serviceanimal

A service animal is a dog trained to perform specific tasks that help a person with a disability manage or overcome functional limitations. The term is used in disability law to recognize animals that provide tangible assistance, such as guiding a blind person, alerting to an approaching seizure, or retrieving objects. Service animals are distinct from therapy animals, which provide comfort or companionship but do not have the same public access rights, and from emotional support animals, which assist with emotional or mental health needs but are not generally granted broad public access.

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Public access rights under the ADA allow service dogs to accompany their handlers in most public places, including restaurants, stores, and schools. Not all disabilities are visible, and service animals can assist with a wide range of conditions, including mobility, hearing, vision, medical, and psychiatric impairments. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals under the ADA, and other laws may apply in different contexts or countries.

Training requirements are flexible: a service dog must be trained to perform tasks related to the handler’s disability, but there is no nationwide requirement for professional certification or registration. Training can be provided by professional programs or the owner, and the animal’s performance must be reliable and well-behaved in public. Businesses may ask only two questions: whether the animal is a service animal required due to a disability, and what task it is trained to perform. They may not inquire about the handler’s diagnosis or require special documentation.

Public safety and animal welfare considerations apply, and a service animal may be excluded if it poses a direct threat or if the animal is not housebroken. Laws and practices vary by country and jurisdiction.