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ADA Service Dog Laws (2020)
Service dog owners are afforded special rights and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is essential for every service dog handler to understand what their legal rights are and how to exercise them. It is also important for staff members at establishments such as restaurants, stores, hotels, schools and other public locations to understand how they can properly verify a service dog without running afoul of ADA rules.
In this article we will explain what rights service dog handlers have under the ADA, how an animal companion qualifies as a service dog and what staff members at public establishments are permitted and not permitted to ask a service dog owner. We will also answer some frequently asked questions regarding service dog rules.
- What is a service animal?
- How does the ADA define a disability?
- What disabilities qualify for a service dog under the ADA?
- Where are service dogs allowed?
- What questions are you allowed to ask a service dog owner?
- Do I need a professional trainer to train my service dog? Can I train my service dog myself?
- Which breeds can be service dogs?
- Are emotional support animals the same thing as service animals?
- When can a business ask a service dog and its handler to leave an establishment?
- Do you need a vest, ID card or special harness for a service dog?
- How do you certify or register a service dog?
- My city requires dogs be registered and licensed, are service dogs exempt?
- My city requires that dogs be vaccinated, is that applicable to service dogs?
- Can a service dog be off leash?
- Can a restaurant or hotel force my service dog to remain in a certain area?
- Can a hotel charge me for staying with a service dog?
- Are service dogs allowed in self service restaurants, such as buffets?
- Are restaurants required to allow service dogs to be seated on chairs or be fed at the table?
1. What is a service animal?
The ADA defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for someone living with a disability. These tasks may include things like alerting people who are deaf, guiding people who are visually impaired, calming a person during an anxiety attack, reminding someone with depression to take prescription medications or protecting a person who is experiencing a seizure.
Service dogs are remarkable canines capable of a wide range of tasks that help make independent living possible for their handlers. These unique working animals undergo specialized training to learn tasks that mitigate the difficulties caused by specific disabilities. Service dogs are working animals – not pets. They must be trained to perform a task that is directly related to the handler’s disability.
2. How does the ADA define a disability?
ADA Service Dog Laws prohibit discrimination against disabled people with service animals in employment, public accommodations, state and local government activities, public transportation, commercial facilities, and telecommunication. In the context of the ADA, “disability” is used as a legal term as opposed to a medical one and has a specific definition:
Under the ADA, a person with a disability is someone who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity. This includes individuals who are regarded as having a disability even if their disability is not physically visible. A person is also protected by The ADA if they have a history of a a disability.
3. What disabilities qualify for a service dog under the ADA?
In the context of the ADA, “disability” is used as a legal term as opposed to a medical one and has a specific definition: under the ADA, a person with a disability is someone who has a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity. A disabled person can also be a person who has a history or record of such an impairment or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.
The ADA does not specifically list out every type of impairment that qualifies as a disability. The disability can be a physical disability such as blindness or impaired mobility, or it can be an invisible disability in the form of a mental condition such as PTSD or severe depression or anxiety.
4. Where are service dogs allowed?
Businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state and local governments that serve the public are generally required to allow service dogs to accompany people with disabilities in any areas that are open to the public. This would include places such as restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, hotels, office buildings, school campuses, parks and other establishments open to the public.
5. What questions are you allowed to ask a service dog owner?
The staff or employees at a public establishment such as a restaurant, bar, store, hotel, office building or school may only as two limited questions if it is not obvious what service the dog provides:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
The staff member cannot require a doctor’s note, inquire about the handler’s disability, ask for an identification card or training certificate, and/or demand medical documents.
In addition, staff members are not permitted to ask the handler to have their service dog demonstrate its ability to perform work for the owner. It is important to note as well that the two questions above are only allowed if the disability is not apparent. So for example if the service dog is being used as guide dog for a blind person, it would not be appropriate to interrogate them about their service dog.
6. Do I need a professional trainer to train my service dog? Can I train my service dog myself?
ADA service dog rules do not require that service dog owners use a professional trainer. In order to make your dog a service dog, you do not need to complete any specific training program. Service dog handlers are allowed to train their dog themselves without the help of a professional trainer or training program.
Service dog owners should note that under ADA rules, service dogs in training are not considered to be service animals. That means that before a service dog owner can enjoy all of the rights afforded to service dog owners under the ADA, their dog must be fully trained to perform the task that assists with the handler’s disability. Some State and local laws may however give rights to dogs that are still in the training stages.
7. Which breeds can be service dogs?
Under ADA rules for service dogs, a service dog can be any type of dog breed. A public establishment or landlord is not allowed to prohibit entry for a service dog solely because it is a certain breed. The service dog may be asked to leave the premises if it is not under the control of the handler or acts in a way that threatens the health and safety of others. Staff members and landlords at an establishment or apartment complex cannot however ask a service dog to leave simply because they are afraid of the dog solely due to preconceived notions about the dog’s breed.
ADA rules also take precedent over local rules regarding breed restrictions. For example, if your city bans a certain breed of dog, that ban cannot be categorically applied to service animals.
8. Are emotional support animals the same thing as service animals?
No, emotional support animals, or ESAs, are not the same thing as service animals. The ADA does not recognize dogs who solely provide emotional support or comfort as service animals. Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals do not require any special training.
Emotional support animals are intended to provide support for mental and emotional disabilities through companionship. ESAs have more limited access rights than service dogs. Emotional support animals are allowed in residences and on flights, but do not have a right to be in places such as stores, hotels or restaurants that prohibit pets the same way service dogs do.
That does not mean a service dog cannot assist with a psychiatric condition. For example, a service dog can be used to remind a depressed individual to take their medication. Or for someone with anxiety, a service dog can be trained to sense an impending anxiety attack and take actions to prevent the attack or minimize its impact. However, if a person with anxiety is just using the dog’s companionship as a source of comfort for their condition, the animal would not qualify as a service dog.
9. When can a business ask a service dog and its handler to leave an establishment?
A disabled person with a service dog can only be asked to remove their animal from the premises in limited circumstances. It is appropriate for staff members to ask a handler to remove their service dog if the dog is out of control or the dog is not housebroken. A service dog handler may also be asked to leave if their service dog’s actions are threatening the health and safety of other people.
It is not appropriate to ask for a service dog to leave due to allergies or a fear of dogs. Under ADA guidance, if someone is allergic to a dog and needs to share space with a disabled person and their service dog, both people should be accommodated by assigning them where possible to different locations within the room or facility.
10. Do you need a vest, ID card or special harness for a service dog?
Under ADA service dog rules, items such as vests, ID cards or special harnesses are not required for service dogs. However, many service dog owners utilize these accessories as helpful tools that signal to the public that their dog is a service dog. By using a service dog ID card, vest or harness, a service dog handler can clearly indicate to members of the public that their dog is on duty and should not be disturbed. These accessories help to set proper boundaries so handlers can avoid invasive inquiries and interactions.
11. How do you certify or register a service dog?
Service animals do not need to be certified or registered to qualify as service animals. Employees and staff are not permitted to require documentation from a handler that the animal is certified, trained or licensed as a service animal as a condition for entry.
Some service dog owners will certify or register their dogs through an organization to help notify others that their animal is a service dog. However, these documents are optional and do not by themselves convey legal rights under the ADA.
12. My city requires dogs be registered and licensed, are service dogs exempt?
No, service dogs are not exempt from local registration and licensing requirements that apply to all dogs. This is different from organizations that register and license dogs as service animals. As discussed earlier, these organizations do not confer any official status on service dogs and their services are optional. If your city however requires all dogs to be licensed and registered, your service dog must also comply.
13. My city requires that dogs be vaccinated, is that applicable to service dogs?
Service dogs are not exempt from local rules regarding animal control and health. If your city requires vaccinations for all dogs, then your service dog must also comply.
14. Can a service dog be off leash?
Under ADA rules, a service dog must always be under the control of its owner. Service dogs must be tethered, harnessed or leashed unless the owner’s disability prevents them from using these items or these items interfere with the dog’s ability to safety and effectively perform its tasks. In situations where a tether, harness or leash is not suitable, the handler must maintain control of their animal through voice, signal or other means of control. An establishment can ask a handler to remove their service dog from the premises if the handler does not have control of their animal.
15. Can a restaurant or hotel force my service dog to remain in a certain area?
No, under ADA Rules for service dogs, handlers with service dogs cannot be isolated from other customers or treated less favorably than other customers. The establishment cannot have a special area for service dogs and limit the handler’s activities to that one area. For example, a hotel cannot limit guests with service dogs to designated “pet friendly” rooms.
16. Can a hotel charge me for staying with a service dog?
No, a business can never charge a deposit or fee in connection with service dogs. If the hotel charges a fee for pets, it must waive that fee for a guest who is staying with a service dog. Hotels are also not allowed to charge service dog owners cleaning fees to clean up hair or dander shed by the dog. However, if the hotel or other business usually charges guests for damages, a handler can be held responsible for paying for any damage caused by their service dog.
17. Are service dogs allowed in self service restaurants, such as buffets?
Yes, service dogs must be allowed to accompany their owners through self-service food areas such as salad bars and buffets. Service animals are also allowed in cafeterias such as those found in the workplace or on school campuses.
18. Are restaurants required to allow service dogs to be seated on chairs or be fed at the table?
No, seating at a restaurant and the food served at the establishment are for patrons only. A service dog owner is allowed to have their animal companion next to them, but they cannot expect the restaurant to allow the dog to be seated or fed at the table.
I’m a real estate agent. I want to stay out of trouble. People call me all the time and say they’d like to see 5 or 6 homes. I often meet the client for the very first time at one of the houses I’m showing. If the client shows up with a service dog, does their right to have a service dog, trump the right of the private home owners to say whether an animal walks through their house? Who’s responsibility would it be to clean up any messes the service dog may make?
I can guarantee a lot of home owners don’t want a dog in their house. Serious question, who would be responsible for any messes?
I have had a person bring their little lap dog on a home tour and it peed on the carpet. I was the one who ended up cleaning it and getting my butt chewed by the home owner. I let another person bring their dog in my car because they were looking at $2 Milllion dollar homes and it scratched up my leather seats. I love animals, but know that sometimes they make messes.
In a perfect world the buyer with the service animal would have told me before we met that they were bringing the service dog and I would have had time to call each owner and ask if they’d mind a dog in their house, but in the real world I don’t have 15 to 20 minutes for that conversation at each of the 5 to 10 homes I show, and usually none of these listings are my sellers and it could be very difficult to track down the list agent and the list agents home sellers to ask permission.
I asked the same question on a Realtor forum with over 1000 replies and it was split about 50/50 on the answers. Half said “It’s the law” and the other half said “It’s up to the home owner” What’s the right answer?
Is there anywhere, specific agency, person, or something in Arkansas – to report someone with a badly-behaved, untrained, fake service dog?
The Service Dog in question, the Owner should be asked to leave the premises if they cannot control their animal. If this animal were trained for someone who is blind, in a wheelchair that animal would have been trained through Service Dogs
However, if the animal is for Emotional Support then the owner doesn’t require training. Therefore the person should be told. My dog is for Emotional Support However I would never allow him to be misbehaved. It is up to the owner to train their animal. The animal behavior reflects the owner! Apparently he needs attention 🙄 I can put my dog in a grocery cart and he won’t move. If I carry him he wraps himself right up to my neck. He never barks or acts out!
This person makes it bad for others which is NOT right.
Question. I’m a manager at a pet friendly motel, which limits the number of pets per room to 2 with a combined weight of 150 lbs. I understand that service animals are not considered pets, therefore do not have to follow the same pet policies. I also understand that some individuals require more than one service animal. But do I have to allow a guest to have 4 large service animals stay in her motel room which is not large enough to accomodate 4 large service dogs and a human? I’m allowed to limit the number of adults allowed to stay in a 1 bed room, am I allowed to limit the number of service animals allowed to stay in a 1 bed room? Or can I require her to rent a 2 bed room due to the number of occupants (her service animals) just as I could require a person to rent a 2 bed room if they had too many people for a 1 bed room to accomodate? Their is a slight price difference in the one beds vs two beds, but a guest with 4 other adults would have to rent a 2 bed room at the slightly higher price because the 1 bed rooms are not big enough for 5 people. The one bed rooms are not big enough for 1 human and 4 dogs either.
With service animals it comes down to you must treat the individual the same as any other person who is a customer that doesn’t have a service animal …..
So with a 2 pet maximum per room it seems you would require a guest with say 3 or 4 dogs to get the 2 bed room as well, therefore it is reasonable to require that of the customer with the service animals as well.
In your case just to be certain I would reach out to local disability advocates as well as an attorney with ADA law experience & make sure, then also verify that your policy is written in such language that it is compliant to both ADA & fire/occupancy etc… standards – then post policy publicly
So I have 2 service dogs, one is guide trained due to I am legally blind, he knows how to forward, left , right, and stop for stairs and sidewalks that raise up. The other one is PTSD trained and knows block, watch, post, lean, and space. My husband job is relocating to another state, we went to look at a place and we got told we have to pay and extra 300.00 for pet fees, and get liability insurance on the animals for 300,000.00 due to her insurance does not cover them and I have to also provide her a doctors note on why I am needing my service dogs. My question is all this legal? I have all of this information including she will not proceed until she gets to speak with Fair housing in Kansas City, KS. in an email she just sent on Monday August 17,2020. Is there anything I can do about this situation?
Depends on the owner’s medical condition. What the dogs cues for this condition are. So whose to say if having the dog in the stroller is right or wrong? Is this individual hurting himself or others while the dog in the stroller? Nope?Then being different should not be a crime. As we all live in the Information age then being ignorant of the ADA rules regarding service animals should be..
Hello my landlord is trying to make me get pet insurance for a service dog they already knew about I’ve had this dog for almost 10 year and been with the landlord for about 6 is it legal for her to make me get pet insurance and threaten to evicted me if I dont
Nope!
Under the fair housing act. Your Landlord can not force you to pay a pet deposit,or uptain any pet insurance for your service animal. Nor can she try to evict you for non payment. A specially if she has known that your dog is a service animal,but shown contempt in regards to the law. Keep,& make detailed copies of every communication you’ve ever received from her on this. Over the years was there any mentioning of your service dog in the lease agreements? If so there is your answer. Sounds to me that after 6yrs of knowing that your dog is required to be there with you,& then wants extra money for your dog. That there may be an underlying story here..
Can you have multiple small pups as emotional support animals?
Or is there a cap of tye number?
Under HUD guidelines, there is no limit to how many ESAs you can have, but each ESA has to be recommended by your licensed healthcare professional to individually help you as part of your treatment. So your licensed professional must mention the exact number of ESA in the ESA letter. Airlines however will generally only allow you to fly with one ESA.
You may find this article that I’ve found on another website interesting – It discussed exactly the question of how many ESA’s you can have https://esadoctors.com/how-many-emotional-support-animals-can-you-have/
After being a very frequent (think 5-7 times a month) patron of Moe’s Southwestern for the past four years, my ADA registered service dog and I had a run-in with shift manager. He told us that I had to leave because no dogs were allowed in the restaurant. Both my boyfriend and I stated my dog was a service dog (wearing her vest and tags), and that she was allowed to be anywhere I was. She’s a 65lb 5 year old golden doodle. She was very well behaved, just as she always is there. The manager was rude and arrogant.
I do not want to go back. I’ve never been treated like that before….
I’m writing a letter to the general manager, I’m writing to their headquarters… I’d post on social media, but i don’t have facebook, twitter or whatever… If i could post signs on their doors I would. If I could hand out flyers i would.
They lost great patrons tonight. It’s too bad that people are so mean.
Depends on the owner’s medical condition. What the dogs cues for this condition are. So whose to say if having the dog in the stroller is right or wrong? Is this individual hurting himself or others while the dog in the stroller? Nope?Then being different should not be a crime. As we all live in the Information age then being ignorant of the ADA rules regarding service animals should be..
Bluegreen resort just denied my service dog. We could stay but for $300 additional cleaning fee.
Where did you certify and register your animal? I have found multiple “registries” and there doesn’t seem to be anything officially “official”…
Service dog registrations are not legally required. However, some service dog owners find their rights are more respected by businesses and landlords when they bring a service dog certificate or ID along. You may find this article on registration requirements interesting – https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/registration-requirements-service-dog-certification/
I have a service animal that is a “non-traditional breed” for the work and services provided. He was trained by me for specific needs for disability. I was under the impression that not all service dogs have certifications, but still are service? Once people see the things he can do it becomes less of an issue, but it takes time. People can be close minded and judgmental in general when they see his size. Dr.s confirm disability and service status, letters to prove.
We are being asked for “government papers” of service or he is considered an emotional support and can be charged an additional $300 pet deposit. Applying for income based housing HUD and I want to provide accurate and truthful information. If there is a government paper to obtain, we are willing to do it, but we managed to bypass when people saw the impact of his skills. Can you advise how to proceed? What do I need to do?
If a handler claims that his/her dog is a service dog but the dog does not appeared to have any service gear or tag.. is it still against the law to ask the handler for proof of documentation that the dog is a service dog??
Emotional Support Animals are different than Service Dogs. He/She does not have to accommodate an Emotional Support Dog. Emotional Support Aninals are only given the same rights as a service dog is.
I own a sandwich shop in a small town where a service dog took a shit on a heater. Smelled like shit for a week. Now I’m the shit shop. F the Ada
I’m training a Diabetic Alert Dog and she’s a year old now. She’s housebroken, obeys orders, and knows how to behave in public. Anyone know what the laws are on taking a D.A.D in training into a hospital for a check-up?
Emotional support animals are not covered in the way service animals are. Your landlord is under ZERO obligation to do anything. The only thing a landlord is obligated to do is let you have them and not charge you a pet fee. Even if the animal was an actual service dog I don’t believe they are obligated to do anything.
If I was trying to pay my balance at Indian Cove Resorts and walked in with my mini Australian Shepherd who is also a service dog.. he had his badge on and harness.. who would I report them to as stating, “I don’t care if he’s a service dog or not, he’s not allowed”
Thank you,
Lynda P
Me and my mom went into mount dora pizza with her service dog (alerts for when my mom has seizures,asthma attacks,etc) for a ladies lunch. When we asked where we would be seated a employee informed my mom that after the lunch she couldn’t bring her service dog back in with her anymore because other customers had complained about it in the past. We told them that we have her service dog’s id and papers stating what the service dog is for and has been trained for. Was the employee legally allowed to say that despite us having been in the restaurant multiple times before and only just recently after covid-19 started because other customers were complaining despite us having shown the owners and employees all legal documents for my mom’s service dog multiple times when customers have said something
Silver dollar city camp ground in Branson Missouri just denied my stay with my medical.support dog.
This is high illegal. It was to stay at a cabin on the campground.
I want to sue. How do I go about this.
My dog is not emotional support. She is medical support .
Indian Cove Resorts in Sandbridge VA told me to get out with my service dog other day and all I was doing was trying to pay my balance.. ?
Unfortunately the VA is one of the worst places a veteran can sometimes go with a SE. They don’t RX then; they don’t want to pay maintenance etc but, they’ll get it twisted as to if you have an ESA vs SA. The ones that are worse are the professionals that HAVE NO INTESTINAL FORTITUDE & document into your records you brought a dog to your appointment & never even ask you if it’s a service animal or yet better… You tell them it is at opening of seeing you & they state the same…..
What do you mean by medical support? There’s no such thing. Do you mean medical alert?
Can A police officer kick a service dog off the beach? and or ask for identification
No!!!! Not if You Both Are abiding ADA Standards.
Nope!
Service animals are always allowed to go anywhere you go. In any place that services the public such as the beach. Why would this cop require your id? Which you don’t have to show by the way. Have any laws been broken while on this beach with your service dog? Has your service dog broken any laws while on this beach with you? No! Then if no laws have been violated you,& your dog in the eyes of the law are golden This is when you ask this cop for their name? There badge #? What precinct are they from? The cop has to give it out. Then ask to speak with the watch commander. Then in the presence of his commanding officer. Ask.. Why if I,& my service dog have not broken any laws? Are we being asked to leave the beach? Why do you require, if no laws have been violated that I give you my ID? You know you’ve done nothing to warrant this type of behavior from this cop. Then voice your displeasure,& be demanding. But remember be calm,& use small words so they will have an clear understanding that you refuse to be treated in this manner..
I have experienced about everything and going through every demoralizing degrading insulting never ending discrimination with my Medical Alert Dog a four pd Chihuahua for the last 11 years. She is registered with the Animal Control as a Service/Medical Alert Dog but that doesn’t change the ignorance and stupidity of the people and you can never let your guard down. Always be prepared for the worst and I recommend that you register your dog with your local Animal Control. It gives you something to fight with as I am still fighting for the Rights for all of us with Service Dogs, especially the small breads who are so amazing in doing their Job.
I’m glad that the ADA now has rules and regulations that will help my dog become a true service animal. I think that my dog can provide vital assistance to my brother so I’ll find a service that will help my pet become certified. This way, we can abide by the ADA rules so that he can take the pet out to the public.
I work at a climbing gym. We allow dogs and of course we allow service dogs. We have a member who has a service dog that yells at people if they make a comment about the dog like “he’s cute!” or “you’re dog is really well trained”. She usually says something along the lines of “it’s illegal to ask me that” , “I can sue you for saying that” and such. One of our staff members was woking out prior to work, he has a similar dog and really likes hers, and he asked “how old is your dog?” trying to start a conversation, to which she said “you can’t ask me that it’s illegal”. Usually she yells and becomes aggressive and very upset. The dog has no identifying tags or vest that say he’s a service dog, which I know is not required. One person walked past her dog and as he passed the dog he pet him, the girl then started yelling and demanding that he be thrown out and that she can sue him and it’s illegal to have done that and that we’re legally required to tell people not to touch her dog and so on.
I guess my question(s) is / are:
1) Is it illegal for people to ask her how old her dog is?
2) Is it illegal to pet her dog (I know you’re not supposed to…strangers who don’t know…)?
3) Is it illegal to compliment her dog in any way?
4) Are we as a business required to tell people what they can and cannot do with her and her service dog?
Service Dogs are best described as an extension of a disabled person. If a patron can’t see; they help them see the unseen. If a patron can have a sudden attack that is a chronic condition or better yet preclude that attack then that’s freaking awesome I’d think. Would someone ask someone’s eye if they can be touched? Would someone want to pet a person having a seizure like event? No. No & No. As for your client she/he is not allowed to badger other inept clients just because they are maybe ignorantto proper standards of strangers interacting with service handlers & their SE. It’s not card blanch for skip your Prozac for the day. Not being funny or sarcastic or making light of any condition as I’ve actually seen people act a fool this way & it’s even scarier to know they operate a motor vehicle (most common deadly weapon know to most adults) & will probably jump in take off as they just tried to take off some poor clients head. Best of luck & you can refuse to serve on basis of handlers behavior that’s out of line. Just saying.
1) No it’s not. It’s a friendly conversation starter and the ADA Laws saying they may ask the following- They may ask if the dog is a service animal that is required due to a disability and what type of work or task the dog has been trained to do. There’s nothing in there saying you can’t ask a service dog’s age, merely about the dog, as opposed to other questions regarding service dog status.
2) You’re not supposed to pet the service dog if they’re on duty, or working. If there’s no sign the dog’s on duty or unordinary, it’s a common mistake and a simple misunderstanding. Next time she enters maybe ask her if her dog is on duty or not at the moment.
3) It’s not, like I stated in the first answer. If it’s not regarding the service animal’s status, there’s nothing offensive or illegal about it. She can’t sue you for saying her dog has nice eyes.
4) No you aren’t. In fact, your business has the right to refuse service for that woman. Individuals or groups who are causing trouble or being disruptive may be asked to leave. That woman has been disrespectful of other customers and by extension, your business. If her attitude is influencing other customers’ actions or disrupting others, you have full right to kick her out and ban her, service dog or not. If you choose to, however, I suggest recording a few minutes of the disruptive occurrences in case she tries to blame or sue you for anything.
I strongly suggest talking to the woman first and seeing how a conversation excluding the dog would differentiate. If she’s still rude, kick her out and don’t let her come back. That simple. I hope everything works out for you.
That’s the thing, there is no required documentation, & the reason for that is bc there are two different ways to get a service dog. If you get one from an organization, then you probably will get some form of documentation with it. However, people are legally allowed to train their own service dogs, & no documentation is required for those dogs. Before any goes off saying that people shouldn’t be allowed to do this, I will give you my own story. I’ve had multiple lifelong disabilities since my early 20’s (I’m 49 now). At age 36 I realized I was starting to need some assistance w/ walking/balance. I have osteoarthritis, numerous back injuries/diagnoses, fibromyalgia, traumatic brain injury & much more. I spent my whole career working w/ people w/ all types of disabilities as well as the elderly & caregivers. I needed to continue to be independent at home as well as at work as my medical issues got worse. I met w/ a team of physical therapists to decide what the best option as far as medical technology would be to help me. A service dog was the answer. However where I live there weren’t any programs nearby to help me get one, & I would have to be on a wait list 5+ years & then travel at least 4 hours away to a program I would need to spend weeks at training with a dog. Due to my condition, I’m unable to travel that far, nor could I afford the expenses. Then I would have a dog unfamiliar to me trained with commands that I wouldn’t necessarily want to use myself. So I decided that I wanted to give training a dog myself a shot. I didn’t know if it would work, but I’m pretty intelligent, so it didn’t hurt to try, & if I couldn’t do it then I had a pet dog at the very least. Well it turned out that I am very good at it as a matter of fact. I taught myself about dog behaviors first: what their different postures mean, what the different barks mean, etc. Then I learned how to do simple training & walking on a leash. I moved on to walking on a more advanced service dog harness & more advanced commands/tasks. You have to figure out what each particular dog will work for. For some it’s a treat, others a toy, but then you get to the point where all you need is praise. There are so many things I had to teach, & it is continuous as my needs progress. What I didn’t foresee was the amazing bond that occurred from training this way. I lost my 1st service dog to lymphosarcoma not long ago. It was like losing my right hand & part of my soul. We knew what each other were thinking before we did things. He was amazing. I miss him every second of every day. Right now I have my 7 year old & my 22 month old. I make sure I have 2, & get them 6 years apart, so that I’m never without one and so they always have companions. The problem that is out there is the FAKERS! The pieces of human CRAP that buy service dog equipment from the internet so they can bring Fido to the store & to the restaurant, & then the rest of the legitimate service dog owners have to deal w/ the problems brought on by these ignorant morons when their dogs pee all over everything or attack people. The answer is not taking away the ability to purchase these items over the internet though, bc people like me need to be able to purchase the equipment we need for our legitimate animals. There is no fast & easy answer, but changes are starting to be made in the airlines & in housing laws to weed out the fakers. The one thing I can say is that it is not easy to train your own dog, & I rarely recommend it to people anymore, bc in all the years I’ve been doing this the thing I notice all the time is that most people don’t even know how to properly walk a dog or teach them how to complete even the simplest task. I wouldn’t be doing them any favors by telling them they can train their own dog. I know there are more options out there now where private individuals will help w/ training, so that’s what I usually tell folks to check into when I’m asked 100 times at the grocery store if they can pet my dog, how can they get a dog like mine & how they wish they could bring their dog to the store. As for my responses to the other 2 questions…I would gladly give you my disabilities & pain so you can bring your dog to the grocery store!…and No you can’t pet my dog. It only says that in 6 places on his harness, collar & leash. He is working. Do not talk to him, do not whistle at him or make other goofy noises to distract him, leave him alone! Would you ask a person in a wheelchair to get up out of it so you can get in it & take it for a spin??? Well that’s what you’re doing when you’re distracting my dog from his job. If he is distracted & I fall, I have another medical condition where I have a bleeding issue & I’ll bleed out quickly & die. All for you to pet my dog. Really?? Think about that next time…I’m not saying that to the person whose comment I’m replying to, so please don’t be offended. This is just info. I wanted to put out there that people need. Thanks for listening!
i just wanted to say thank you for this comment! i trained along side 3 separate trainers since I was 17 so I could train my own service dog because I cant afford one from an organization nor do live close to one at all, its been two years and my dog is constantly still learning new tasks all the time even if she is considered fully trained. and where I live is a small college town so all the college kids bring their dogs and just throw vests on them and take them everywhere its frustrating.
My brother lives alone and he has diabetes, so, he is planning to have a dog. It was explained here that dogs can help people with disability. Furthermore, it’s recommended to consult experts when in need of medical alert service dog training.
Great advice to pursue with his clinicians.
Does a service dog owner have to carry proof that the dog is a service dog? I was told by a store manager that I must carry proof with me.
No. Google the Americans with Disabilities Act. It’s amazing that other people with disabilities (like myself) are not intimately familiar with a law written a full 28 years ago that is designed specifically to protect their rights.
No. Vests and ID cards are NOT required.
No, Not, Never, Ever But…. Said ADA patron might tell them by law they are not required to & you have your script or what not & the Direct Number to the Department of Justice so they report themselves as violating a disabled person’s right with all THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED & THEN TALK ABOUT YOUR PAPERWORK. Not yelling at you btw just ignorant ASSinine (yes extra s for extra stupid people) excuses of mankind. Ironic no! Mankind does not necessarily mean KindMan. Best of luck.
No you don’t. It’s not actually required by law.
Can people with dogs essentially lie that there dog is a service dog, just to force them down some one else’s throut?
Not really. As any legitimate service dog owner can attest, we spend many hours and a lot of money on training our dogs to become the service dog we need to help us through the day. If you encounter someone with a service dog, you are allowed to ask the following two questions:
1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
A true service dog owner will be able to answer these without hesitation. You may find this article on what makes a service dog legal interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/what-makes-a-service-dog-legal/
Does anyone know how it is handled when a spouse is refusing to let someone have back their service dog in a divorce? My service animal provides me assistance due to black out spells from multiple heart conditions as well as PTSD. My grandmother got sick and needed help so I went to help her but couldn’t bring my service animal due to the nature of everything. It was only supposed to be a few days and there would not be any period of time I was alone except sleeping. I found out my spouse is cheating on me and decided to stay longer. I told her I would work something out and come get my service animal and she has refused. She says that because I was able to go a few days without him and because he is still going through some extra training that I dont need him and she isnt giving him to me. My apartment complex contacted me today stating that he has been acting weird and barking at stuff and she is not properly handling him. He has never done that with me except once when a big dog someone was walking went crazy and tried to attack him and me. It has now been a couple weeks I have been trying to get him. Can she legally refuse to return him to me? If I have to deal with it in the divorce will the courts rule in my favor since its a service dog? I am just trying to find out how screwed I am or if I am going to get lucky with this because it is not easy and it is very time consuming and in some cases expensive to obtain/train a service animal.
Your Attorney is your best bet for the fasted return to you.
I’m pretty sure withholding your service dog from you is illegal. It actually counts as cruelty to the animal, number 13 on the list: “13. Intentionally or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a service animal with the intent to deprive the service animal handler of the service animal.” You can find this in Title 13. Criminal Code. Chapter 29. Offenses Against Public Order. I hope this helps and you get your dog back.
Please come to denver and teach people what a service dog is! I constantly see dogs who are obviously not service dogs in places they don’t belong. When I bring this to the management everyone here is so scared to say anything , that they just let these people continue about there lives.
If you are In a public place, where your dog doesn’t belong, I will approach you and ask about your “service dog”.
I love my dogs, they are my family, but they dont belong in the supermarket.
I would never take someones right to have a service dog away, but the blatant abuse to these loose definitions, and peoples misunderstanding of the rules is infuriating!
I work in a grocery in Virginia, an on several occasions customers bringing in dogs without service vests or identifying markings showing they are service dogs have either put the dog in the shopping cart where an infant would sit or I even had one customer with his dog inside a carrier, put the dog on the service conveyor belt where customers lie food to be rang up. Is this considered legal, and are they health code violations against this …!?!
I sincerely love all animals BUT I would never allow my pet or pets on the kitchen table or counters or any place where I would place food or have food …!
Are service animals allowed to be placed in shopping carts where food is placed or conveyor belts where food is being placed …!?! An what are laws concerning this …!?!
Service dogs don’t legally have to have a vest or anything. With that being said Virginia is horrible for people with actual service dogs. My local big box stores won’t mention names allows fake in does nothing and doesn’t care about actual disabled people. Several fakes have attacked my girlfriend’s service dog( he is for medical alert and response) and they did nothing. It ridiculous they are literally putting actual service dogs in danger by letting in fakes and pets. Just because they say it’s a service dog doesn’t mean it’s a service dog. Honestly all businesses should be asking 1.) Is it a service dog needed to mitigate a disability? And 2.) What tasks is it trained to do to mitigate that disability? Most fakes can’t answer the second question because their service dog is fake and isn’t trained.
People should be allowed to call out others who pass off pets as service animals and those dishonest people should be fined $1000.00 for each offense (and the money would go to the person doing the calling out). However if someone calls out a person who actually is disabled by mistake then the person making that mistake should be fined $5000.00. Obviously the $5000.00 goes to the disabled person and that should take some of the sting out of being treated that way in public.
Now how do we actually make that a law and keep people from killing each other when they try to collect the money?
Impressive how it’s what “you” deem & “where” “you” deem & please do not hide behind the passive aggressive comment of “I would never…” as you just did & didn’t have the decency to give tactful & articulate examples of your righteous decisions about people You highly like know absolutely about. Is the dog well behaved, attentive to handler, clean & conducting business that does not directly affect you? Confirmations you have come across a four legged mammal that behaves better than 10 year old 2 legged mammal that have usually had several humans by this time to teach them better than a dog; mans best friend. May you find enlightenment & peace….. & Not A Life Altering Disability That Leaves You Other Than Blind or Paralyzed as those are only two conditions SA’s are scripted for right?!?!?!?!
So when your service dog has completed training then what? If you’ve trained him yourself do you take him somewhere to be certified or do you need a doctors note? I’m confused on how people actually prove their dog truly is a service dog. Thank you
You don’t need to prove it, legally. I find it helps to carry around little paper print-outs stating the service dog law regarding identification, public access, behavior and actions, and a business’s expectations of a service animal. Or you could copy and print your service dog certificate. Hope this helps.
Why is it an issue to have people who have service dogs carry a card proving so? I have to carry my license to drive in case I am pulled over or if I want to buy alcohol/tobacco products. I have seen true service dogs at work. They are very disciplined and focused on their person/job. I have also seen dogs that are barely controlled by their person which makes me doubt they are truly service dogs. So how does an id card discriminate? Some states have fines/jail time if you lie about your animal being a service dog. How do you know they are lying if you can’t ask for proof? When it attacks someone and there is an investigation? Sadly some dog owners ruin it or those that actually have and need service animals. I will no longer shop in a store that has a dog walking around without a service vest on. Like many other people, I have had a bad experience with a dog (bitten) and am not comfortable around most of them. If I, or a family member, were ever to be bitten in a store by a dog whose owner falsely claimed that it was a service dog I would definitely look into suing the ADA for not providing a means for people to verify a dog’s service status. This law offers no protection to the general public and is abused by some pet owners…which is disgusting and why id cards, and vests, should be mandatory.
Having a license to drive a vehicle is a priviledge, having a disability isn’t. Individuals have a right to medical accommodations which is what ADA considers, service and therapy dogs. ADA & FHA consider ESAs non pets for housing.
I feel like until you experience what it’s like to have a disability you really need to stop complaining and keep your ableist opinions to yourself. Obtaining a service dog, or self training one, is already a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming process. There are plenty of disabled people who aren’t able to have service dogs, even under the current regulations, because they can’t afford to hire professional training, can’t afford a dog that would be able to meet their specific needs, or aren’t able to spend the time and energy required to self-train a service dog. Given how difficult the process of getting a service dog already is, adding any more requirements and red tape would make getting necessary accommodations even more impossible for disabled people. Not to mention the fact that people with service dogs deserve to be able to live their lives without constantly being harassed by strangers and asked for “proof.” Can you imagine if, every time you went to a store or restaurant, you were stopped at the door and singled out, asked to provide something other patrons don’t have to? It would be embarrassing and would make you feel alienated, which is something disabled people already regularly face. I agree that it is very wrong for an able-bodied person to try to pass off an untrained dog as a service animal, especially if that animal is aggressive. But making life harder for disabled people is simply not the answer, and you should try to have a little more empathy. It’s really difficult navigating a world that is typically not built to accommodate those of us with different needs, and we deserve to have easy access to accommodations and to be free from harassment. There will always be a few bad eggs that will take advantage of the system, but that’s not an excuse to make life harder for those of us with disabilities. The real solution is to spread awareness about how important it is for people to not present untrained dogs as service dogs, and to teach people to understand that accommodations are not an extra benefit but rather a necessity, and as such it is harmful to pretend to need one if you don’t. I know that even spreading that sort of message won’t stop every jerk who decides to fake a service dog, but I’d rather a few jerks get away with doing that than have a system which harms the ability of disabled people to obtain needed accommodations.
I don’t see a problem requiring service animals to have ID and vests in view at all times as long as you don’t have a problem being strip searched in full public view every time you want to visit a restaurant, grocery store, or other public place. After all you *could* be carrying concealed weapons or illegal drugs so strip searching you would provide a valuable public service. Does that sound like a fair trade to you? If not and if you want to keep your private parts private please respect the rights of people with disabilities to have a little privacy themselves.
My dog is black and we dont drive those vests make her to hot in summer
Same way just about anyone can have a baby…. It’s their business until you make it your business because they have no business….
How about you able bodied people who have the time to go bitching about trainined dogs and disabled business,go train your kids and grandkids to act right. Afterwards teach them and yourselves to mind your dam business!?!? Mmmmkay
Hahahaaaa! Im in love with you Ashley! Marry me, please!
Amen! Preach!!!🙏🏼
I am wondering about emotional Support dogs. I have a service dog because I am legally blind. I went to Walmart in Whitehall, PA where I live. As I was leaving the store, a young lady who had an Emotional Support Dog; and said oh look at the big dog and started walking towards me. I told her that she can not bring her dog over to me, because he is an actual service dog. This dog did not have a vest, orany paperwork with it. The person at the door told her she could not bring the dog in and the woman that was with this young lady, ignored her and kept on walking. Now I find a website for emotional support dogs and they are selling a kit for these dogs. I don’t think it is fair that they are doing this. And I wish someone would make a sign that says do not pet or talk to me I am working.
Thanks
Emotional support dogs are different than service dogs yes. Most definitely. Unfortunately, some clinicians have defined some patients who need device animals as psychological support animals or phrasing as such. Either, any & all require certification/script etc but, only a landlord is privileged to simple facts provided by clinician. As for people not listening… Ah. They simply don’t listen. Best wishes.
I just attempted to ride on our local regional bus service. I have a psychiatric support dog weighing 10 lbs. I was denied admittance on the bus, stating that emotional support animals are not allowed.
I have my service dog due to severe anxiety with dissociative panic attacks, and social anxiety.
My need for my dog is most important when trying to travel on public transportation. I am working with a mental health team, and taking public transportation is one of my goals. My community connection worker was with me as well.
The driver repeatedly said that ESAs are not allowed, and wanted proof that she was a service dog (certification, a vest or tag, etc.), and asked why she is a service dog.. I stated the ADA laws, and what he was allowed to ask, and the whole vest/ID thing. When I was trying to educate him, and he was being a self-righteous arse, I told him to look up the law. He walked away from me and supposedly called his supervisor. He came back and said that they do not allow “dogs for comfort”. SMH. if I can’t take my service dog on public transportation, I will remain isolated in my Bedrock-type town. That brings about a whole different set of issues.
Lastly, Having an invisible illness that is a sensitive issue, does anyone have suggestions for stating what her task is without disclosing my illness? She puts her paws or paws either around my wrist, or on my face when I begin to have a panic attack and zone out. This reorients me.
I refuse to spend my disability income on unnecessary id just to satisfy ignorant people and/or draw unwanted attention to myself. I will be lodging complaint with the DOT, along with a copy of the ada laws. Thanks. Sorry so long…
It’s simple. Clarify it’s not an ESA & ask them to stop the bus & all passengers as he/she makes contacts Senior Dispatch Employee. That’s already too much for goal/task at hand? No worries. I totally get that & your team is not just there to give out advice, homework & therapy. They should also help you navigate this situation In Person if they believe your service animal is necessary. Also, I would not afford a deferential/confusion of the ADA ignorant. Simply tell anyone who asks: it’s a service animal, yes it aided me with the disabilities & the services it renders aid me when my condition should arise or better it precludes some conditions. I wish you the best of luck, you are your best advocate & you’ve totally got this.🙏🏼
Is it illegal to film my service dog (even if They crop my face out, I’m a minor)?
I love dogs. Unfortunately I am living in an apartment where the tenant above me has a 50 pound support dog/service dog. I said unfortunately because the dog barks at various times and very loud. He scratches like crazy and we can hear the pounding on the wood floor. It is making us crazy. The tenant above us is nasty and not easy to talk to. We don’t have much help from Management either. She said, according to the laws he could have a horse if he wanted. PLEASE ADVICE. Do I have any rights?
By law service animals can not be unruly basically but, do not have to be seen & not heard 24/7. It’s sad as all dogs are not “born “ that way & it’s owner driven behavior unless maybe a medical condition. I hope you find help.
A Service Dog CANNOT CAUSE ANY DISTURBANCES or can be asked to leave ( ADA LAW )>
Show that to your manager and if it doesn’t cease you have TWO defendants —
the management in tandem with the egregious tenant.
QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THE PREMISES IS INHERENT IN ALL LEASES.
Different laws for service animals then emotional support animals where housing is concerned however a service dog in its own home is allowed to bark. Mine has to bark if unable to unlock a door to get me help if i crash so stating dog cant bark at its own home is bs. Now i do know that most apartments do have a quiet time and if dog is barking during that time you may want to stop being selfish and maybe knock on their door and make sure they are not dying and need an ambulance
I started training my service dog in public after getting over the fear of what my interaction with people will be. Trust me my dog is far from being perfect and passing the test but we just started this journey. I went to the gas station and immediately the owner starts falsely yelling that my dog was sniffing the food etc even tho he was nowhere near the food. My dog sat calmly next to me as I stated the laws and a customer watched this whole interaction. If you see a dog with a handler even if the dog isn’t behaving perfectly approach us nicely please. Some of us are still afraid and just trying to live our life as best as we can. You never know what that person is going through It’s not like you yell at little kids that misbehave like that. My dog and I are trying but we are not perfect.
If a so called “service dog” is allowed to urinate and even “poo-poo” in a hotel room, must the hotel extend their stay or can they be denied a room?
If the dog is not housebroken, does damage or is aggressive and cannot be controlled by owner. You can ask guest to remove animal and charge damage fee. You cannot ask the guest to leave.
I’m having difficulty understanding why an establishment which doesn’t allow animals has to change their policy just because someone CLAIMS to have a service animal. I have no problem allowing a well trained service animal, but if I have no right to ask for proof, there is no merit to the law. A doctor has to have a degree and prove it by displaying his credentials. Therefore why can’t we ask for credentials for the service dog. People everywhere are taking advantage of this law and bringing untrained FIDO everywhere. Where is our protection???
You don’t have a right to demand “protection” when that protection would make life more difficult for the disabled community. You don’t have a right to complain about accommodations that are trying to even the playing field so that those of us with disabilities have a chance of living comfortably in a world that doesn’t do much to help people who have different needs. I know that you think it isn’t a big deal to require credentials, but requiring that sort of “proof” both creates extra barriers for disabled people and opens disabled people up to harassment and to social alienation.
Obtaining a service dog, or self training one, is already a difficult, expensive, and time-consuming process. There are plenty of disabled people who aren’t able to have service dogs, even under the current regulations, because they can’t afford to hire professional training, can’t afford a dog that would be able to meet their specific needs, or aren’t able to spend the time and energy required to self-train a service dog. Given how difficult the process of getting a service dog already is, adding any more requirements and red tape would make getting necessary accommodations even more impossible for disabled people. Not to mention the fact that people with service dogs deserve to be able to live their lives without constantly being harassed by strangers and asked for “proof.” Can you imagine if, every time you went to a store or restaurant, you were stopped at the door and singled out, asked to provide something other patrons don’t have to? It would be embarrassing and would make you feel alienated, which is something disabled people already regularly face. I agree that it is very wrong for an able-bodied person to try to pass off an untrained dog as a service animal, especially if that animal is aggressive. But making life harder for disabled people is simply not the answer, and you should try to have a little more empathy. It’s really difficult navigating a world that is typically not built to accommodate those of us with different needs, and we deserve to have easy access to accommodations and to be free from harassment. There will always be a few bad eggs that will take advantage of the system, but that’s not an excuse to make life harder for those of us with disabilities. The real solution is to spread awareness about how important it is for people to not present untrained dogs as service dogs, and to teach people to understand that accommodations are not an extra benefit but rather a necessity, and as such it is harmful to pretend to need one if you don’t. I know that even spreading that sort of message won’t stop every jerk who decides to fake a service dog, but I’d rather a few jerks get away with doing that than have a system which harms the ability of disabled people to obtain needed accommodations.
I hope you can look back on your comment and realize that you were being a little bit selfish, and that in the future you can think less about how these things inconvenience you and think more about the needs of people who don’t have things as easy as you.
Unfortunately most of the people I see have dogs that are truly not service dogs. They are people that just want their pets with them is want to avoid paying a pet fee. I realize that dogs for the blind go through extensive training. I understand that dogs for many different disabilities are trained for many different things. What I don’t understand is why there is not a basic training required for ALL service dogs that are going to be in public. At least pass the Canine Good Citizen training. I don’t know the percentage of false service dogs. You keep referring to “a few”. I would guess more than half are not. At least here in Southern California. Go to the malls in Orange County. Everyone has a dog with them and they are all “service dogs”! I’m a special ed teacher and have gone through training for 2 therapy dogs. I just think it has gotten out of control and there needs to be some accountability.
Well put Sara and Jacquie your protection is your common sense and the same as it is when out in public in other places. Do you demand that people walking their dogs, playing in the park or have a parrot or monkey give you certified protection as to their behaviour?
The merit is it’s illegal to ask as it’s illegal to fake the funk shall we say. Would you like people to infer you are inferior having service animal allowed you to leave your house as it is a deterrent or assists you when you have seizure like disorder only You Are Fully Awake & Can’t Move, Talk or maybe even blink? Would you like to be an almost absolute shut in because you were afraid of being vulnerable after the worst things that humans can do to each other has left you in this disabling state. It kills me it’s simple. If someone has a service animal & animal does not cause harm to others than who are we to give them a harder time in life. I simply think of how would I like to be treated?!?
HARASSMENT — everywhere they go everyone can ask for papers? Doctors aren’t asked for credentials everywhere they go for they are not doctors everywhere they go — only at the hospital. Incredibly imbecilic analogy — if I were judging a debate
in my editor capacity — you’d get an F and thrown off the debate team for a poor paradigm.
You’d make a fine Nazi.
Do I need a written note or “prescription” for a service dog?
https://esadoctors.com/ask-doctor-emotional-support-animal-letter/
For it to be certified? You would need it to be evaluated by a government approved evaluator for the legal certificate. To prove to others? You need no proof according to the law.
Is an emotional support dog prescribed by a physician or psychologist a service dog?
A canine ESA is never a service dog, it’s always an ESA. ADA only allows ESA’s protection under FHA. You can Google it for more info.
https://esadoctors.com/emotional-support-animal-doctors-note/
Either to include psychiatrists & therapist….
If my service dog doesn’t have a service vest or tags can a business or fast food place or restaurant ask to see the tags for him?
Why would your service dog not have a vest or tags?
Does a Service Dogs have to wear a vest? You may be surprised to learn that according to the Americans with Disabilities Act Service Dogs are not required to wear a vest at all, in fact they are not required to have any identification at all.
https://www.workingservicedog.com/do-service-dogs-have-to-wear-a-vest.aspx
You aren’t legally required to show any credentials. If you decide to carry identification, that’s your choice that would probably benefit you if you do want to prove anything, but you’re not required to. You have nothing to prove and they must serve you and the animal regardless.
Question: Can a landlord in low income housing ask a tenant to not leave their service dog alone at home for long periods of time?
If it’s a service dog, it should be with you at all times
No
Regular housing is regular housing — not a hotel.
Can leave alone all they want as long as the animal is not causing a disturbance to the other tenants.
Illegal to ask that is animal is fine alone.
My tenant (in a rental house) has a service dog for her 7 year old daughter. Am I allowed to collect a damage deposit for the pet? Also, there is an HOA community pool. Service dogs are allowed, but what happens when the child is in the pool? She would need an adult with her – what happens to the dog?
No deposits allowed.
Read the ADA.
Is it ok for pet screening to ask you for an Esa letter for a handler?
No
IT IS NOT LEGAL FOR A LANDLORD TO DO THAT. SUGGESTION: SEND A COPY OF YOUR RIGHTS TO LANDLORD.
ALONG WITH STATEMENT ASKING DO THEY NEED YOUR LAWYER TO CONTACT THEM AND HELP WITH ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY STILL HAVE!! 🙂
If a patient brings in a “service” dog to a surgical clinic, can I require them to sign a form that affirms the need due to a disability (we don’t ask what it is) and that lists what work or task it has been trained to do. it is standard to put that information into our medical record.
Your request does not seem unreasonable, however I believe you cannot require written info. However you can ask what work it has been trained for and most people with disabilities that are not obvious don’t have a problem explaining what it is. Also if I remember correctly Airlines as for the doctor’s letter, but no sure the new regulations have outlawed that. Go to the ADA Rules and Regulations for service animals to confirm.
Not, Not, Never, Ever…. Unless breaking Department of Justice Laws are acceptable too?!? Even healthcare worker have to respect boundaries of HIPPA . So, unless the the day wound care has anything to do with the seizure like disorder one has say from extensive PTSD; hands off…. Just saying.
Yes. Those are the exact questions businesses and companies are legally allowed to ask, and there shouldn’t be a problem with them filling out that form.
Read the ADA — unbelievable you run a clinic and don’t know the law —
you’ll be in for the lawsuit of your life — on so many levels.
Ignorance is not bliss in this case.
does a dog go through harsh training to become a service dog
No, any trainer that is harsh should be reported for animal abuse. Good trainers do it with time, patience and knowledge.
Not necessarily.
We have a customer at our restaurant who’s service dog is filthy causing other patrons to complain. The dog is not groomed and leaves excessive amounts of fur behind. What actions can we take to keep this from happening?
If a service dog is not under control and the handler fails to act to gain to control, a business owner or staff member is permitted to ask that the animal be removed from the premises.
A handler may also be asked to remove a service dog that is not housebroken, is behaving aggressively, or is otherwise posing a threat to human health and safety.
Absolutely! Thank you for tactfully, respectfully & by legal statutes putting things into plain English.
Service Animals have to BE CLEAN.
Just like the people entering the restaurant.
Our apartment complex wants a signed form from my husbands doctor saying what’s wrong with him and why he needs the service dog when she is registered and has an identification card, if we do not get this form signed from a doctor then we will have to pay a $450 fee to have her in our apartment…. one question… is this legal?
This is not legal.
No ma’am! That is not legal! 1st you can explain to the landlord, that your husband’s “health records” like their own are protected under HIPPA law.
In order for me to even get my service dog I had to provide the trainer a “order” (if you will). So that again is covered under HIPPA.
THEN Kindly ask them to look up and read their rights along with yours.
In there it will state THEY CAN NOT ASK NOR REQUIRE THAT INFO.
I hope this rate helps in some way…
I love in a small close minded area…its very hard w a derive animal…
No. Requiring anything besides a doctor indicating it’s medically needed is in violation…..
Boy, are they playing fast and loose.
Tell them no way, and let them try and evict you.
They will be in for a lesson they never will forget when your attorney takes over.
And you will afford a much nicer place, compliments of their Criminal Behaviors towards you.
Where is she registared ? Thru this company or thru the federal governments company . go back and read ada laws there is no legal registory
When going through training with my Service Dog, I was taught that ALL Service Dogs are trained to have “all four on the floor”, meaning that if it is being carried (or pushed in a stroller, buggy or cart), then it could be a Support Dog, but is NOT a Service Dog by ADA standards.
My service dog weighs 19 pounds and is 16 inches tall. There are lots of public situations where “all four on the floor” puts her in danger of being stepped on. So yes, when we are in a crowded area she is often carried. For her own safety. And if she feels unsafe on a crowd she will put her front paws up on my thigh, which is exactly what she is trained to do if she is afraid of all the feet around too close to her. And occasionally when we are sitting in a crowded area she is on my lap rather than under the chair. Especially if there are lots of kids around trying to bother her. Unlike a bigger service dog, parents don’t seem to feel their kids need to respect a tiny dog. So if I don’t feel like babysitting other people’s kids, the dog sits in my lap where I can be 100% sure she isn’t being harassed.
If you are legally allowed to be there, then so is your service animal. Allergies of other people is not a reason to not allow you access.
recheck your information that is not stated in the ADA rules and regulations.
There is NO ADA requirement for service dogs to have “all four on the floor”. That is a common misconception. There are rules however, regarding service animals not being on tables or chairs, such as in eating establishments…nor are they required to provide food or water for a service animal. No legitimate service dog handler would have their dog anywhere but quietly at their feet under their table. There are many “small” breeds that serve as service dogs & it is not unusual for them to be carried. Also, PTSD dogs are often trained to provide “tactile stimulation” by putting their upper body in their handlers lap to put pressure against their abdomens. This trained action (task) would leave only “two feet on the floor”. This is one of the tasks my dog is trained to dog when I experience a panic attack.
Again, idiots who think they have an actual medical background.
Reference “Seizure Alert Animals” — many require to be next to the person’s torso.
I was asked by a n Amtrack rep to tell her what School and the name of the instructor where my dog was trained. Also, what service she provided. Did I have papers? I have had 2 stroke s since I got her, I told the rep that and she scoffed audible. It’s not like there is a GUIDE DOGS OF THE STOP BREATHING.
There two things they can ask Is this a service do and what is it trained to do and that can’t be done by just everyone that works at the company. What she did was not only wrong and officious but illegal. Go to ADA rules and regulations its an easy read.
Susan, my sympathies, I too have run into such ignorant people while out with my service dog. Here is a link to the ADA website you might find helpful. https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Fired & Federal Fines for that employee ASAP. Just saying.
Is a hospital or doctors office allowed to insist on a copy of vaccinations for a service dog in order for the service dog to accompany me?
No. Get a good attorney.
Especially since vaccines CAUSE disease and do not prevent it and it is a violation of your personal and religious rights
on top of ADA Laws which are FEDERAL.
Actually all service animal have to be vacinated and spayed or neutered. So if its your doctor why not show them because unvacinated posses risks to others pets at home especially parvo
How do I get myself a service dog.
I have psychosomatic pain since 2016 and it really takes in so much life quality because I have the pain everyday and I don’t know what to do anymore. I think a service dog would give me a big more lifevback
So how do I get one??
If you don’t need it to do something physical for you (at least three separate tasks such as: turn on light switches, help open doors, pick up items, step on your foot if you stop moving, provide itself as a pillow if you’re having a seizure, etc) then you probably need an ESA instead of a service animal. Those are not service dogs but can provide emotional support. Sometimes just having a pet to take care of can help with quality of life. Ideally you’ll need to speak to your doctor if you think you qualify for one and they should help you identify what tasks you need assistance with and give some sort of recommendation as to what type of service animal will work best for you.
This is crap generalization, my dog is trained to calm me in the event of an anxiety attack, if you have never had one then you have no right to comment, also PTSD & anxiety are no longer considered emotional disorders, if they ever were to begin with. Please be more informed before you state what you “know”
There is no basis in law that a service animal has to be trained to do three service tasks.
I think someone has gotten the law quite confused… By law enforceable by Department of Just “3” simple QUESTIONS are allowed to be asked. Not Tasks. If the question of tasks SA does; required answer cannot violate one HIPPA Rights. Ie seizures: aids & attends to a disruption I may experience. Not good enough??? Too bad….
Please KNOW what you are talking about before you give out information to people! A Service Animal is NOT required to perform 3 tasks to be a Service Animal! It amazes me how many people give out false information. It goes to show how many people are falsely passing off a SA. It is infuriating because these types of things are part of what causes major issues for legitimate teams.
I have no idea where you are getting the three task idea. As service dog is one that is trained to assist its owner in whatever way to go through life with their disability. No where in the ADA regulations does it state three of anything.
By law 3 questions are allowed to be asked… Enforceable by Department of Justice. Answers appropriate should not leave a handler feeling as if their HIPPA Right are violated & should be asked & answered respectfully….
Humane society
Dumb Response, you haven’t a Quality medical background ( actually read the ADA ) for 70% of all ADA are UNSEEN. PTSD is one of them.
It sounds like you don’t need a service dog but you might need a therapy dog. Not being a doctor though I cannot know for sure what you need. The first step you need to take is to talk to your doctor. Tell him why you think you need a service dog. Then listen to your doctor. A service dog is used for medical reasons. If you are not pleased with what your doctor says get a second opinion. Just remember that a dog cannot be a service dog without a doctor saying that you need a service dog and the dog must be trained either by you or a professional trainer.
Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?
I work at a hotel which is pet friendly. As soon as the words Service Animal come into play we do not ask questions. However, I have seen guests that will say the same thing thinking we do not allow pets or because they want to avoid the $20 dollar pet fee that our hotel enforces. Which to me is both EXTREMELY offensive and absolutely disgusting. Service animals are hard working individuals that work to ones disability. Which to me should not be used lightly with people who do not have service animals and just want to take a short cut. I have always thought a vest stating service animal on a service animal should be instated, to be able to differentiate from a working animal versus a pet for leisure. I have read some comments that state it brings negative attention. NO service animal owner should ever feel less of an individual. I think it’s AMAZING what these animals can do for people. Shame on those who bring negative energy attention to service animal owners.
Thank you…I have a service animal and have more times than I care to count be aggressively attacked by people who think because she is small she is not a service animal. I would have no problem with a certification registry, however, we all know this too can be abused.
They all have vests now, fake or real.
There are a great deal of sick people who seem normal otherwise and have functional jobs who harass and segregate Service Dogs and their people ALL THE TIME. Hence, why they don’t wear vests all the time, nor are required to at all. Anyone who challenges the FEDERAL LAW will end up losing in court ( and paying a great deal of money to the person offended — hence the Law ).
I think businesses should be allowed, to have a release of liability form signed by the people coming in with their “service animals”. I’m for the service animals don’t get me wrong. But I also don’t think someone should be allowed to take advantage of a sensitive situation at someone else’s expense.
So should people in a wheelchair have to sign a liability release? How about people on oxygen? Crutches? Service Dogs are medical equipment and is is inappropriate to treat someone with a disability different than you treat the general population.
Darby I understand somewhat your argument however,a wheelchair or oxygen are static and benign . A dog can cause some damage as can the monkey, horse or parrot who can move on its own. I have a service dog, my problem is with humans, however I would have no problem with a picture id and service jacket as part of the package. It would and does save me from harassment by self serving people.
If the animal is indeed a trained service animal the chances are slim of anything negative happening.
If a person is falsely presenting an untrained un certified animal and something happens, the person will be liable and can also face fine and imprisonment for falsely presenting the animal.
The fact that the business cannot force proof will relieve it of liability as long as it follows the rules of the ADA
Exactly. Everybody wins.
A real service dog NEVER poses a Threat.
A real service dog ALWAYS is housebroken.
A real service dog NEVER growls at ANYONE.
A real service dog NEVER barks in a facility.
A real service dog is OUTGOING AND FRIENDLY.
A real service dog may lick you to death, that’s about it.
I agree I cannot tell but looking at a glance whether or not the service animal it’s actually a service animal I thought we were allowed to at least ask is it a service animal and if so just let it go or you know it would have been nice if they’d had a vest on or something but it puts us some of us people in predicaments especially security officers
It is my understanding that if you ask “is that a service animal?” their answer of yes takes the responsibility off of the business and puts it on the handler. correct me if i’m wrong.
Are release of liabilities required for children entering premises?!? A true service animal is less of a nuisance than your average child these days & they don’t have the waitresses cleaning the rubbish they throw/drop… They don’t scream like their possessed & in need of a priest & they are required to have all common health shots….
The absence of requiring that the dog has identification is a huge problem as wayyyy too many people are claiming their pets as assistance dogs. A simple photo ID of dog alike a personal identification card does not invade anyone’s ability to have an assistance dog. I’ve seen kids nipped at in places like Walmart from people claiming they are working animals. No trained dog would bite a child.
People should teach their children to keep a distance from any dog they do not know. People are constantly distracting my service dog while he is working because they want to pet the nice doggy…they should know better. This is how a person gets bitten by a “fake” service animal. Also, the laws need to make the penalty greater for passing off a pet as a service animal. You don’t ask a person in a wheel chair to “prove” his/her disability even though an electric wheel chair can seriously injure a bystander (I know because I use one & have run over more than one foot). Most people are smart enough to keep a reasonable distance from my wheel chair…why can’t they figure out the same with my service dog. Don’t punish the honest handlers of service animals for the ignorance or audacity of others. That being said, “fakers” tick me off too!
Kids should be more patrolled at ALL TIMES BY PARENTS OR CARE GIVERS. Service animals are not pets so if a handler says no… No is no. Take the kid to the zoo for crying out loud. Service animals are there for their handlers & not to entertain someone’s child…. Of course the parent that disagrees can trade places with the disabled patron & enjoy. No? I didn’t think so….
Of course not, but why are they approaching and petting them in the first place.
Stay away from them, end of that problem.
I agree with this completely. A “service dog” lunged at me in a grocery store and a “service dog” held by a.person next to me on an airplane was all over me. Too many people are abusing this (my neighbor, who just wants to take his pet everywhere, included). I.D. cards should be made mandarory.
And then what happens when traveling if your wallet is stolen as mine was while moving across 7 states in the dead of winter
how much training is needed to be certified?
The ADA does not outline the amount of training a service dog requires. However, the animal should be trained to provide a task for your disability.
No “official “ training required. Training is required; in other words if someone has a condition a response by animal should be performed to a manner of that person’s condition. There are not nationally or state official certifications Blessed by fed or state….
if you get a traiuner to do your dog itakes about 2000 hrs to train a dog for service work i started with mine whwn he was 6 months old allso ada stated the the dog has to be 18monts to 2yrs old to be a service dog noy a 6 month old puppy also the animals has to be fixed
Do service dogs need to have a patch or label somewhere starting they are service dogs?
No. But most of us put vests on that say DO NOT TOUCH, WORKING SERVICE ANIMAL. It cuts down on people messing with s legitimate team. Besides when the vest is on its work time…when its off yea my guys still work for me at home…but its i csn be a dog time too. I’ve put hundreds if not over 1000 hours into my 2 service animals. Not to mention the cost of taking care of them. Mainly, we just want to be left alone. Let me shop, get my groceries and GTFO of where im at. Most dont like to spend an extended amount of time anywhere because of how others perceive them and their SD.
I’ve found patches and labels actually bring more negative attention than just traveling with my service dog without identification. I use ADA rules to determine hard line rules of what I HAVE to do: Have a prescription. Have an animal trained in 3 tasks I cannot do myself. No registration/certification/”special training regime” is required. However, a manager of a facility may ask what the tasks the animal is trained to perform. They MAY NOT ask my medical condition.
If a business offers offsite camping cabins are they required to allow their volunteers to bring a service animal? Many attendees may have allergiesetc that would also be using the cabins and this is causing a problem. I would appreciate your assistance.
If you are legally allowed to be there, then so is your service animal. Allergies of other people is not a reason to not allow you access.
Exactly. Their problem, not yours.
I’m allergic to some people, they aren’t going anywhere.
I have three small service dog. One is elderly and I don’t have the heart to put him down. I don’t take them places other than in my truck. They calm me from my aniexty and alert me to the door. I have many health issues and find it extremely hard to not have them for one day. I’ve trained them for certain jobs as in the past I’ve trained security dogs. One has a natural talent of letting me know when my blood sugar is off. No service dog should be urinating or attempting anger issues in public. What I’ve found that some animals just detect bad people and go into high alert. A good service dog is a well trained service dog.
No
No, Not, NEVER!!!! Handler might buy one though online because they’re tired hassle from ignorant of the law or because they’re being sketchy about actually having a medical reason & again ignorance comes into play.
Question.
If someone is claiming they have a service animal ,but is pushing it around in a stroller is this a nominal thing for owners with service animals
That service dog could be trained to detect insulin levels, have alerting behaviors… Are you in a position of knowledge to know all the services an animal could assist a person with? Sounds like you have a bias.
Perhaps you might want to learn more about the extensive uses animals can provide in lieu of deciding its viability based on the handlers care-taking preferences.
I do have a bias when I see “service dogs” snarling at passerbys from a shopping cart, lifting their leg on store products and barking incessantly at other “service dogs”. I know how many hours go in to training an authentic SERVICE DOG, I don’t consider an untrained, spoiled, yapping lap dog a service dog. I consider them annoying and a potential danger to those exposed to them.
I agree. If the person needs a service dog, it should be properly trained. People shouldn’t pass their ill-behaved dog off as a service dog. Ridiculous!😒
Note if the dog is a genuine service dog such situations would be extremely rare as the Dog and human have typically had extensive training. However, in rare circumstances if a dog is behaving aggressively or not under the owners control, it is not a legally service dog for that time period that the behavior is manifested, even if it is trained. Most people with real service dogs have been trained to understand that there may be temporary situations when their dog is not protected by the ADA because in that moment the animal is unable to serve its function. Again that is exceeding rare. Once the animal is under control and able to perform its assistive function their has it’s legal protection again. An example may be, the service dog becomes suddenly ill and has uncontrollable diarrhea, in that instance a restaurant could legally ask the person to take their dog outside, but if the diarrhea stopped then the person would be within their legal right to ask to return.
I some what agree but the comments about size is not ok I had small dog for my ptsd but behaved is a problem in my eyes
Lol sounds like you dont like small dogs…. Not all people “look like” they have disabilities.. I have a “lap dog” who is gentle and quiet.. And it also sounds like you know everything, including knowing how every “lap dog” is a potential danger to those exposed to them. Chill out dad gum!
I agree with you. Recently I was in a restaurant and asked to provide documentation for my service dog. I explained the ADA rules regarding service dogs to the server. Later, she apologized and said a so called service dog was in the restaurant and lunged at a child.
I explained even if the dog was legit, at that point they had the right to remove the dog.
I really feel it wasn’t a service animal. I could never see my service dog acting in that manner.
You seriously need to read up on the ADA.gov website before you end up in a lawsuit.
Service dogs can be trained by their owner. They do not have to go somewhere to be trained
Those are not “Service Dogs” — Common Sense, they have to be well-behaved.
And NO Pitbulls. Not Service Dog Quality.
there is nothing stating pitbulls cant be service dogs
Thats not a service dog
Too many people are trying to (and with no recourse) pass off pets as service animals. I see it TOO often in grocery & retail stores. It’s a problem for management because they feel their hands are tied because of the rules. I think anyone with a service animal should provide documentation if asked. I am allergic to dogs, and I’ve seen (obviously NOT service) dogs on restaurant chairs eating from human plates, in grocery carts, … I realize that I am in the minority, & would love to have a dog as a pet, but it’s not an option with my severe allergies.