The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities and grants specific legal rights to handlers who use trained service dogs. Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog individually trained to perform work or tasks directly related to a person's disability — considered working medical equipment, not a pet.
Service Dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a disability, are protected under the ADA for public access, and may accompany their handler into most public places.
Emotional Support Animals provide comfort through their presence, are not individually trained to perform disability-related tasks, and are not granted the same public access rights under the ADA.
Restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centers, hotels, hospitals, medical offices, schools and colleges, government buildings, parks, retail stores, airports, banks, movie theaters, and public transportation. Businesses must generally modify "no pets" policies to allow service dogs.
1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Ask about your disability, require medical documentation, demand certification or registration, ask for an ID card, or require the dog to demonstrate its tasks.
The ADA does not require certification, registration, ID cards, training certificates, official vests, or special harnesses. Online "registries" selling certificates are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and do not create legal access rights.
Although a vest is not required, Command K9 Behavior recommends a service dog vest always be used in public unless it directly interferes with task work. The ADA also does not restrict service dogs to specific breeds.
A service dog should remain under control at all times, be housebroken, ignore distractions, walk calmly on a leash or tether (unless it interferes with work or disability), stay focused on its handler, and avoid disruptive behavior. Handlers are responsible for feeding, grooming, veterinary care, cleaning up after the dog, and maintaining training.
A business may request removal only if the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, or if the dog is not housebroken. Even then, the handler must be given the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the dog present.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. For the most current and complete guidance, consult the U.S. Department of Justice ADA resources at ADA.gov.
