A service animal is a working animal that has been trained to assist a disabled person. Service animals are not pets. They are considered to be working animals, which is why they are trained to perform a specific task. Service animals are often used by the visually impaired and people with hearing disabilities. There are different kinds of service animals, including seeing-eye dogs, guide dogs, and psychiatric service animals.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 defines a Service Animal as one that;
- has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability;
- does not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
- is housebroken;
- has never bitten, attacked, or endangered any person; and
- is under the control of the handler at all times.
Service Animals can help with a variety of disabilities, from conditions such as severe arthritis and mental illness to mobility and vision impairments. They are trained to perform a physical task for a person with a disability.
Where Service Animals Are Allowed?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) empowers that service animals must be allowed in all areas of a business or other facility where the public is allowed to go. The new ruling means that businesses cannot charge customers who have service animals a separate fee or otherwise deny access to the entire facility in an effort to accommodate only one person or animal.
Service animals are trained to assist people with disabilities, like blindness and deafness, or physical or mental disabilities, like diabetes, to perform specific tasks, like retrieving dropped items or opening doors. You don’t need a note, permit, or license to own a service animal, so long as it is safe and you are prepared to handle it.
What Question Can Be Asked To Determine If An Animal Is A Service Animal?
To determine whether an animal is a service animal or not, a private business or a public entity may ask two questions:
- Is the animal needed because of a disability?
- What task or work has the animal been trained to do?
The above questions may not be required if the need for assistance is obvious. For instance, the dog is guiding a person who is blind or the dog is pulling the wheelchair of the person. A private business or public entity may not inquire about the extent of a person’s disability or require documentation, like evidence that the animal has been trained, certified, or licensed as a service animal.
Final Words
The provisions associated with service animals employ only entities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Fair Housing Act comprises service animal provisions for private housing situations.
To know more about service animals, attend the Compliance Prime webinar. The webinar will also cover topics like what is the difference between service or companion animals, what are the basic requirements for having one service or assistance animal, what does “disability-related need” mean, and more.
