Service Dogs
A service dog is specifically trained to perform a specific task for a person with a disability. Hearts of Gold dogs are trained only for mobility and/or psychiatric disabilities, not for disabilities related to visual, hearing, or for medical alert, such as seizures or diabetes. They work as a team with their partners, helping their handler attain safety and independence. They receive certain rights of entry to otherwise no-animal allowed facilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires three things for a dog to be a service dog. First, the service dog handler must have a life-limiting disability. Second, the dog must be trained to mitigate the handler’s disability by doing either work or tasks. Third, the dog must not cause a disruption in public.
Emotional Support Dogs (ESA’s)
An emotional support dog serves as a companion, or pet, for the owner. They are not legally required to be trained to perform tasks related to the handlers’ disability. Emotional Support Animals do not have public access protections under the ADA; however, they are generally permitted on transportation and in housing with proper documentation.
Example:
A dog calms someone when having an anxiety attack. Service or ESA? It depends. The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and takes a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.
You may find additional information on Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals here.
