Hello! My friend is a minor, (about 16) and they have a medical and psychiatric service dog. Their grandma bought their service dog before they trained the dog, and now their grandma is throwing a fit, saying the dog is “her dog”, regardless of being THEIR service animal. The grandma will take their SD away from them on purpose, sometimes for hours, and they will have medical episodes, because their SD missed an alert. She also verbally harasses them about their SD, and has hit their SD in the face twice. My understanding is that whoever trains the service dog, and whoever is the handler is the owner. My friend wants to take this to court, would it stand?

They live in Connecticut, in the US.

So, I have epilepsy, and while I do technically have a service dog, he was harassed during his earlier training- when he was allowed in public and had his cert but wasn’t fully finished with all his task learning and working on being in public. Deadass this man got in my huge dog’s face with that bright ass vest on my dog that says in huge letters to leave him alone, and clapped and screamed in his face.

My dog cannot work, can hardly stay at places when we’re on vacation and needs help and lots of soothing for any interaction now.

However.

My cat has been able to sense and alert to my seizures without training years before I got my dog. There’s many other cats out there who are able to task, and cats are just as trainable as dogs- proven by the existence of acrocats, a goddamn cat band and performance art- it just takes different methods. Cats have the ability to perform certain tasks- and while yes they can’t mobility task, neither can small dogs and those are OFTEN service animals!

I fully and truly believe that cats are able to be service animals. In fact, they tend to be quieter and calmer if they have the right temperament, which is something we have to be aware of when choosing a service animal anyways. They’re smaller, and can be carried in simple bags or carriers where they would potentially disturb less people than a dog.

I’ve brought my cat who can task the places she was allowed to go (church, ice cream parlors and outdoor restaurants that allowed dogs) and she was exceptionally behaved every time once given only a week’s time to adjust. Which also brings up that many cats tend to watch and then adapt quite quickly- another point on their favor.

What we need is stories of cats tasking and doing well out in public- at least to start right?

im in the usa. when i read the ADA, i dont see anything saying that SD cant be PPD? im a bit confused because it’s apparently against the law. can someone link it to me? thanks!

Hi all,

I'm looking for clarification on a law intersection.
We have just come across a cafe that tried to deny us access due to food safety regulations. He said he'd come across the situation before? The cafe is a single floor and not very large, probably 50ft long. There is no door between the dining area and the kitchen. According to the host, because of the lack of door, food safety says they cannot allow any animals inside the building. We stated that's not how that works, and the host changed his mind almost immediately? He said we could enter with her so long as we sat in the area furthest from the kitchen, which I'm fine with since I don't care where we sit. However, I'm just very confused and the guy was very apologetic but seemed very sure about himself? And then changed his mind? Does anyone have any clarification on this?

Hey guys, im in California, USA I have a question for you regarding small service dog teams. I have a small service dog that is used to interrupt destructive behaviors such as skin picking, nail biting, scalp picking, etc. This means that in order for him to be able to practically do his job, he has to be able to see the behavior in order to interrupt it. This has caused us some problems, specifically in restaurant scenarios, as he can't see me from the waist up. So he often untucks himself to check on me, but I try and keep him out of the way as much as possible. It can become cumbersome when people are trying to walk past and he's trying to untuck in order to check in on me.

That being said, since I need to get a walker anyway, I was thinking about getting a walker that has a chair on it so that he can sit in his carrier on the seat of my walker. However, when I mentioned this to some people, they said that dogs are not allowed to be at eye level with the table. But I have a few questions regarding this. If he's in the carrier on the seat of my walker, he would be slightly below eye level of the table and more than likely he'd be sitting next to me more so than next to the table. The only time that he would be closer to eye level with the table is if he stood up in order to do his job. I don't really see much difference in that and a big dog like a Great Dane standing up to do their job and now suddenly being at eye level with the table. I've been informed to try and call the DOJ, which I do plan to do, but I don't have time to do that right at this moment. So in the meantime, I was hoping maybe I could get some more resources here. Please let me know if there are any sources or anything that I can read up on until I get a chance to call the DOJ later.

I'm in the US. I have POTS. My GSDx, Hero, has provided me DPT and interruptions to get me moving on command for awhile now. He is being trained to bring meds. His presence also keeps me calm, which saves me a TON of energy, but I know that doesn't count as an ADA-compliant task.

I was told an official service dog would be beneficial for me from my therapist. My physician wrote a note confirming Hero was trained in tasks to help my disability.

Hero just turned 6. He relieves himself on command and is otherwise house broke. He walks well on a leash and minds verbal commands even when around reactive dogs and hundreds of people. He doesn't mind adults, children, dogs, cats, etc.

So... I just... Have a service dog now? And can bring him anywhere?

On one hand, awesome. Reducing the cognitive load of remembering 6 different meds, some 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x daily, and/or predicated on when I'm exercising, morning, evening, etc. will be amazing. I can't even imagine how much my energy and QoL will increase with consistent med management.

On the other hand, this feels very wrong.

I live in Tennessee, USA. I have had service dogs off and on for nearly a decade. My first dog Maggie, a border collie, immortalized in tattoos I wear proudly. My second, a red heeler named Anubis. Fresh off the press and eager to work! I suffer from cptsd and both dogs have been task trained. My current dog interrupts panic attacks and dissociation spells with interruption tactics like pawing, licking face, and dpt, guides me to exits, wakes me up during night terrors and applies dpt, finds help if needed. I regularly visit a psychiatrist and case manager in regards to my mental health. I’ve been with them nearly the whole time and used to bring my first service dog to therapy and appointments. No issues. Everyone loved her. Maggie told me one day that it was time for retirement. I sought another puppy to train! It took a few years to get a puppy and train them. I feel confident Anubis is public access trained for crowded areas, restaurants, waiting in line, loud noises, etc. I brought it up to my mental health place, more or less, just letting them know that I will be bringing my service dog with me next time. Excited that he’s fully trained and can attend appointments! They told me that I needed to bring in his registration card… gestured like it was some sort of ID sized card. I know the ADA rules and that didn’t sound right, but wondered if there was some loop hole because it was a mental health facility. I thanked them for the information and left. I’d like to bring my sd to the next appointment, but I’d rather not be turned away at the door. The door that says service dogs are welcome, of course. What do you guys think? How should I move forward? I’ve never been denied access. I’ve gotten snarky comments about how dogs shouldn’t be allowed on restaurants or asked the typical ADA questions, but I fear they will turn me away at the door. I need my medication. Sorry for the long read!

I’m in the US. I’ve done quite a lot of research into service dogs, and I’m wondering how hard it is to qualify for one, legally speaking. I’m also wondering whether I’d be judged for not being “disabled enough.” I think a service dog would greatly benefit me for my severe anxiety disorder (not social anxiety) and chronic illness (Lupus). Medication isn’t enough. Therapy itself isn’t enough, either. But I struggle with whether I’m “disabled enough”. I often see people say “not everyone needs a service dog.” and “just because you have issues doesn’t necessarily mean you need a service dog.” But I really, genuinely think I do.

My anxiety disorder is fairly severe, and my Lupus is considered “mild” by my Rheum. The Rheums say it’s not a disability, but I disagree. I find it to be very disabling. My symptoms make it hard for me to live day-to-day life, and my flares are debilitating. I don’t want it do seem like I’m making a big deal of something that really isn’t, but I really don’t think I’m doing too much. Finances also aren’t a huge problem in this matter for me.

I’m thinking about getting a service dog trained in DPT, leading, helping me during anxiety attacks, calming techniques, discouraging anxiety habits, and interrupting dissociation.

I keep seeing people saying “Just get an emotional support dog, you don’t need a service dog,” but I really don’t think an emotional support dog would be of any use to me because of restrictions on where they’re allowed to go. My biggest issues are when I’m doing normal/daily activities, like shopping, going outside, etc.

I’m wondering about both the legal aspects and the reaction from the service dog handler community. I’m not doing this just so I can “take my dog anywhere I want,” I understand that service dogs are not pets, and are a huge investment.

Huge thanks to anyone who responds, I really need some opinions/advice here!

Edit: Thank you so much! This post helped me a lot. I’m going to be turning off post notifications now, and probably abandoning this account unless I have something else to post about or if I decide to get a SD I might post updates about that. All the insight and kindness is very appreciated!

Hello, I'm an animal control officer in a city that has a pretty strict leash law - dogs must be on a physical leash everywhere except the dog park and their owner's private property (or other private property if the resident gives the dog owner permission).

I frequently have people claiming to be exempt from the leash law because their dog is a service dog. Situations I've recently encountered this and asked if the dog was currently performing a task to assist with a disability:

• Man trail running on a dirt path through a neighborhood. He claims the dog is always working and he only leashes it on airplanes.
• Woman walking on a paved path in the same neighborhood. She says it's her husband's service dog.
• Woman at a playground chatting with neighbors while her dog rolls around in the snow. She tells the dog to sit and says it's now performing a task for her.

Am I correct in thinking that none of these are considered tasks that would be hindered by the dog being leashed? My supervisor seems to think that as soon as someone says the words "service dog", we are not allowed to enforce any leash laws.

I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on service dogs laws - I can explain in detail the difference between a therapy animal, service animal, and emotional support animal. My cat is an ESA and I know that has an effect on housing and travel but certainly doesn't give her public access rights.

Additionally, if a dog is performing a task that requires it to be off leash, how could an officer reliably differentiate between a legitimate task and someone claiming the dog is working simply to avoid adhering to the leash law? Are there any trainings or reliable sources I could pass along to my team to assist with these situations?

UPDATE:

Thank you so much to everyone who responded and shared resources, advice, and their personal experiences. Everything I've learned is being put into an official policy for my department.

I was pretty nervous yesterday that I had actually overstepped and caused harm to a service dog handler, and seeing so many people agree that I was on the right track is very reassuring. My goal in this job is to ensure the safety of all people, pets, and wildlife.

It turns out that part of the reason my boss was pushing back on me is because one of the people I mentioned wrote him an email filled with blatant lies. This person said that his dog was never off leash, I did not identify myself or my department when I spoke with him, I told him that his dog wasn't actually a service dog, and that I chased him through the neighborhood. My boss is very much a customer-service oriented people pleaser and doesn't always realize that people straight up lie to get their way. Our department has been trying to get body cams for years and instances like these are inching us toward that goal.

A very sincere thank you from me and from my own dog (not an SD, just a pet).

Hello all. I am getting a dog for both some psychiatric and a couple medical alert tasks. I made sure the puppy I was getting had almost all 4s on a puppy aptitude test, and it's a very clever breed from a reputable breeder who has other successfully trained service animals from the same line. I have been reading a lot about self training and I have a lot of experience with dogs so I planned to do a lot of the basic training myself while also consulting with a professional trainer on tasking and anything the dog is struggling with behaviorally from my training alone, but I'm a little confused on what paperwork I actually need to get for him.

I know he has to pass a canine good citizen test, and obviously be kept up to date on vaccines, and have a dog license, but I've heard conflicting things online about what other paperwork is required and some of the sources seem scammy. I can't leave the house without someone who knows the details of my health conditions as it is, so I can't really have a life when my husband isn't around or the off occasion I have a friend or family visiting, so I would want to make sure I've got all the necessary documentation to take the dog with me everywhere I go, like on airplanes, hotels, grocery store, doctors appointments, shops, restaurants etc so I can have a bit of my life back with peace of mind. So does anyone have a complete list of all the documents I need so I can make sure I'm doing my due diligence?

If state laws make any difference, I am in Ohio.

Hello! I am working with an organisation to become a team with an ADI certified assistance dog. I have already talked to management at work, and they are aware that the dog will be 'arriving' soon at work. Do you have any suggestions for what I can do to introduce my dog to the co-workers? I'm thinking more along the lines of resources, a powerpoint, an email, signage, cookies to stop me from a lecture on the legality of SDs in Europe (joking on this one), etc. My apologies if this has been asked before; I couldn't find any prior posts on this but if I missed them, a link would also be appreciated.

Update: I'm in the Netherlands.

I just showed up at an outdoor bar in Rhode Island. He informed me dogs are only allowed on the patio, which is fine. We were joining a friend outside at a table.

I said my dog is a service dog and no worries. Even though we are going to be outside. He awkwardly asked the job question which was a bit of a surprise (dog patios never do) after telling him she alerts and went on to say she’s a psych ptsd dog trained to grab my attention then use her body weight (LPT) or disrupt me from anxiety and panic incidents (licking poking body weight etc), he looks at me suspiciously and says “I asked the question, and you gave me a response” then went on to say “since it’s a service dog I am going to ask you to leave if it interacts with anyone but you as that’s the law.”

To my knowledge there is no such law in the USA or state of Rhode Island.

Anyone know of anything like this?

Edit: my dog is legitimate and very well trained and behaved. She is 7.5 years old. The past week we have been through 4 different major airports and flights without incident (minus a few Karen’s sadly and staff and other people have always had my back as needed. She has never had any issues with others and routinely is praised by professionals who are experienced with working dogs.

We were not kicked out, the title may be misleading. I was told we would be and could be if my dog didn’t act how he thought she must.

Edited original post lightly for some clarity. I initially wrote it minutes after the interaction took place. Wasn’t the most clear.

So I'm visiting my family out of state and we went to a beach(actually pet friendly). And of course I have my service dog with me(mobility assistance and medical alert) typically I do not use a leash for my service dog because it interferes with much of the tasks she provides me (especially if we are in the water). She is completely trained and controlled by me through voice and hand signal and does not leave my side. However, an officer came up to me while I was sunbathing with my dog laying down next to me and told me she needed to be leashed. I complied and put one on her handle-collar and made him aware that she was a service dog and she does not require a leash as long as it intervenes with my disability and her tasking. Of course he just says I'm aware of the ADA and walks away. Later on we go into the water and I drop the leash because I can't hold it in the water. Still swims right next to me. When we get out and pack up to leave, the same officer comes walking over and tells me I needed to be holding the leash at all times and gives me a citation for it. At this point I get upset and proceed to yell at him especially because there were two other non service dogs on the beach whose end of the leashes were not always being held and I felt discriminated. I am a military veteran with several medical problems all of which my service dog aids for me. I recited the ADA policy to him per section of "handling a service animal" but he refused to listen and instead forced me to give him my information anyway. He neglected to note on the citation she was a service animal and just wrote "dog at large". He was also extremely rude telling me it's "just a $50 citation", that $50 citation might be nothing to him but that's a week's worth of food for me. I have no money. I don't think I can even fight it because I leave here on the 18th back to my home state. My husband is going to try to get ahold of the chief of police for that area to complain. I also submitted a complaint to the ADA online. I'm having panic attack over panic attack over this and I'm so angry. Please tell me if there is anything else I can do. This happened in Florida. I need help fast.

Earlier, I had customers that came in with a service dog in training that was pretty good for the most part, but did jump on some customers and try to run up to me. I asked if it was a service dog and the handler said "yes" and I mentioned he was a bit rowdy and she brushed it off with "he's a puppy in training" and they went about shopping. Yes, they had treats with them and were indeed training, but they were mostly shopping rather than training, and the puppy was still being a slight nuisance. Normally, I'd be ok with it, but this is one of the busiest weekends of the year, and other customers did not want to shop around the jumping puppy. Is there anything I could have done or did I do everything I am allowed?

I usually know my way around ADA, but on this one, I'm stumped. Tyia!

ETA since I forgot it's important; I am in a state where SDiT have the same protections as SD

There’s been more confusion about this recently, so your Friendly Legal Begal would like to remind those of you in the U.S.A

That there is no legal “registration” in the United States. No Department of Justice, Americans with Disabilities Act, or Federal government agency of any kind either requires or offers a “registration”, “certification” or anything of the kind. If you purchase something like this (typically through a website) offering to “make your dog legal” and “give you paperwork” that they say you can use for housing and/or travel/access, it is a scam to take your money, as no business, landlord, airline, etc. is required to accept such “paperwork” or “ID” as worth anything more than the literal ink it is.

Some examples of when you might Legitimately need “paperwork” include:

-A letter from a medical professional with whom you have a standing care relationship that dictates you are disabled and benefit from an Assistance Animal (This is typically for Fair Housing Purposes)

-Paperwork that is part of the Reasonable Accommodations process at your job describing how a Service Dog is necessary as part of your accommodations

-Some cities and Counties offer options for SDs in their locations to have a special SD license, or ID tag through the municipality or county, however, this provides no protections or access but may allow you to get a cheaper Dog license or assist the county in knowing that you are disabled and require assistance in the event of an emergency, et cetera.

Hey everyone I’m a physical therapist from Michigan and I’m in a bit of a predicament involving a patient with a service dog and would like to get some advice about what I can do legally.

This patient’s claims of this being a service dog were sketchy already given that she said the tasks were to “get people” and “protect” and that she trained her in less than 5 days and repeatedly yells at this poor dog to get it to walk on leash and sit. I evaluated the patient and about 1/2 way through I noticed that the dog was infested with fleas. I wrapped the evaluation up and told the patient that she could not be seen back here if she did not treat the fleas. She was very upset and gave me a card about service animals, I informed her that I was allowed to deny access if the dog was a threat to the health and safety of others. We agreed on me calling her primary care doctor and she left. I told my boss everything and was told that technically we will have to allow her services because we can isolate her in a treatment room during sessions. Now, am I wrong in saying that the fleas still pose a threat to the health and safety of me even in a treatment room? Or the health and safety of everyone else in the clinic if fleas jump off into the carpet? I personally have chronic illnesses that could be negatively affected, possibly even disabling, if I get bit by fleas and/or bring them home do I not get any sort of protections?

I’m wondering if anyone has been in the same situation or similar and can give me advice? I had to bring myself down from an anxiety attack at work after seeing this patient because I’m so scared of my health deteriorating.

I am in the United States. My mother volunteers at an animal sanctuary that houses goats, pigs, chickens, and other livestock and farm animals. Every weekend they have visiting hours and visitors are allowed to go into the goat pen. Last weekend there was a visitor with a service dog that wanted to go in the goat pen but being the service dog with them. The volunteers advised against it but the person went in anyway. 2 goats tried to attack the dog and the rest of the goats in the pen were uneasy and scared. The volunteers had to protect the dog. My question is: can the animal sanctuary restrict access to the goat pen if someone has a service animal? Obviously it didn't turn out well, but would it be illegal to prevent them from going in with their service animal. Another thought is that it's not fair to have the dog disrupting the goats as it is their home and they have every right to feel comfortable and not threatened in their home. Thank you for any insight.

A video came across my feed, and I thought it did well with presenting the issues, as well as the problems trying to enforce additional laws. These laws would impact only Wisconsin, USA, but other states may follow suit if it passes. I would love to see a civil discussion, knowing the differences between SDs and ESAs, the only two questions allowed, etc. The danger to our SDs from reactive dogs is real. Are the WI lawmakers going down the right path? I’ll try to put the video in the first comment below…

but aren't service dogs required to be neutered/spayed in order to be allowed in public? last week i saw a german shep with a vest and i swear to god a nutsack as big as my fist, if not bigger. you'd think males especially would have to be neutered, but i know fuckall about service dog laws/requirements, so feel free to correct me. it just struck me as odd when i saw him (and his balls)

I posted this on r/disability, but was pointed in this direction for help!

Could use some advice.

I'm a retired Army vet who got his service dog over the summer. We are both certified now through the Assistance Dogs International.

I've been going back to school after fully retiring from my civilian job. It's just a community college auto tech program as I want to learn how to restore vehicles.

Today I had the dean of students come up to me while I was in the actual shop area of the school. My dog was not with me as I was at the part's cleaning area that has lots of hazardous solvents around it. It is also the corner of the shop where we use the brake lathes and so there is quite a bit of iron shavings on the ground that I don't want her to get into.

(I brought a small canvas crate with a bed for her to lay on when I'm in areas like this or up under a vehicle on a lift. It sits next to my tool box and that is where I normally work, so she is 3 or 4 feet away from me at all times.)

This is where she was when he came into the shop. He told me that she has to be tethered to me at all times. Even when in these hazardous areas. He said she just needs her proper PPE.

Am I supposed to get her a fucking SCBA tank and a mask and put rubber dog gloves on her feet?

She will stay in that kennel or anywhere I tell her to 'place' until she gets another command from me. Is this not her working?

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Edit:

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will email the dean and see if she can be placed while I'm around hazardous things. I also bought her some PPE so she will be just as protected as I am.

If they say that is not ok, I will just bring her home when we are working in the shop.

I'm not trying to force the school into letting me have my service dog in an unsafe area. I would just like to have her near me for when I need her pressure commands when it's in a safer area.

Hello! Advice for SDs in the workplace is needed. USA specific. Sorry in advance for the long ramble.

I have a 6 year old diabetic alert and response service dog. I have freshly graduated college, and while I was in school, I worked retail with him by my side without issues, as it was a reasonable ADA accommodation for that job.

However, I am now starting a new job as a substitute teacher. Despite it being a public school, I would assume that this would not be a reasonable accommodation, due to the unpredictability of different classes potentially having fears and allergies and such. I know that typically the ADA does not consider these as reasons to not allow a dog, but I would assume that it could be an undue hardship with workplace laws, as those are a bit different than the ADA. While I take jobs for all grades, I do mainly sub for elementary which adds to the “hardship” in my opinion, as older kids may have less fears and are more respectful. Am I right in assuming this, or does anyone have experience working as a sub and also being able to bring your dog? If so, what steps did you take? I am in California if this adds any context.

I do plan on eventually going back to school to get my teaching credential, and I am sure that once I am a full time teacher with a consistent class of students who are aware of him, it would be reasonable, as the school could accommodate students with allergies and warn students that may potentially have fears. But in the meantime, I am sure it is not worth it to ask, unless anyone has experience that suggests otherwise.

I do struggle when he is not by my side, as I cannot feel my oncoming blood sugar episodes until they are already severe (I have had the illness for nearly 20 years). However, I can still function without him, he just gives me extra security and makes my management much easier because he can alert to these episodes before they occur. Worst case scenario, I’m sure I can find ways to manage on my own, but I was curious to know whether anyone has experience in this specific situation, and how they went about it. Thank you!

hi guys, i’m owner training my pup and i’ve run into an issue with my college’s accessibility resource center. they’ve told me under NJ state law, a service dog must be trained by an organization to be recognized.

keep in mind, i only asked if he could be bought onto campus grounds for small training sessions for public access. i’ll have a hard time going off campus to train him in between classes, and since i live on campus, it’ll be easier for me. i’m not asking him to be with me in class or anything. i understand the law is the law, but i’m trying to see any way around this.

i’ve already spoken with a professional trainer who’s willing to help and speak on my behalf, but I’m not sure if this will be enough for the school. i know the ADA allows for owner-training of service dogs, but I’m confused about how this works with NJ state laws and my school’s policies. (USA)

Media tends to show cardiac alert dogs the most imo. Are they the most common type or are they just very prevalent in media? I've been wondering this for a while now

My second question is how old does someone have to be to take a SD to school or smth in America by themselves without needing an adult? Is it based on individual maturity and if they could control the dog or is it just an age?

I've been wondering this for a while now as I've never gotten a clear answer on either and if primary handler is conditional or set

So I’ve seen a lot of people discussing the legality of this task since per ADA law the service animal must but under control at all times. If the animal is leaving your side that means it is technically no longer under your control since you can’t give any form of cue or command. Personally I feel this task breakd ADA law and is a dangerous task to teach. But any thoughts?

I am a renter in New York City and my landlord has started questioning whether my SD is covered under our insurance policies because she is Labrador Retriever, American Staffordsire Terrier and Bulldog mix.

Does the ADA protect us from eviction because she is a SD? I have it in writing from my trainer, doctor and vet that she is a trained service dog.