What Is a Service Animal Under the ADA?

Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog (or in some cases a miniature horse) trained to perform tasks directly related to a person’s disability. These dogs are working partners, not pets. 

What Are Service Dogs Are Trained to Do?

Service dogs can alert before medical equipment can. They retrieve medication, brace handlers, guide safely, interrupt panic attacks, ground dissociation, provide cardiac alerts, and more. 

What Are the ONLY Two Questions a Business Owner May Ask? 

1. Is the dog required because of a disability?

2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

What May a Business Owner NOT Ask or Require? 

• NO ID or certification
  
  

• NO proof of training
  
  

• NO medical questions
  
  There is no federal registry. Demanding paperwork is an ADA violation.

When May a Dog May Be Asked to Leave?

• Out of control

• Not housebroken

• Handler refuses to correct behavior

This is behavior-based, not appearance-based. Most service dogs are extremely well trained. If a dog must be removed, the customer must still be served.

A service animal must be under the control of its handler. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.