Service dog identification is important as it helps to
distinguish your working dog from a regular pet while in public. By providing a
service dog id, such as a vest, tag or card, it makes it easier for business
owners and the general public to understand that your canine or other type of
animal is doing its job by accompanying you.
Contrary to popular belief, service dogs come in many shapes
and sizes. While it's still common for Labrador retrievers to be service dogs,
dogs as small as a Chihuahua can also serve a purpose as a service dog. However,
there are some people that may not be aware of this, and may question you
regarding your small service dog. Outfitting your dog with a service dog
identification vest, or simply carrying around a service dog ID card can help
to address any issues before they begin.
What are the ADA Rules for Service Dogs?
According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA),
privately owned businesses must allow service dogs to accompany people with
disabilities into their establishments. This holds true for restaurants and
other businesses that may not typically allow pets.
Under the act, businesses can't ask about the disability or
require any paperwork but they can question if the dog is required to help with
a general disability. They can also ask what tasks the dog has been trained to
assist with.
Wearing a service dog ID will make it evident to the public
that your dog is a service dog and will probably lessen the number of questions
about its purpose.
Of note, Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and
therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA.
Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are
not considered service animals either (source). However, ESAs can benefit from wearing a service vest, or by
the handler carrying an ID stating that the animal is indeed an ESA.
What Happens When There's a Problem?
Unfortunately, some businesses or establishments may be
unaware of the ADA laws and try to ban people with disabilities from bringing
their service dogs into their businesses even when outfitted with visual
identifiers that an animal is acting in a special service type of capacity to
its handler. When this happens, both the
handler and the animal may just choose
to leave and patronize or visit a different establishment. Some
establishments may even be aware of ADA laws, but still try to ban an animal
serving as a service or support animal.
In some instances, legal battles have ensued. This was the case with a
man who had difficulty
with his housing establishment
Although service dog identification won't solve the problem
in every case, it can help to reduce the amount of resistance from the public.
For more information about ADA rules, please visit: https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet
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