{"id":556,"date":"2022-03-18T20:36:10","date_gmt":"2022-03-18T20:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/?page_id=556"},"modified":"2022-06-22T12:05:24","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T12:05:24","slug":"service-animals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/ada-information\/service-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"556\" class=\"elementor elementor-556\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6055f6a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6055f6a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_glider_is_slider&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76c1d025\" data-id=\"76c1d025\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_column_hoveranimator&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_column_has_pseudo&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51e82b0b ob-harakiri-inherit ob-has-background-overlay elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51e82b0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_use_harakiri&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;_ob_harakiri_writing_mode&quot;:&quot;inherit&quot;,&quot;_ob_postman_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_widget_stalker_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_poopart_use&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;_ob_shadough_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_allow_hoveranimator&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h2>Service Animals and Assistance Animals:\r\nWhere, When, and How<\/h2>\r\n<div>\r\n\r\n(adapted from <em>ADA in Focus: Fall 2015<\/em>)\r\n\r\nThe topic of service animals and other types of animals that help people with disabilities has become nearly too hot to handle in recent years. This is an area where multiple laws, which sometimes overlap, apply in various settings. Many of these laws have different requirements and even fundamental differences in how these animals are defined. At the same time, most laws recognize a similar balance between rights and responsibilities, and establish limitations based on valid health or safety concerns with animals in certain settings.\r\n<h3>Terminology<\/h3>\r\nThe language and terms that describe various types of working animals or animals that help people with disabilities are not consistently used or understood. When different people say \u201cservice animal,\u201d \u201cassistance animal,\u201d \u201ccomfort animal,\u201d \u201cemotional support animal,\u201d or \u201ctherapy animal,\u201d they are not necessarily talking about the same thing.\r\n<h4>Service Animals<\/h4>\r\nThis term is currently defined in two different ways under the ADA. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has one definition and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has another (read on!). Generally, service animals are trained to perform specific tasks (guiding, retrieving, alerting, etc.) and work for one particular individual with a disability, often for the life of the animal.\r\n<h4>Emotional Support or Comfort Animals<\/h4>\r\nThese terms are generally used interchangeably. Emotional support animals may be socialized and obedience-trained, but they are not trained to perform any specific disability-related tasks. They provide benefit <em>passively<\/em>; their mere presence is comforting. They are also usually paired with one particular person, often for life.\r\n<h4>Therapy Animals<\/h4>\r\nTherapy animals are typically considered those which are trained to accompany handlers to places like nursing homes, hospitals, or schools to provide therapeutic benefits, such as comfort or socialization, to the general populations there. These are working animals, but they do not meet ADA definitions of \u201cservice animals\u201d because they serve general populations rather than particular individuals.\r\n<h4>Assistance Animals<\/h4>\r\nThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban (HUD) uses this term in relation to the Fair Housing Act (FHA), as well as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (for recipients of HUD funding). The term can include animals of various types that perform tasks or provide emotional support for individuals with disabilities.\r\n\r\nAgain, however, there is not universal agreement on the meaning and use of these terms. Let\u2019s take a look at some of the laws that address animals that help people with disabilities.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f14213 ob-has-background-overlay elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"6f14213\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_widget_stalker_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_poopart_use&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;_ob_shadough_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_allow_hoveranimator&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active{border-bottom:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:12px 10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1161\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1161\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">ADA<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1161\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1161\"><p>The ADA itself does not define or address service animals. Animals are not even mentioned in the statute, but concepts like \u201creasonable accommodation\u201d and \u201creasonable policy modifications\u201d are established, and various federal agencies are charged with issuing regulations to guide implementation of the different parts of the law.<\/p><p>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"1129\" class=\"elementor elementor-1129\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6052968 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6052968\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_use_container_extras&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_column_hoveranimator&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_glider_is_slider&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_column_has_pseudo&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fbe88e ob-has-background-overlay elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"6fbe88e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ob_widget_stalker_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_poopart_use&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;_ob_shadough_use&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ob_allow_hoveranimator&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.20.0 - 26-03-2024 *\/\n.elementor-accordion{text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item{border:1px solid #d5d8dc}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item+.elementor-accordion-item{border-top:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{margin:0;padding:15px 20px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{display:inline-block;width:1.5em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon svg{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-opened,.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{display:none;padding:15px 20px;border-top:1px solid #d5d8dc}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px 15px}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{width:1.2em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{padding:7px 15px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-accordion,.e-con>.elementor-widget-accordion{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1171\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1171\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-down\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Title II and Title III<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1171\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1171\"><h4>State and Local Governments and Places of Public Accommodation<\/h4><p>These titles of the ADA are regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-49\/part-37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOT\u2019s regulation<\/a> covers transportation programs and services. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.gov\/regs2010\/titleII_2010\/titleII_2010_regulations.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOJ\u2019s Title II regulation<\/a> covers all other types of programs and services provided by state or local governments (public health or social services, recreation programs, court systems, libraries, museums, schools, etc.), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-49\/part-37\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOJ\u2019s Title III regulation<\/a> covers a variety of places of public accommodation (privately owned and operated businesses such as stores, restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, fitness centers, banks, professional offices, and many others).<\/p><p>Until 2010 the DOJ and DOT regulations defined service animals the same way (\u201cany guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability \u2026\u201d). In 2010 DOJ revised their regulations and eliminated the \u201cother animal\u201d part of the definition; now only dogs can be considered service animals under DOJ\u2019s rules. A service animal can be any type, size, or breed of dog, but cannot be any other type of animal.<\/p><p>Cats, monkeys, goats, rats, snakes, rabbits, pigs, or other types of animals, regardless of whether they have been trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities or how well-behaved they might be, are not considered service animals under DOJ\u2019s rules.<\/p><p>DOJ did include a unique new provision in their 2010 regulations for individuals with disabilities using miniature horses which are similar to service dogs. State and local government agencies and private businesses may take certain additional factors into consideration before allowing individuals to be accompanied by miniature horses (such as the size and weight of the miniature horse), but the provisions are otherwise similar to those related to service dogs.<\/p><p>DOT has <em>not<\/em> revised their ADA rules in relation to service animals, so their definition is not limited to dogs. The other provisions remain the same, but within transportation systems covered by DOT\u2019s rule, such as city bus or commuter rail systems, individuals with disabilities may be able to use other types of service animals (for example, cats).<\/p><p>Service animals must be individually trained to perform active work or tasks for an individual with a disability, and animals that provide emotional support or comfort through their presence alone are not considered service animals. Many animals are trained, however, to perform active tasks that are designed to reduce anxiety or affect behavior for people who have what some might consider \u201cemotional\u201d disabilities. For example, an animal may be trained to <em>take action<\/em> (applying gentle pressure by leaning against its owner, pawing him, etc.) to alert an individual with an psychiatric condition to take medication or move away from a situation that is becoming stressful. This is a <em>service animal<\/em>, not an emotional support animal, even though the service provided may result in some emotional comfort or enhanced well-being.<\/p><p>Service animals must be under control, house-broken, and well-behaved. Individuals can be required to remove from the premises any animal that is out of control, which would include not only animals that may be engaging in disruptive or threatening behavior like incessant barking or growling, but also animals that have been left unattended. When an animal is excluded for valid reasons, the individual with the disability must still be allowed to access goods and services without the animal.<\/p><p>When an individual enters a place (or vehicle) covered under Title II or Title III, the entity can ask the individual if the animal is a service animal needed because of a disability, and what work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform. These questions can only be asked, however, if the answers are not obvious. For example, if an individual using a wheelchair enters a store with a harnessed dog pulling the wheelchair, it would be inappropriate to question the individual.<\/p><p>Individuals cannot be questioned further about their disabilities or the animals\u2019 training, nor can they be required to produce documentation or certifications.<\/p><p>Covered entities cannot charge fees to allow individuals to be accompanied by service animals, although they can charge people for any actual damage caused by their animals. For example, a hotel cannot charge a \u201cpet\u201d fee or an extra deposit before permitting a service animal on the property, but if the animal actually causes damage that would require more than routine types of cleaning, the hotel can charge guests the same way they would charge any other guest who causes similar damage.<\/p><p>For more guidance on service animals under Title II or Title III, check out:<\/p><ul><li>DOJ\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.gov\/regs2010\/service_animal_qa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals<\/a><em> and <\/em>fact sheet <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ada.gov\/service_animals_2010.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals<\/a><\/li><li>DOT\u2019s notice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fta.dot.gov\/12874_16289.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cNo Change to DOT Regulations for Service Animals\u201d<\/a> and collection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transit.dot.gov\/regulations-and-guidance\/civil-rights-ada\/complaint-letters-finding-according-subject\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letters of findings on issues in public transit<\/a> (scroll down to the &#8220;Service Animals&#8221; heading)<\/li><\/ul><p>This brief (approximately 15 minutes) conversation about service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA outlines the definitions of service animals under Department of Transportation and Department of Justice regulations, and answers common questions that businesses and state or local government agencies often have about procedures for interacting with individuals with disabilities who use service animals.<\/p><p class=\"rtecenter\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eil-QSS88TA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1172\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1172\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-down\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Title I<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1172\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1172\"><p>The way Title II and Title III address service animals has gotten so much attention that the issues surrounding people with disabilities using animals as reasonable accommodations in the workplace is often overlooked or misunderstood.<\/p><h4>Employment<\/h4><p>Title I is regulated and enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gpo.gov\/fdsys\/pkg\/CFR-2014-title29-vol4\/xml\/CFR-2014-title29-vol4-part1630.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EEOC\u2019s regulations<\/a> do not define service animals, but mention them as examples of \u201cmitigating measures\u201d (things people might use to help address the limitations caused by their impairments) or \u201creasonable accommodations\u201d (things people might use specifically in the context of employment).<\/p><p>The factors to consider when an employee asks to be allowed to have an animal in the workplace are essentially the same factors that are reviewed in relation to a request for any other type of accommodation: Does the individual have a disability as defined by the ADA? Is the animal needed because of the disability? Will allowing the animal in the workplace be reasonable, or will it create some kind of undue hardship?<\/p><p>An animal used as a reasonable accommodation in employment does not have to be any specific type of animal or perform any specific type of work or task, but it must be needed by the individual for a disability-related reason.<\/p><p>Employers are allowed to obtain documentation from qualified professionals, such as doctors or therapists, to verify an individual\u2019s disability and need for accommodation, if either or both of those things are not already known or obvious.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Title II and Title III\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<h4>State and Local Governments and Places of Public Accommodation<\\\/h4><p>These titles of the ADA are regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ecfr.gov\\\/current\\\/title-49\\\/part-37\\\">DOT\\u2019s regulation<\\\/a> covers transportation programs and services. <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.ada.gov\\\/regs2010\\\/titleII_2010\\\/titleII_2010_regulations.htm\\\">DOJ\\u2019s Title II regulation<\\\/a> covers all other types of programs and services provided by state or local governments (public health or social services, recreation programs, court systems, libraries, museums, schools, etc.), and <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ecfr.gov\\\/current\\\/title-49\\\/part-37\\\">DOJ\\u2019s Title III regulation<\\\/a> covers a variety of places of public accommodation (privately owned and operated businesses such as stores, restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, fitness centers, banks, professional offices, and many others).<\\\/p><p>Until 2010 the DOJ and DOT regulations defined service animals the same way (\\u201cany guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability \\u2026\\u201d). In 2010 DOJ revised their regulations and eliminated the \\u201cother animal\\u201d part of the definition; now only dogs can be considered service animals under DOJ\\u2019s rules. A service animal can be any type, size, or breed of dog, but cannot be any other type of animal.<\\\/p><p>Cats, monkeys, goats, rats, snakes, rabbits, pigs, or other types of animals, regardless of whether they have been trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities or how well-behaved they might be, are not considered service animals under DOJ\\u2019s rules.<\\\/p><p>DOJ did include a unique new provision in their 2010 regulations for individuals with disabilities using miniature horses which are similar to service dogs. State and local government agencies and private businesses may take certain additional factors into consideration before allowing individuals to be accompanied by miniature horses (such as the size and weight of the miniature horse), but the provisions are otherwise similar to those related to service dogs.<\\\/p><p>DOT has <em>not<\\\/em> revised their ADA rules in relation to service animals, so their definition is not limited to dogs. The other provisions remain the same, but within transportation systems covered by DOT\\u2019s rule, such as city bus or commuter rail systems, individuals with disabilities may be able to use other types of service animals (for example, cats).<\\\/p><p>Service animals must be individually trained to perform active work or tasks for an individual with a disability, and animals that provide emotional support or comfort through their presence alone are not considered service animals. Many animals are trained, however, to perform active tasks that are designed to reduce anxiety or affect behavior for people who have what some might consider \\u201cemotional\\u201d disabilities. For example, an animal may be trained to <em>take action<\\\/em> (applying gentle pressure by leaning against its owner, pawing him, etc.) to alert an individual with an psychiatric condition to take medication or move away from a situation that is becoming stressful. This is a <em>service animal<\\\/em>, not an emotional support animal, even though the service provided may result in some emotional comfort or enhanced well-being.<\\\/p><p>Service animals must be under control, house-broken, and well-behaved. Individuals can be required to remove from the premises any animal that is out of control, which would include not only animals that may be engaging in disruptive or threatening behavior like incessant barking or growling, but also animals that have been left unattended. When an animal is excluded for valid reasons, the individual with the disability must still be allowed to access goods and services without the animal.<\\\/p><p>When an individual enters a place (or vehicle) covered under Title II or Title III, the entity can ask the individual if the animal is a service animal needed because of a disability, and what work or tasks the animal has been trained to perform. These questions can only be asked, however, if the answers are not obvious. For example, if an individual using a wheelchair enters a store with a harnessed dog pulling the wheelchair, it would be inappropriate to question the individual.<\\\/p><p>Individuals cannot be questioned further about their disabilities or the animals\\u2019 training, nor can they be required to produce documentation or certifications.<\\\/p><p>Covered entities cannot charge fees to allow individuals to be accompanied by service animals, although they can charge people for any actual damage caused by their animals. For example, a hotel cannot charge a \\u201cpet\\u201d fee or an extra deposit before permitting a service animal on the property, but if the animal actually causes damage that would require more than routine types of cleaning, the hotel can charge guests the same way they would charge any other guest who causes similar damage.<\\\/p><p>For more guidance on service animals under Title II or Title III, check out:<\\\/p><ul><li>DOJ\\u2019s <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.ada.gov\\\/regs2010\\\/service_animal_qa.html\\\">Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals<\\\/a><em> and <\\\/em>fact sheet <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.ada.gov\\\/service_animals_2010.htm\\\">Revised ADA Requirements: Service Animals<\\\/a><\\\/li><li>DOT\\u2019s notice <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.fta.dot.gov\\\/12874_16289.html\\\">\\u201cNo Change to DOT Regulations for Service Animals\\u201d<\\\/a> and collection of <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.transit.dot.gov\\\/regulations-and-guidance\\\/civil-rights-ada\\\/complaint-letters-finding-according-subject\\\">letters of findings on issues in public transit<\\\/a> (scroll down to the &#8220;Service Animals&#8221; heading)<\\\/li><\\\/ul><p>This brief (approximately 15 minutes) conversation about service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA outlines the definitions of service animals under Department of Transportation and Department of Justice regulations, and answers common questions that businesses and state or local government agencies often have about procedures for interacting with individuals with disabilities who use service animals.<\\\/p><p class=\\\"rtecenter\\\"><iframe src=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/embed\\\/eil-QSS88TA\\\" width=\\\"560\\\" height=\\\"315\\\" frameborder=\\\"0\\\" allowfullscreen=\\\"allowfullscreen\\\"><\\\/iframe><\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Title I\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p>The way Title II and Title III address service animals has gotten so much attention that the issues surrounding people with disabilities using animals as reasonable accommodations in the workplace is often overlooked or misunderstood.<\\\/p><h4>Employment<\\\/h4><p>Title I is regulated and enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The <a href=\\\"http:\\\/\\\/www.gpo.gov\\\/fdsys\\\/pkg\\\/CFR-2014-title29-vol4\\\/xml\\\/CFR-2014-title29-vol4-part1630.xml\\\">EEOC\\u2019s regulations<\\\/a> do not define service animals, but mention them as examples of \\u201cmitigating measures\\u201d (things people might use to help address the limitations caused by their impairments) or \\u201creasonable accommodations\\u201d (things people might use specifically in the context of employment).<\\\/p><p>The factors to consider when an employee asks to be allowed to have an animal in the workplace are essentially the same factors that are reviewed in relation to a request for any other type of accommodation: Does the individual have a disability as defined by the ADA? Is the animal needed because of the disability? Will allowing the animal in the workplace be reasonable, or will it create some kind of undue hardship?<\\\/p><p>An animal used as a reasonable accommodation in employment does not have to be any specific type of animal or perform any specific type of work or task, but it must be needed by the individual for a disability-related reason.<\\\/p><p>Employers are allowed to obtain documentation from qualified professionals, such as doctors or therapists, to verify an individual\\u2019s disability and need for accommodation, if either or both of those things are not already known or obvious.<\\\/p>\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1162\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1162\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Fair Housing Act<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1162\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1162\"><figure id=\"attachment_562\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-562\" style=\"width: 256px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-562 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/woman-with-cat-25.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/woman-with-cat-25.jpg 256w, https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/woman-with-cat-25-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-562\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Woman Sitting with a Cat in Her Lap &#8212; Image by \u00a9 Royalty-Free\/Corbis<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>As we mentioned earlier, HUD uses the term \u201cassistance animal\u201d to encompass any type of animal that helps a person with a disability, whether the animal performs active work or passively provides emotional support or comfort. Where HUD has authority under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, covered entities must make reasonable accommodations in rules and policies to allow an individual with a disability to have an assistance animal.<\/p><p>Covered entities include public housing agencies and other public entities that have authority over rules that affect residential housing, as well as many private landlords, housing managers, and condominium and homeowners\u2019 associations. Housing that is associated with other programs or services, such as dormitories at colleges or long-term shelters for homeless people, is often covered by the FHA as well.<\/p><p>Entities covered by the FHA may require limited documentation to verify a disability and need for an assistance animal, if those things are not already known or readily apparent.<\/p><p>Extra fees may not be charged to allow individuals to have assistance animals, even if others are charged extra fees or deposits for pets.<\/p><p>For additional information, read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/sites\/documents\/SERVANIMALS_NTCFHEO2013-01.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HUD\u2019s Notice on Service Animals and Assistance Animals in Housing<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/sites\/documents\/DOC_7771.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HUD\/DOJ Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1163\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1163\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Air Carrier Access Act<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1163\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1163\"><p>The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is regulated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Aviation Consumer Protection Division. ACAA regulations require airlines to allow individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by animals that have been trained to perform tasks, as well as untrained animals, including emotional support animals.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transportation.gov\/sites\/dot.gov\/files\/docs\/20030509.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOT Guidance Concerning Service Animals in Air Transportation<\/a> establishes procedures, which allow airlines in some cases to require documentation of a passenger\u2019s disability and need for an assistance animal. Assistance animals are usually allowed to travel in the cabin of the aircraft, but space limitations and other factors, such as animals that may cause a health or safety concern or a significant disruption in service, may prevent this. DOT considers some types of animals inherently risky, and does not require airlines to carry them in aircraft cabins; service animals such as reptiles, rodents, and spiders will typically be carried in the cargo hold.<\/p><p>For more information, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.transportation.gov\/airconsumer\/disability\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOT\u2019s guidance on disability issues in air travel<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1164\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1164\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Service Animals: Other Laws<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1164\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1164\"><div><p>It\u2019s always important to find out about state or local laws that may apply to various situations involving service animals. For example, many state laws extend protections to service animal trainers, and require covered entities to allow them into public places with animals in training, which the ADA does not require.<\/p><p>On the other hand, some state or local laws have more restrictive provisions, which would be overridden by the ADA where it applies. For example, if a state or local law prohibited certain breeds of dogs in public places, but a person with a disability had a service dog of that breed, the ADA would override the state law in that instance.<\/p><p>Likewise, when federal laws have differing provisions, whichever provisions are more generous to individuals will prevail. An individual gets \u201cthe best of both worlds,\u201d and covered entities have to comply with all applicable laws by following the requirements that impose the least restrictions on individuals.<\/p><p>For example, in a college setting where Title II or Title III of the ADA applies to the college as a whole, but the FHA also applies to the student dormitories, a student with a disability might not be allowed to take an emotional support animal into classrooms (where the ADA applies), but may be permitted to have that same animal reside with her in the dormitory (where the FHA also applies and is more generous to individuals when it comes to emotional support animals). The student might be required to produce some documentation to verify her disability and need for the assistance animal.<\/p><p>On the other hand, if another student at the college has a <em>service animal<\/em> as defined in Title II or Title III (for example, the animal engages in some active task to alert the student to sounds because she is hard of hearing), the student can be asked the two questions outlined in DOJ\u2019s rules, but cannot be required to produce documentation of her disability or her need for the service animal. The student will be allowed to have the animal accompany her everywhere on campus.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service Animals and Assistance Animals: Where, When, and How (adapted from ADA in Focus: Fall 2015) The topic of service animals and other types of animals that help people with disabilities has become nearly too hot to handle in recent years. This is an area where multiple laws, which sometimes overlap, apply in various settings. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":558,"parent":50,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topic":[97,68,83,98],"audience":[33,89,34],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/556"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=556"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5255,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/556\/revisions\/5255"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=556"},{"taxonomy":"audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adainfo.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience?post=556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}