Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. They are not pets and are allowed in most public places.
Service dogs can be any breed or size, as long as they are trained to perform a task directly related to their handler’s disability. Examples include retrieving items for someone using a wheelchair, reminding a person with depression to take medication, alerting someone with PTSD to an oncoming panic attack, or assisting a person during a seizure.
Certification or registration of service dogs is not required. However, emotional support animals are not considered service animals under the ADA because providing emotional support is not a task related to a disability. The key difference lies in the specific training to perform assistive tasks. If the dog’s presence merely provides comfort, it is not a service dog.
Service dogs are allowed in most public places, including restaurants, stores, hospitals, schools, and hotels, even if these places have “no pets” policies. For example, a restaurant cannot require a person with a service dog to sit outside.
Housing and air travel laws may differ. The Fair Housing Act applies to many types of housing and may have different rules regarding service dogs. The Air Carrier Access Act protects the rights of people with disabilities in air travel.
If you work at a business or government agency and are unsure if a dog is a service dog, you may ask: “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 proving the dog is registered or certified, nor ask the dog to demonstrate its task.
In rare cases, a service dog may be denied access if its presence fundamentally alters the nature of the goods, services, or program being offered. For instance, a service dog might be prohibited from entering an operating room or a 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 cannot regain control.
Local governments may require service dogs to be licensed and vaccinated, like all other dogs, but they cannot require service dog certification or registration or prohibit a service dog based on its breed. Some states may offer voluntary service dog registration programs.
