About service dogs

This page summarizes key points from ADA.gov about service animals and public access. It is not legal advice.

What is a service animal?

Service animals are dogs. They can be any breed or any size. They must be trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability.

What service animals are not

Service animals are not required to be certified or go through a professional training program. They are not required to wear a vest or other ID that indicates they are a service dog. Emotional support or comfort dogs are not service animals, because providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person's disability.

If the dog's mere presence provides comfort, it is not a service animal under the ADA. But if the dog is trained to perform a task related to a person's disability, it is a service animal. For example, if the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, the dog is a service animal.

Examples of trained tasks

Trained tasks vary widely depending on the disability. Examples include:

• A person who uses a wheelchair may have a dog trained to retrieve objects for them.
• A person with depression may have a dog trained to remind them to take their medication.
• A person with PTSD may have a dog trained to lick their hand to alert them to an oncoming panic attack.
• A person who has epilepsy may have a dog trained to detect the onset of a seizure and then help the person remain safe during the seizure.
• Guiding a person who is blind or has low vision.
• Alerting a person who is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Pulling a wheelchair.

Where service animals can go

Generally, service animals are allowed to be with their person, even in places that don't allow pets. For example, service dogs can go into:

• Restaurants
• Shops
• Hospitals
• Schools
• Hotels

A business or state/local government cannot require a person with a service animal to use a separate entrance, sit outside, or pay a pet fee.

The two questions

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, staff may ask only 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?

Staff cannot request any documentation that the dog is registered, licensed, or certified as a service animal. They cannot require that the dog demonstrate its task, and they cannot inquire about the nature of the person's disability. Because service animals are not required to wear vests, a dog wearing a vest is not necessarily a service animal.

When a service animal can be excluded

A business or state/local government does not need to allow a service animal if the dog's presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities provided to the public. In most settings, a service animal will not fundamentally alter the situation. However, it may be appropriate to keep a service animal out of an operating room or burn unit where the animal's presence could compromise a sterile environment.

A business or state/local government can also ask someone to remove their service animal if:

• The dog is not housebroken.
• The dog is out of control, and the person cannot get the dog under control.

State and local laws

State and local governments can require service dogs to be licensed and vaccinated, but only if all dogs are required to be licensed and vaccinated. They can offer voluntary service dog registration programs.

State and local governments cannot require certification or registration of service dogs, and they cannot ban a service dog based on its breed or size.

Housing, air travel, and employment

The ADA applies to certain types of housing, including housing at public and private universities, public housing programs, and emergency shelters. The Fair Housing Act applies to many other types of housing and may have different rules. The Air Carrier Access Act, not the ADA, protects the rights of people with disabilities in air travel. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission administers the ADA in employment settings.

Source: ADA.gov - Service Animals