Registering your service dog and getting a service dog ID card can make it easier to navigate public spaces that don’t allow dogs, but keep in mind that it’s not a legal requirement.
Here are four steps to register a service dog:
Service Dog Overview: A service dog is a legally recognized type of assistance animal trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with physical or mental disabilities. The tasks the dog performs must be directly related to the person’s disability. These tasks include opening doors, retrieving items, responding to emergencies, guiding their handler through crowds or heavy traffic, and providing deep pressure therapy during mental health crises. Service dogs that assist those with mental, intellectual, sensory, or psychiatric disabilities are called psychiatric service dogs.
Why Should You Register Your Service Dog?
Registering your service dog puts your dog’s information in a searchable database, allowing others to look up information about your service animal. You can register your service dog in our registry and receive an ID card linked to your unique registration number.
Registration, certification, ID cards, dog tags, and vests all fall under the category of service dog accessories. The primary reason service dog handlers utilize registries, certifications, ID cards, dog tags, and vests is for ease of access in public places. Service dogs are granted access to most public places that typically do not allow pets. In these places, it’s helpful for staff and patrons to have a quick and easy way to identify your dog as a service animal to avoid misunderstandings.
Additionally, while third parties are not permitted to request documentation like ID cards and certifications, service dog handlers can attest that people frequently do so. Whether at the store, airport, library, or restaurant, service dog handlers are routinely harassed for service dog credentials. Rather than engaging in a lengthy legal conversation with every passerby, service dog handlers often choose to have these accessories readily available for convenience.
Getting a registration ID for your service dog is an easy way for you to have peace of mind while out in public while minimizing uncomfortable questions.
Why You Shouldn’t Register Your Service Dog
Here are some reasons NOT to register your service dog:
- Don’t register your service dog if you are not eligible to have a service dog. For instance, if you haven’t confirmed you have a qualifying disability or haven’t fully trained your service dog, you cannot register your service dog.
- Don’t register your service dog just because you think it’s a legal requirement. There are many valid reasons to register your service dog, but it’s not mandatory.
- Never register a service dog as a way to “skirt the law.” Service dog handlers are always responsible for verbally self-certifying that their dog fully qualifies as an assistance animal, and registration cannot supersede that responsibility.
Conclusion
If you are considering registering your service dog, come to Service Dog Certification. We maintain a database of service dogs for handlers who have chosen to register their dogs.
We are the leading provider for responsible service dog handlers in need of service dog accessories to avoid confrontations and hassle in public. Service dog handlers nationwide trust us for their service dog accessories because of our reliability and adherence to service dog standards.
