Both emotional
support dogs and working service dogs can often be
identified by the vests they wear. However, telling the difference between them
may require you to take a closer look. Can you tell the difference? Try to spot
the difference between these two dogs:
Although both dogs are wearing vests, the one on the
left is clearly labelled as a “Service Dog,” while the one on the right is
identified as an “Emotional Support Dog.”
Service dogs and emotional support dogs can come in
any size and any breed. As indicated in the pictures, their vests can even be
the same color. Therefore, it is vitally important to know how to tell the
difference between emotional support dogs and service dogs. You must carefully
read the words on the dog’s vest; that is the best way to know whether the dog
is a service animal or an emotional support animal.
Can’t
You Ask Someone To Prove Their Animal is a Service Dog?
No. Under no circumstance are you allowed to ask
someone to prove their animal is a service dog. That is considered
discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You are also
not allowed to ask for documentation for the dog, nor can you ask the handler have
the dog perform its task.
The ADA states you may only ask two questions: “(1) is
the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or
task has the dog been trained to perform?”
Remember, it is against the law to misrepresent a
service animal as such if it is not one. Because of this rule, you must assume
that a dog wearing a vest labelled “Service Dog” is a legitimate service dog,
and is providing vital assistance for the handler.
You could find yourself in an uncomfortable situation
if you are trying to figure out if the dog is an emotional support animal or a
service animal. You must make sure the vest clearly states what kind of dog
they have.
Emotional support dogs and service dogs are not the
same. They do not provide the same kind of assistance to their handlers, and many
people do not know the difference between the two. We hope you now understand how
it can be easy to tell if you are looking at an emotional support dog or
service dog. All you have to do is look.
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