Service Dog Certifications was founded to assist owners of service dogs, emotional support animals, psychiatric service dogs, and therapy animals. We understand how incredibly important an assistance animal can be for physical and mental wellbeing. We publish educational material to inform the general public about the rights of assistance animal owners. In addition, we offer products and accessories that make life easier for assistance animal owners when they leave their homes.
Our organization’s mission is to further these objectives:
Educate the general public with factual information about assistance animals.
Help owners of assistance animals live free from discrimination and harassment.
Promote the ethical use of assistance animal designations.
Offer products that enable assistance animal owners to discreetly signal their special needs to the public.
Destigmatize disabilities and mental health conditions.
Work to dispel harmful stereotypes and myths about assistance animals and their owners.
We also work to combat the promotion of false and deceptive information about qualifying for assistance animals. We are not a government organization or an official certifying body (because there is no such thing as an officially sanctioned institution for certifying assistance animals). We are a private organization founded by assistance animal owners who believe in advocating for all owners of legitimate service dogs, ESAs, and therapy animals.
Meet the Editorial Team
Our content is created and reviewed by a dedicated team of experts with extensive knowledge of service dogs, emotional support animals, and assistance animal regulations. As advocates who understand the real-life needs of handlers, our writers and reviewers approach every topic with accuracy, empathy, and care.
We are committed to providing trustworthy, up-to-date information by carefully editing and regularly updating our articles to reflect the latest laws, guidelines, and best practices, ensuring our readers can rely on the information we share.
Professional Education Writer, Autism Advocate LinkedIn
Lisa Jo Rudy, M.Div. has been writing on developmental disabilities and mental health since the early 2000s, when her son was diagnosed with autism. Lisa lives on Cape Cod, where she is the proud “mom” of two beautiful cats.
Andrea Rosenhaft, LCSW-R is a licensed clinical social worker. In her New York City practice, Andrea utilizes CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), DBT (dialectic behavior therapy), psychodynamic techniques and expressive writing. She lives in Westchester, NY with her rescue dog and ESA, Shelby.
Shannen Standiford is a trainer and applied animal behavior consultant in San Diego, California. She specializes in service animal training, behavioral issues such as separation anxiety, reactivity, aggression, and more. She is a supporting member of the IAABC and opened her own 1:1 training business under the name Pups on the Coast to help others understand their dog on a deeper level and create a bond with their pet that they’ve always dreamed about.
Dr. Lizzie Youens, BSc (Hons), BVSc, MRCVS has degrees in Veterinary Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Animal Behaviour & Welfare. She has 10+ years of experience holding a variety of roles from rural branch surgeries to large hospitals. Lizzie lives in the Forest of Dean with her family and two rescue cats.
Robert Kilpatrick is a certified K-9 trainer, handler, and kennel master with 20+ years of experience developing working dog programs, training explosive detection teams, and mentoring handlers for embassy, military, police, and security operations worldwide.
Cyd Oldham has worked as a professional service dog trainer for over 20 years, a journey that began when she became a service dog user herself. This personal experience fuels her advocacy for disability rights and provides a deep, practical understanding of the bond between humans and service animals, as well as the struggles they face.
Dr. R.Y. Langham is a medical, health & wellness contributor, copywriter, and psychological consultant for Livestrong, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, CIGNA, Langham Consulting Group, Between Us Clinic, Parenting Pod, A Guide for Your 20s, and Disorders.org.
Michael Chambrelli is a New York attorney admitted to practice in state court and in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He has represented clients in both litigation and transactional matters, including residential tenants in New York City Housing Court through the Universal Access to Counsel Program.
India Sauthoff is an attorney with five years of experience in government practice. She has experience in criminal appeals, written for legal and academic publications and provided legal review for fellow attorneys to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Fiona Duffy is a lawyer licensed in California. She is passionate about service dogs and disability rights. She was a Deputy Public Defender at the Sonoma County Public Defenders Office and formerly served as a law clerk for Judge Brandon Harrison of the Arkansas Court of Appeals.
Service Dog Certifications publishes educational content to support owners of service dogs, emotional support animals (ESAs), psychiatric service dogs, and therapy animals. We understand how incredibly important these assistance animals are for physical and mental well-being. Our goal is to provide clear, factual information about the rights of assistance animal owners, promote the ethical use of designations, and help combat false or deceptive information. We work to destigmatize disabilities and mental health conditions while dispelling harmful myths and stereotypes. All articles are created and reviewed by our team for accuracy and helpfulness. Content is independently produced and is not sponsored or influenced by advertisers or external parties.
Fact-Checking We base our content on primary legal sources, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA), along with official guidelines. We cite current, reliable information and link to authoritative resources whenever possible. Our team stays informed on developments that affect assistance animal rights.
Ethics We maintain an objective and empathetic approach in all content. We do not publish personal attacks, harmful stereotypes, or any material that could endanger animals. We strictly avoid false or misleading claims about qualifying for or certifying assistance animals. All content is original.
Corrections and Updates We are committed to accuracy. When errors are identified, we correct them promptly after a thorough review. Content involving laws or regulations is updated as changes occur. We welcome reader feedback. Please contact us through our help desk if you have any concerns or suggested corrections.
Why Trust Us? Service Dog Certifications was founded by assistance animal owners who advocate for legitimate service dogs, ESAs, and therapy animals. We are not a government organization or an official certifying body; there is no such official institution in the United States. Instead, we provide practical educational resources and tools to help owners navigate their rights confidently, protect their privacy, and live free from discrimination and harassment.
Transparency While we offer products such as self dog-training courses, assistance animal letters, identification cards, vests, and accessories to help owners discreetly signal their needs, our editorial content operates independently from our sales and product teams. Our priority is delivering accurate information that empowers readers, including details on legal rights and free resources. Education and advocacy come first.
Apply as Writer
Are you a knowledgeable writer with a passion for service animals or mental health? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message with a writing sample and we’ll be in touch if it’s a good fit. For media inquiries, visit our Press & Media page. For general inquiries, use our contact form.
