so do the tasks that the service dogs perform. Service dogs can aid in navigation for people who are hearing- and visually impaired, assist an individual who is having a seizure, calm an individual who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and even dial 911 in the event of an emergency. Many disabled individuals depend on them every day to help them live their everyday lives.
Service dogs are protected under federal law
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is entitled to a service dog to help them live their lives normally. The ADA protects disabled individuals by allowing them to bring their service dog with them to most places that the public is permitted, including restaurants, hotels, housing complexes, and even in air travel. Any dog can be a service dog, and service dogs do not have to be professionally-trained. The important thing is that the dog is trained to be a working animal and not a pet.
Identifying service dogs for the public
Service dogs are often identified by wearing a service dog vest or tag, letting the public know that it is a service dog; otherwise, their handlers will find themselves having to explain everywhere that they go that their dog is a service dog. Some businesses, such as airlines, prefer to see an identification card or vest that indicates that the dog is a service dog.
The Americans with Disabilities Act has a specific definition of a disability, and it states essentially that a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual.
PARTIAL LIST OF QUALIFIED DISABILITIES
A disability can take many forms, including bodily functions such as those of the neurological, respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and reproductive systems.
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Physical Problems
Asthma (or other breathing problems)
Allergy Alert
Blindness (& partial blindness)
Cancer
Deafness (& partial deafness)
Cardio Vascular
Stroke
Diabetes
Dizziness/Balance problems
Epilepsy
General Hearing Difficulty
Mobility Problems
Neurological Problems
Paralysis
Physical Weakness
Speech Problems
Seizures
General Medical Alert
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Emotional Dog Qualifications
Anxiety
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Mood disorder
Fear/phobias
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Suicidal Thoughts/Tendencies
Adjustment Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Separation anxiety
Dissociative Disorders
Factitious Disorders
Eating Disorders
Impulse-Control Disorders
Mental Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition
Neurocognitive Disorders
Mood Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Personality Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
Sleep DisordersStress
Somatoform Disorders
Substance Related Disorders
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DO YOU HAVE A DISABILITY?
If you are limited in your ability to perform major life tasks such as seeing, hearing, standing, walking, eating, sleeping, thinking, speaking, or other similar tasks, then you likely have a disability that would make you eligible to have a service dog under ADA laws. The service dog helps you in performing the particular tasks that you would otherwise be unable to perform without the service dog.
YOUR DISABILITY AND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE
You are NOT allowed to be asked by an owner, manager, or other representative of a business what your disability is that allows you to have a service dog. That information is private and you do not have to disclose it to anyone if you are asked. The only information that may be asked is if it is a service dog, and what tasks the service dog is trained to perform for you. For example, if you have a mental illness that requires that you take medication and your service dog is trained to alert you when it is time to take your medication by tugging at your shirt, then you may explain the task your service dog performs, but you are not obligated to divulge the nature of your illness or disability.
LIVING WITH YOUR SERVICE DOG
ADA law gives individuals the right to live with their service dog regardless of any building or residences with a no pet policy. A service dog is not considered a pet and is required for daily life functions and activities. Building managers or landlords may not refuse your service dog nor may they require you to submit any pet deposits or fees for your service dog.
Hotels fall under the same policy as well. They are not permitted to deny access to you or your service dog and may not charge any extra fees or collect any deposits.
FLYING WITH YOUR SERVICE DOG
ADA law also allows service dogs on airplanes when individuals with service dogs are traveling and they do not have to pay an extra fee to have their service dog by their side.
Federal Law Prohibits Discrimination Of Breed, Size, Training Level Or Age Of Any Emotional Support Or Service Dog.
Emotional support dogs do not have to be trained to perform any specific task. Service dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the owner desires to assist them with their disability.
People With Service Animals Must Be Allowed Access To All Public Accommodations. This right takes precedence over all state and local laws which might otherwise prohibit animals in those places such as Stores, Malls, Restaurants, Hotels/Resorts, Airlines,Cruises, Taxi cabs, Buses just to name a few.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, clearly states that proof of “certification” cannot be required by any facility or business for legal access if you meet the requirements for a person with a legal disability, and your dog meets the requirements of a service animal. We understand this is impossible to enforce the law. Be sure to have a proper id card to avoid the public conflicts.
While many business owners and establishments are ignorant of this law, ID Badges will have all of the necessary information should they require further explanation regarding your rights when accompanied by your Service Dog. Many over the years have reported that upon showing of a badge the inquiry about the dog ended.
Traveling with your Service Dog Customized Service Dog ID Badges can help make traveling on commercial airlines much, much easier. The Department of Transportation, also known as D.O.T.
Carriers shall accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal identifiers such as identification cards, other written documentation, presence of harnesses, tags or the credible verbal assurances of a qualified individual with a disability using the animal.
Please note that the Department of Transportation lists identification cards at the top of their list and only verbal assurance is at the bottom. Many owners of service dogs have reported that the airlines have required some sort of identification even though by law they are not allowed to do this. Please understand that you are NOT required by law to carry one of these cards, however, they can dramatically speed up your process of getting through airport security, etc. without arguments or confrontations.
Many landlords and business owners request to see registration paperwork or other identification and even though such paperwork is not required under law, it is often proven easier to provide the requester with a registration document or ID rather than argue the point or attempt to educate the person/landlord. Identification & proper paperwork will without a doubt avoid landlord conflicts about the validity of your service animal.
Most Common Reasons To Register Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs and even Therapy Dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with many diagnoses, including: Arthritis Ataxia (poor balance) Autism Blindness or Impaired Vision Deafness or Impaired Hearing Diabetes Cardio/Pulmonary Disease Cerebral Palsy Physical mobility Issues Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) Psychiatric Disabilities Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy) Severe Allergy Alert Spina Bifida Spinal Cord/Head Trauma Stroke Anxiety Depression Bipolar disorder Mood disorder Fear/phobias Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Suicidal Thoughts/Tendencies Adjustment Disorder Generalized anxiety disorder Social anxiety disorder Panic disorder Separation anxiety Dissociative Disorders Factitious Disorders Eating Disorders Impulse-Control Disorders Mental Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition Neurocognitive Disorders Mood Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Personality Disorders Psychotic Disorders Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders Sleep Disorders Somatoform Disorders Substance Related Disorders This is just a partial list of disabilities that qualify under ADA.
