One More Time: What is a Service Dog?
A Resting Poodle Service Dog in a Leather Harness (Courtesy: MobilityDog.org)
Every now and then, we at MobilityDog are reminded that the world at large doesn’t fully understand the jobs service dogs do and the rights they and their handlers have. So, here again, we offer up a brief Q&A about those wonderful animals who are the core of our mission.
Question: Isn’t a Guide Dog the Only Real Service Dog?
A Black and White Service Dog with a Handler in a Wheelchair (Courtesy: MobilityDog.org)
Not by a long shot. Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog trained to do specific work or perform particular tasks for an individual with a disability, not limited to visual impairment. The task(s) undertaken by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. Service dogs do many such tasks. For example:
People using wheelchairs may have a dog that helps them stand and steady themselves, as well as retrieve objects.
A person with depression may have a dog trained to remind them to take their medicine (not to mention providing judgment-free companionship).
A person suffering from PTSD may have a dog trained to lick their hand or otherwise alert them to an oncoming panic attack.
Someone with epilepsy may have a service dog trained to detect the onset of a seizure and help the person remain safe.
QUESTION: Can a Service Dog Go Anywhere?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is very clear about service animals: in nearly all cases, the service animal is allowed to go wherever the handler can go. Even entities that have a “no pets” policy generally must modify their rules to allow service animals into their facilities. Likewise, restaurants must allow service dogs to accompany their handlers to and through self-service food lines. Similarly, service animals may not be prohibited from communal food preparation areas, such as those commonly found in shelters or dormitories.
However, there are a few exceptions. Dogs may be excluded where their presence would “fundamentally alter” a service or activity. For example, although a service dog would be permitted in most parts of a hospital, an animal might be excluded from a burn unit or operating room.
The ADA explicitly states that “... churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship” are not required to allow service animals on their premises. Local statutes may vary on this topic. Other exceptions listed on the ADA website include gyms, fitness centers, hotels, and municipalities with swimming pools.
QUESTION: CAN A BUSINESS ASK WHETHER A DOG IS REALLY A SERVICE DOG?
Legally, a business is allowed to ask only two questions when assessing a service animal:
“Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?”
“What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”
QUESTION: ARE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, THERAPY, COMFORT OR COMPANION ANIMALS CONSIDERED SERVICE ANIMALS UNDER THE ADA?
No. These terms describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Since they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA definition. However, some state or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places.
QUESTION: DOES THE ADA REQUIRE SERVICE ANIMALS TO BE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED?
No. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog and are not required to use a professional service dog training program. They are, therefore, not required to provide proof or certification of the dog’s training. Nor are service dogs required to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as service animals.
A Handler with a Mobility Dog in Training (Courtesy: MobilityDog.org)
QUESTION: CAN A SERVICE DOG BE ANY BREED?
Yes. The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breed that can be service animals. Any breed of dog must be permitted to be a service animal, even if municipalities or other jurisdictions prohibit general ownership of certain dog breeds. In cases where an animal is considered a potential “direct threat” to public safety, local jurisdictions must determine, case by case, whether that particular service animal can be excluded based on actual behavior or history. A service dog may not be excluded merely because of fears or generalizations about how a breed might behave.
The quest continues to educate the public at large (as well as businesses, educational institutions, medical facilities, transportation authorities, and other service providers) about service dogs and how they must be accommodated according to the law. We hope this Q&A sheds some light on a few of the most important facts.
Learn more about service dogs and the laws that govern their use from these sources:
The MobilityDog website: “What is a Service Dog” and “Facts About Service Dogs.”
The ADA.gov website.
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