Mary Allen
What is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a specially trained animal that provides assistance to individuals with disabilities. These dogs undergo extensive training to perform tasks such as guiding the visually impaired, alerting the hearing-impaired to sounds, and providing support to those with mobility impairments. Service dogs are protected by federal and state laws that allow them to accompany their handlers in public places and housing accommodations.
Legitimate vs. Fake Service Dogs
Legitimate service dogs undergo rigorous training to perform specific tasks to assist their handlers. Fake service dogs, on the other hand, are pets that are dressed up as service dogs to gain access to public places. The use of fake service dogs is a growing problem as it can cause harm to legitimate service dogs and their handlers. It is important to understand the difference between legitimate and fake service dogs to ensure that the rights of those with disabilities are protected.
Legal Rights of Service Dogs
Service dogs are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means that they have the legal right to accompany their handlers in public places, such as restaurants, stores, and movie theaters. Housing accommodations are also required to allow service dogs, even if there is a no-pets policy. It is important to remember that emotional support animals (ESAs) do not have the same legal rights as service dogs and are not protected under the ADA.