Service Animals
What is a service animal?
Service animals play a vital role in the lives of many individuals with disabilities, providing companionship and assistance with daily tasks. If you are considering getting a service dog, it is important to understand the process of certifying a dog as a service animal.
The first step in certifying a dog as a service animal is to determine if the dog has the necessary training and temperament to perform the tasks that are required to assist the individual with their disability. Service dogs must be trained to perform specific tasks that are directly related to the individual's disability. These tasks can include things like retrieving items, providing physical support, alerting to certain sounds, or even providing emotional support.
The next step is to register your dog as a service animal. There is no national registry or certification process for service animals, but you can register your dog with organizations that provide certification, identification and registration services. Organizations such as the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners and the National Service Animal Registry can provide you with the documentation and identification that you need to register your dog as a service animal.
After your dog is registered, it is important to understand the laws and rights that apply to service animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. This means that service animals are protected under the ADA and are allowed in public spaces where pets are typically not allowed.
It is also important to note that service animals are not required to wear specific gear, such as vests or identifying tags, however some organizations will issue identification card, certifications, and vests that can help to identify your dog as a service animal.
It is important to remember that service animals are not the same as emotional support animals. While emotional support animals can provide emotional comfort and support, they are not required to have specific training.
In summary, certifying a dog as a service animal requires determining that the dog has the necessary training and temperament to assist the individual with their disability, registering the dog with an appropriate organization, and understanding the laws and rights that apply to service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
