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How ESAs Help Seniors in Assisted Care Living Facilities
There’s something about a wagging tail and a furry face that lights up the atmosphere and brings people together. Dogs and cats can brighten up a room. But, perhaps more importantly, they can heal. This healing factor is why emotional support animals can help seniors in assisted living facilities. What is an Emotional Support Animal? […]
Can I Take a Service Dog to College?
Service dogs are not just for the visually or hearing impaired individual. Service dogs have lent a helping paw to individuals with a broader range of physical and psychological conditions. But what if you are a student and need a service dog? Will colleges allow dogs on campus and into the classroom? Read on for […]
Service Dogs for Mobility Issues
For people with mobility issues, a service dog can provide life-changing help. This assistance animal will help with daily tasks, like retrieving items, helping with balance, or opening doors in public places that would otherwise be of great difficulty for people with mobility issues. A service dog that is specialized in mobility issues suffered by […]
I have been diagnosed as bipolar as well as having underlying medical problems (chronic kidney disease & Migraine & mobility problems with left hand). What do you suggest I do to get a small service dog? I am 77 years old.
We recommend speaking to your healthcare professional to determine whether you have a disability that could be assisted by a trained service dog.
How does one enforce the misrepresentation of a dog as a service dog (a misdemeanor)?
That is something that is enforced by the state in places where misrepresenting a service dog has been criminalized.
This is fraudulent behavior. You are basically encouraging people to have their pets listed as ESA’s without any formal training. You are creating an absolute nightmare for restaurant managers and owners. Additionally, you are creating major difficulties for local health departments. Shameful…
We think you have misread our article – ESAs do not require any formal training and they do NOT have the right to enter public areas like stores. Emotional support animals only have rights for housing and require a letter from a licensed healthcare professional. As this article highlights, service dogs have different rights under the ADA and are trained to perform specific tasks relating to a disability.
I am consistently harassed by restaurants and people when my little trained service dog is with me. It’s just awful here in California.
Harassment of service dog owners is prohibited. If third parties have doubts about a person’s service dog and want verification, they can ask two questions: 1. Is the service dog required because of a disability? and 2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
These are the only questions permitted; are they required to be answered in any meaningful way? Could someone simply say they prefer not to disclose that?
Third parties have a right under the ADA to verify a person’s service dog by asking the two allowed questions. If the person refuses to respond, they may be denied entry.
I would like a dog for mobility. Do you train for this?
Unfortunately we do not offer any training services or referrals. Our products and services are only for already qualified service dog owners.
So if you do not need to register your service dog and businesses are not permitted to ask for documentation proving its a service dog…. Cant anyone deem their dog a service dog?
I guess i am trying to figure out, “who” determines if the dog is a legit service dog especially if we are able to train them personally and aren’t required to do so by a professional. Are service animals self declared as service animals if we train them to remind us to take medicine?
Also, In California, I just had a hotel tell me my service dog cannot come to the pool or the restaurant with me…Is that legal?
. Thank you for your help.
If you have a legitimate disability and your dog is fully trained to perform jobs relating to your disability, then it can properly be represented as a service dog. It is up to each person to honestly represent their service dog needs, and there are actually penalties under law for falsely telling others you have a service dog.
Service dogs are generally allowed in areas like pools and restaurants, as long as their presence does not create a health or safety issue.
Do you have to have a relationship with your therapist for 30days for a service dog or is that only for emotional support animals?
We believe you’re referring to the new 30 day rule for emotional support animal letters in California. That is not applicable to service dogs, and in any case you do not need a letter for a service dog.
I would feel better if I had a dog that could alert/respond to my seizures and shunt malfunctions. I would also love to to have a dog that would activate my life alert “help”button and only bark when the responder is done talking. I’m probably asking for too much.The other problem is that I don’t have much money.
Question, we are in California, and had a member of our quilt guild show up with a very small therapy dog. She’s never had one before. We meet at an Elks Lodge. She had some card so was allowed to stay.. She then set out a bed and a pee pad for the dog. The dog was on a leash and walked with her everywhere. We are all older and having a very small dog on a leash walking around is definitely a hazard. This time we had tables set up so there was room under a table, but we usually just have chairs. With 113 people moving around, I was very uncomfortable with that small dog walking on a leash.
We are at a loss for what the rules are, but reading some of the above the should have been in a carrier or in her arms, but not walking around, or with a bed and a PEE pad!
Any help would be beneficial. Thanks
Therapy dogs do not have public access rights. The only type of assistance animal with general public access rights is a service dog.
It says you are not required to register your service dog under California law then later says make sure you register to comply with state law. I’m lost on this .
Sorry for any confusion – you do NOT need to register a service dog. Registration is a completely optional step for service dog owners.
Can a dog that is potentially dangerous be a service animal or emotional support dog.
Dogs that are dangerous to others are not suitable as service dogs or emotional support animals.