Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. They play a crucial role in helping people with disabilities live independently and participate fully in society. Laws protect the rights of people with disabilities who use service dogs, and understanding these regulations is essential.
Service dogs can be any breed and size, as long as they are trained to perform tasks that directly assist a person with a disability. It’s important to note that service dogs are different from emotional support animals. Emotional support animals provide comfort and companionship, but they are not trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability.
Examples of tasks that service dogs can perform include: retrieving objects for a person using a wheelchair; reminding a person with depression to take medication; alerting a person with PTSD to an oncoming panic attack; or helping a person with epilepsy stay safe during a seizure.
Service dogs are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in most public places, even those that don’t typically allow pets. This includes restaurants, stores, hospitals, schools, and hotels.
If you work at a business or government agency and are unsure whether a dog is a service dog, you may ask two questions: “Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?” and “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”. You are not allowed to request any documentation or ask the dog to demonstrate its task.
However, in rare cases, a service dog may be denied access to a facility if its presence fundamentally alters the nature of the goods, services, or program being offered. For instance, a service dog may not be allowed in a surgical suite or burn unit where a sterile environment is required.
A business or government agency may ask that a service dog be removed if it is not housebroken or is out of control and the handler is unable to control it.
State and local laws may require that service dogs be licensed and vaccinated, just like all other dogs. However, they cannot require service dog certification or registration or prohibit service dogs based on breed. Service dog registration is often voluntary. Understanding your rights and responsibilities when registering your dog as a service dog is paramount.
