Dogs pages Index | Laws pertaining to Service Animals

		Service Dogs
Teamwork with a trained assistance dog empowers disabled individuals to function with greater self sufficiency, to prevent injuries, and to overcome or mitigate the difficulties imposed by many disabling physical and psychiatric conditions.

Dogs with Jobs
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A Service Dog can mean the difference between being housebound and having independence to a person with a disability. Society as a whole benefits. Service dogs have proved to be cost-effective trustworthy helpers. They offer empowerment, mobility, and independence, to individuals who otherwise might have required the services of a full time human attendant. The psychological, physical, emotional, and social benefits they offer greatly improve a disabled person's quality of life. This in turn decreases demand on health care and social service systems.

There are several types of service dogs in addition to the Guide Dogs for the blind that we are all familiar with. Service dogs can also be: Hearing Dogs, Mobility Assistance Dogs, Seizure Alert Dogs, and Psychological Service Dogs. Many service dogs are cross-trained to perform more than one category of work and several different types of tasks. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a dog is considered a service dog if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." The animal must be trained to perform tasks directly related to the individual's disability which must meet the legal requirements of a disability. They do not limit the type of disability for which a service animal can be used, or the species of animal that can qualify as a service animal. Companion animals (regular pets), Social or Therapy dogs, and animals that simply offer emotional support and comfort, are not considered Service Animals. The ADA does not apply to them or to "service dogs in training". Service Animals are trained to do specific tasks. Service dogs may be acquired from specialized agencies that train them or a disabled individual can select and train their own. They may also contract a professional to train their dog for them. Note: Sometimes service dogs are referred to as "assistance dogs.

Under the ADA, businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos. The ADA prohibits these places from requiring proof or certification of the service animal’s training or the disabled person's disability. Many disabilities, such as deafness or psychiatric illnesses, are not visually obvious. It would be highly inappropriate to demand a full disclosure of a disabled person's illness or make a judgment about it or their resulting need for a service animal. Not only would it be rude and most unkind, most of us are not licensed to make medical decisions like that for people. The ADA is a federal civil rights law under the Department of Justice. It supersedes state law.

A public business or place of public accommodation may exclude a service dog only when it can be demonstrated that the presence or behavior of the animal creates a safety hazard (direct threat) or a fundamental alteration to the facility. The decision that the presence of a service animal poses a direct threat to others has to be based on current objective information, the probability that harm will occur, not the mere possibility, and it can't be based on stereotypes or speculation. A service dog that growls or bites someone would be a clear safety hazard and a direct threat. A service dog that barks disruptively in a library or a theater where quiet is necessary for normal operations would be an example of fundamentally altering the nature of the public accommodation. A bystander who is allergic to or afraid of dogs would not be an alteration or bee seen as being directly threatened. They can move away from the service animal.

Service Dog Resources & Links

The Delta Society - Improving human health through service and therapy animals. Delta Society is an international, non-profit organization that unites people who have mental and physical disabilities and patients in healthcare facilities with professionally trained animals to help improve their health.

The Psychiatric Service Dog Society - Nonprofit organization dedicated to responsible Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) education, advocacy, research and training facilitation.

Right To Emotional Support Animals In "No Pet" Housing - Fair Housing Information Sheet # 6, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - leading legal advocate for people with mental disabilities.

Saint Francis Of Assisi Service Dog Foundation - nonprofit organization that helps people with disabilities become more independent, productive and happy through partnership with service dogs.

International Association of Assistance Dog Partners - A non-profit, cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing and service dogs.

Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page -  Department of Justice Information and Technical Assistance for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have further questions about service animals or other requirements of the ADA, you may call the U.S. Department of Justice's toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-800-514-0383 (TDD).