Service Dogs

Small Animal Management: 130.4(c)1E

What is a Service Dog?

• Defined by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)– any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal

individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability

• Does not require any licensing or certification

What is the ADA?

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)– Gives civil rights protections to individuals with

disabilities that are like those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin, and religion.

– It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.

What is a disability?

• Defined by the ADA– A person who has a physical or mental impairment that

substantially limits one or more major life activities• Hearing• Seeing• Walking• Eating• Breathing• Communicating• Etc.

Service Dog Access

• Under the ADA, service dogs are permitted anywhere the public would normally be allowed

• Staff at any facility may only ask two question in regard to the service animal– Is the dog a service animal required because of a

disability– What work or task has the dog been trained to

perform

Owning a Service Dog

• Most dogs are trained through specialized programs that can take up to two years of training

• Service dogs often cost $20,000 to acquire because of the time needed to train them– Many programs will raise funds to reduce or eliminate the

cost• Programs will match dogs to handler based on needs,

size, age, and leadership style• Handlers will usually be required to go through a

training process as well at the programs facilities

Types of Service Dogs• Severe Allergy Alert (AAD)• Autism Assistance• Brace/Mobility Support

(BMSD)• Diabetic Alert (DAD)• Hearing• Medical Alert (MAD)• Psychiatric Service (PSD)• Seizure Response• Visual Assistance (Guide Dog)• Wheelchair Assistance

Severe Allergy Alert Dog (AAD)

• Alerts handler to life-threatening allergens• Dog may wear a vest with pockets containing

emergency instructions or medications• Often paired with children

Autism Assistance Dog

• Same category as Sensory Processing Disorder Dogs

• Calm and provide safety to individuals on the Autism spectrum– Dogs presence can help

with emotional incidents by touching or applying deep pressure to the handler

– Dogs may be tethered to child to prevent wandering

Brace/Mobility Support Dog (BMSD)

• Assist individuals with mobility and balance issues– Provides physical support or bracing– Assists in day-to-day tasks like opening doors and

retrieving objects• Wears specially designed harness to help with

bracing• Dogs must be at least 55 pounds and 23” tall– Dogs should be larger for bigger handlers

Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD)

• Alerts handler when they are experiencing dangerously low blood sugar– Dogs can detect chemical odor released by a

hypoglycemic person• Some dogs are capable of dialing 911 through

specialized alert devices• Dogs usually carry in their vest emergency

protocol and contacts

Hearing Dog

• Alerts Deaf handler to important sounds– May notify handler of

phone ringing, alarms, doorbell, baby crying, or traffic

• Some states designate the color orange as reserved for these dogs’ vests

Medical Alert Dog (MAD)

• Alert handler to dangerous physiological changes – Blood pressure, hormone levels

• Similar to diabetic alert dog• Difficult to train dogs to detect the precursors

to these medical conditions

Medical Assistance Dog

• Wide ranging title for dogs who do not fit into a specific category

• Sometimes used when handler does not want to go into detail about disability

• Variety of functions served

Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD)• Assist handlers with disabilities

like anxiety, depression, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Performs tasks such as:– Interrupting unhealthy behaviors– Room searches (PTSD)– Guide a disoriented handler– Get help or medication

• Different than Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Therapy Dogs– These are not protected by the

ADA

Seizure Response Dog

• Responds to a handlers seizures– Apply deep pressure during seizure– Get help or medication– Act as a brace

• Cannot be trained to detect seizures– But some dogs may develop the intuition to detect

and alert their handler

Visual Assistance Dog• Also known as guide dogs• Assist handlers with visual

impairments• Dog is trained to safely navigate

with handlers commands– Will disobey command that is

unsafe to handler

• Wears U-shaped harness• White is the designated color for

these dogs• Usually are larger breeds

– Commonly Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds

Wheelchair Assistance Dog

• Assist handlers that may be confined to a wheelchair

• Retrieves objects, opens doors, helps move to and from the wheelchair

• May wear special harness to pull wheelchair

Other Service Animals

• Miniature Horses– Can replace guide dogs– Have excellent vision– Live longer than dogs

• Less emotional and financial burden

– Also used for mobility support

Other Service Animals

• Capuchin Monkeys– Assists with performing

manual tasks– Can perform more

advanced tasks• Operate electronics, flip

pages, open containers

– Generally used by people with mobility that is highly limited

– Live longer than dogs

Other Service Animals

• Exotic animals that have been reported being used as service animals– Ferrets– Boa Constrictors– Parrots– Pot-bellied Pigs

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

• Not a service animal by definition of ADA• Requires registration• A person's pet that has been prescribed by a person's

licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist as part of their treatment

• Can be any animal that brings comfort or minimize negative symptoms of an emotional/psychological disability

• ESAs are permitted to live on residential properties regardless of pet policies and fees

• ESAs are permitted to accompany owners on flights

What is a Therapy Animal?

• Not a service animal• Requires registration• Provides affection and comfort to people to

people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc…• Therapy animals require permission to enter

facilities that do not allow animals• Therapy Animals do not have any protection

under the ADA