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Do I Need a Doctor’s Note for a Service Dog? – Service Dog Requirements
With the chaotic times we live in, many people are having difficulties both emotionally and mentally. When a person finds themselves in this situation, they may feel overwhelmed and even hopeless. When this happens, some doctors and mental health professionals are recommending the use of service dogs. However, the term “service dog” is becoming a “catch-all” term. Real service dogs are trained to perform a specific task for the physically or mentally challenged individual. This also includes psychiatric service dogs for folks that suffer from PTSD or bipolar disorder (to name a couple).
Why do professionals feel a service dog can be beneficial? It is simply the “nature of the beast.” Any pet parent knows the canine species has an innate ability to know when their owner is troubled. Sometimes just the presence of an animal in one’s life can bring a certain amount of comfort. However, when the dog is trained to perform a specific task that directly relates to alleviating the effects of the emotional or mental condition, it now becomes a partner in that person’s treatment plan.
Although doctors and mental health professionals can recommend a service dog, you do not need a doctor’s note in order to have a service dog.
Benefits of the Service Dog
The tasks performed by a service dog for the physically disabled and one for those with a mental illness are different.
For a physically challenged individual, a service dog will do what that person cannot do for themselves. This could include;
- Retrieving dropped items
- Opening doors
- Leading the person
- Being the person’s ears to hear alarms, doorbells, ringing phones, etc.
- Contacting a person if the individual is in an emergency situation
- Physically aiding the patient if having a seizure or other health issue
- Alerting the individual to drops in blood sugars or of an oncoming seizure.
The psychiatric service dog (PSD) is also trained but in a different capacity. The PSD can be trained to perform the following tasks;
- Help guide a person home after a dissociative episode
- Find a person or a place (like an exit) if the handler is having a panic attack and cannot call out for help.
- Do a room-to-room search for a person who suffers from PTSD and hypervigilance syndrome.
- Signal for certain sounds like smoke alarms (this is for the person that may be heavily medicated)
- Bring help in case the person is in hiding due to fright
- Fetch medication in an emergency
Can I Train my Service Dog?
Yes, by law you can train your dog to be a service animal; however, it is highly recommended to enlist the aid of a professional, especially for those tasks that you may not be able to physically teach the dog due to a disability.
Service Dog Proof for Landlords, Airlines, Restaurants, etc.
The American’s With Disabilities Act does protect the privacy rights of individuals with mental or physical disabilities. In fact, there are only two questions a landlord or an airline employee can ask you.
- Is the dog a service dog?
- What task(s) does the dog perform for you?
This is step one in dealing with folks that may give you a hard time in regards to your service animal.
The second step is to react to the situation in a calm manner. Remember, these individuals may not know your rights and are only trying to do their jobs. Explain your above reasons and if you do have a doctor’s note, this would be the time to present it.
The third step in this process is one you will hopefully not have to deal with; the flat-out refusal. Under the Fair Housing Act, you can ask a “no pets’ policy housing development to provide you with reasonable accommodation for your service dog.
If you are refused, even after you have presented a doctor’s note (only required for Emotional Support Animals), you can contact the Housing and Urban Development office in your area. These people are trained to fight for your rights.
If an airline refuses to allow your service dog into the cabin of the plane, you can contact a manager on the spot or call the individual airlines customer service number to file a complaint.
Recently a 13-year-old girl with cerebral palsy won her case in the supreme court to bring her service dog, Wonder, to her classes. After her parents exhausted all their options in dealing with the school directly, they decided to go to court. This win will hopefully begin to break down those barriers to help other students with their service dogs.
Service Dog Vest & Registration
It is not legally necessary to register your service dog, but it does offer some benefits. These include;
- Dog and handler are entered into a database
- Service dog vest is issued, making it easier for people to identify your canine as a “working dog”
- ID badges and a certificate are also issued for further proof
Service Dog or ESA?
If you do not need your dog to provide a specific task, but need to have it around for emotional purposes, then you may qualify for an Emotional Support Animal.
The ESA is there to provide comfort and support for the individual that suffers from an emotional or mental issue. To qualify for an emotional support animal, you must have a medical professional write you a note stating your need.
Once you have your ESA, you will not have the same rights as you would with a service dog. However, you are still eligible to live in “no pets” policy rentals with your ESA at no additional cost.
Know Your Rights
Know your rights when it comes to having a service dog. As long as your canine helper is aiding your life with a specific task that you cannot do for yourself, it can be considered a service dog. Whether you train it yourself or register it when it’s completed training, businesses, schools, airlines, and your landlord must recognize your canine as a working dog. If you do run into any ignorant persons, calmly explain yourself, then take your complaints to the appropriate entities.
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This should be more controlled. There are many people walking around faking their dogs are service dogs but they are not. I know of a person who walks around with his dog unleashed, attempting to enter to any facility, restaurants, even in the intensive area of a hospital visiting a friend claiming that is his service dog. He does not have any prescription by any doctor indicating he needs a service dog because he doesn’t even go to a doctor neither have a diagnosed disability. The dog does not perform any task in benefit of any disability, by the way the owner doesn’t even have a disability. He never bath his dog, does not have any shots, never take it to the vet, by the way the guy is an addict and lives on the streets with his dog which is usually infected by fleas. The owner dresses dirty clothes, never take care of his personal higiene because he is homeless. At least vet shot records should be challenged when entering in to a facility. If he is asked any of the two questions he answers yes is a service dogs but claims he does not have to answer what tasks does the service dog performs because he has the right of keep silence. Could this person get in trouble with the law by doing this ? Isn’t it abusing of the law making an identification falsification ?
Any person representing they have a service dog must be able to answer the two questions allowed by the ADA. Service dog owners have a right to privacy regarding sensitive medical details, but they are expected to be able to answer the two questions properly if they want to access a no-dogs area. It is unfortunate that some people fake the need for a service dog – it hurts legitimate service dog owners.
I have PTSD and I need a letter saying that I need a service dog I have two one service dog that is 4 years and a service dog in training that is 11 months
If you’re inquiring about a PSD letter, you can find more information here: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/psd-letter/
I have had two service dogs one for physical support so I don’t fall and a phycyatric service dog I still have but is in process of passing away. I asked my phycologist for a newer letter for another phycyatric service dog letter and she refused even though I meet all the legal rights to have one . She only says she will do a emotional support dog which is not the same as a service dog that I would need to take with me to travel or just keep me from suicide. I have one already so I don’t understand how she can violate my rights to having a new one that I legally can train myself as stated in legal rights and laws. I’ve train dogs and wild animals all my life and worked with rehab rescues to help traumatized dogs. Which my service dog Kuma my physical support dog was. Now I’m being put at risk of suicide without my service dog. I live alone and don’t know many people as I’m a shut in mostly since I lost my physical support dog last year. I believe this doctor is violating my rights? I’m in process of trying to rescue young dogs to replace my other service dogs Kuma and Sandee. I’m on SSDI benefits and have to have a ihss worker and have severe anxiety PTSD and depression attacks often. Also why I see a phycologist now and have for years but different one’s. I need help and don’t know what I can do. All I know is when Sandee passes away I’m at risk of suicide even more . I do not wish to be a suicide victim. Hence I’m reaching out to everyone I can to get the help I need to replace my other older or passed away service dog’s. Help !!!!!
Sorry to hear about your situation, but please be aware that you do NOT need any type of letter or note from a doctor or therapist in order to have a service dog. Healthcare providers sometimes provide PSD letters for owners of psychiatric service dogs, but PSD letters are not mandatory and they do so at their discretion. Please see this link for more info on PSD letters: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/psd-letter/
My dog is trained as my service dog. DPT, leading me out of tight spots, distraction, blocking, watching my six etc.
I am veteran with 100% disability due to PTSD. VA will not write me a letter, my internist outside the va will not write a letter and a counselor outside the va will not write a letter. I am retired and take him with me when I travel. I have all his training documented and he’s got several certificates also. How do I get a letter for me?
You do not need a letter or a certificate to qualify for a service dog or prove that you have a service animal. If you are interested in obtaining a PSD letter however, please see this link: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/psd-letter/
I was just denied entry into an open market with an inside store because my service dog had no paperwork. On my second attempt at trying to talk with the owner (I am hearing impaired), I showed him the ADA website paragraph on my phone that explained his misinformation and told him he had been misinformed and that this was the law.
He told me I could return with my service dog with I brought with me a dr.note.
I have had a service dog since 2009. No paperwork has been required since then. What really hurts is that I have supported this produce market 3x/year for the past 12 years and sent dozens of people there to help keep his business afloat. He is so afraid that someone’s pet might walk through his gates that he he is willing to break the law. NO service dog’s paperwork is worth toilet paper, as anyone can get registration for their dog online.
In the past, I have visited my local Endependence Center for resolution, but apparently they don’t deal with this anymore. I see online that we are supposed to write to the Department of Justice and fill out a complaint form.
I do not plan to sue this man, nor do I plan to return to his business, but I do want him to be fair to anyone who comes to him in the future. I don’t know why he decided to make up his own rule, but he needs to get some kind of official letter from someone to let him know that what he is doing is wrong and discriminates against the disabled who need service dogs.
Do you know of any local means for dealing with stubborn business owners, or do I need to go all the way up to the Department of Justice for this?
Sorry to hear about what happened to you. You are correct that you do not need any paperwork or a doctor’s note for a service dog. Unfortunately, we do not have a referral for you.
I have a ESA from my doctor but now airlines are no longer honoring it. I was diagnose with PTSD My dog and I have traveled multiple times he’s very well behaved. Is a PSD letter excepted by airlines?
Please see this guide for more details: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
I need letter for travelinf with spirit , I live in Florida
You may ask your therapist to issue a letter that confirms that you suffer from an impairment that qualifies you for a service dog. But you’re not required to show a letter when flying. However, you will be asked to fill out the official DOT forms at least 48 hours before getting on the plane. You may find this article on how to fly with a service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder after years of dealing with depression and anxiety. I was told a ESA or service dog may be the way for me. What’s the process?
We recommend seeking help from a licensed healthcare professional. In addition, you would only need a service dog if you have a disability that requires a service dog to perform a specific job or task.
What form does my Dr need to fill out and where do igeto e?
For a service dog there are no official forms required by your doctor. But if you feel more confident with some type of documentation, you could register your service dog. You may find this article on how to register you service dog interesting: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-register-your-dog-as-a-service-dog/
Their is no such thing as registering for a service dog. ADA law states their is no such thing as documentation or registry! Your SERVICE DOG does Not have to be vested or labeled(this is Federallaw). And eny type of registration is fake! And a service dog must be prescribed to you by a DOCTOR!
it DOES NOT have to be prescribed by a doctor and you DO NOT have to provide a doctors note or any other verification. They can only ask you 2 questions,
is this a service dog?
what task does it perform?
that’s it.
what you would say:
is this a service dog: yes
what task does it perform: it is trained to assist me with my medical condition.
that’s it. you don’t have to say anything else. they can’t by law ask you anything else and they can’t require ANY THING AT ALL except that you keep it in control.