In a previous article, I discussed a few of the requirements and costs of owning, caring for, and training a service dog. After that article was published, I decided I’d like to offer my readers a more in-depth explanation of what, exactly, a service dog is and what is required of it. We’ll take a look at some of the laws that govern service dogs and a few of the do’s and don’t of interacting with service animals. This article will be a long one, so buckle your seatbelts.
First, a definition. The Americans with Disabilities Act, governed by the Department of Justice, was originally written in 1990 and its most recent update occurred in 2020. According to the ADA’s website, a service animal is: “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” Sorry to all you cat lovers out there. For now, the title of “Service Animal” is a dog-only club.
Let’s highlight a few key words in this definition: “work” and “perform”. A service dog is more than an accessory; it’s medical equipment that has been specifically trained to perform certain tasks. This can include picking dropped items up for owners who can’t bend over, assisting handlers who have difficulty walking, or providing grounding techniques to those with anxiety and PTSD. A service animal isn’t just there to look cute (although they can do that too!): they have a full-time job.
So a service animal is a dog that has extensive training to assist their handler with a certain disability that may otherwise impact their ability to go into public spaces and live a life of quality. But where, exactly, are service dogs allowed? Essentially, everywhere! Per the ADA, a service animal is allowed to accompany their handler anywhere the general public is allowed. This included traditionally non pet-friendly places including airplanes, hospitals, banks, courthouses, and so on. To the unfortunate people that are allergic or have a fear of dogs, these aren’t defined as valid reasons to exclude a service dog from being within your vicinity. The state and local codes preventing animals from restaurants and other business that serve food and drink are overruled by the ADA, allowing service dog teams entry into their facilities.
There are a few stipulations, as there are with everything. As long as a service animal remains under control (we’ll go over this in a minute), they cannot be asked to leave a premise unless one or both of these exceptions are met: the dog is out of control, i.e., barking, lunging, growling, or the dog is not housebroken and such a fact is made obvious.
Sound like a dream come true? Not if you’re a business. More service dog regulations exist for business entities than dog/handler teams. Remember how I mentioned that dogs must be “in control”? Under ADA regulations, a dog that’s under control is leashed and harnessed. In some cases, if wearing a leash or harness interferes with a dog’s work, they don’t have to wear anything at all! And those patches and vests that read “Service Dog”? They’re bought off of Amazon and only possess as much validity as the dog who wears it. There is no official registry for service dogs so there is no official badge or identification.
The dream turns into more of a nightmare by the minute. If an employee or manager of any institution wants to determine if a dog is a service animal, they are legally allowed to ask two questions: 1) Is this animal a service animal? 2) What tasks has the animal been trained to perform? That’s it. No questions about what disability a handler may have and no requests for a demonstration. If this sounds like an easy thing to lie about, it’s because it is. Many people ‘bs’ their way past employees who attempt to ask whether the five-pound chihuahua with three legs under their arms is a service dog (to any service dogs who happen to be five-pound chihuahuas with three legs, I sincerely apologize).
Service animals are becoming more of a prescribed solution to complex problems than they have in the past and are becoming more visible as a result. How should you act when you see a service dog while out in public?
The best step is to ignore it. If the dog seems to be under control and is focused on its handler its best to just leave the pair be, even if you question whether the dog is an actual service dog. If you must ask, ask only the two questions allowed by law. Cursory glances are fine and most handlers won’t mind a complement about how well-behaved or beautiful their dog is.
Now let’s move on to a major ‘don’t’ of interacting with service animals. Above all, please DO NOT TRY AND PET WITHOUT PERMISSION! You know it’s really important because I put it all in caps. The internet is full of videos of random strangers approaching a dog/handler pair and attempting to either pet the dog or get the dog’s attention by calling them or talking to them. Don’t be this person, please. Not only is it rude, but it could put the handler in danger if the dog can’t cue them that something is about to happen just because you wanted to say hi. If the desire to pet a dog is irresistible, ask but be prepared for your wishes to not be granted.
This rule should extend to your kids too. I once was observing a trainer I was working with and their service dog client. Three kids came up behind this dog and immediately wrapped her in a toddler-tight hug. I was shocked that the kids weren’t bitten and the parents just watched and didn’t even apologize for their kid’s bad behavior. Perhaps there needs to be some kid trainers to go along with the dog trainers. Please teach your kids how to respect dogs and their personal space; they aren’t entitled to a dog’s affection and attention simply because it’s in their vicinity. Encourage them to ask; many handlers will allow curious kids to pet their dogs and ask questions.
The service dog industry is a growing niche of training. Specialization grows as more and more people seek out qualified trainers and doctors recommended trained dogs to individuals in need. Ignorance is inexcusable in this ever-changing world. This brief article only skims the surface of service animals. I recommend any interested parties to check out the ADA’s website on dogs as well as the free resources found online. When in doubt, leave these awesome dogs to their job and admire from afar.
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