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ADA Service Dog Laws
Service dog handlers are afforded specific rights and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Every service dog handler needs to understand their legal rights and how to exercise them. It is also important for staff members at establishments such as restaurants, stores, hotels, schools, and other public locations to understand how they can properly verify a service dog without running afoul of ADA rules. In this article, we will explain what rights service dog handlers have under the ADA, how an animal companion qualifies as a service dog, and what staff members at public establishments are permitted and not permitted to ask a service dog owner. Here’s an overview of the questions answered:
- 1. What is a service animal?
- 2. How does the ADA define a disability?
- 3. What disabilities qualify for a service dog under the ADA?
- 4. Where are service dogs allowed?
- 5. Can I board flights with my service dog?
- 6. What questions am I allowed to ask a service dog owner?
- 7. Do I need a professional trainer to train my service dog? Can I train my service dog myself?
- 8. Which dog breeds can be service dogs?
- 9. Are emotional support animals the same as service animals?
- 10. When can a business ask a service dog and its handler to leave an establishment?
- 11. Do I need a vest, ID card, or special harness for my service dog?
- 12. How do I certify or register my service dog?
- 13. My city requires dogs to be registered and licensed. Are service dogs exempt?
- 14. My city requires that dogs be vaccinated. Is that applicable to service dogs?
- 15. Can a service dog be off leash?
- 16. Can a restaurant or hotel force my service dog to remain in a certain area?
- 17. Can a hotel charge me for staying with a service dog?
- 18. Are service dogs allowed in self-service restaurants, such as buffets?
- 19. Are restaurants required to allow service dogs to be seated on chairs or be fed at the table?
1. What is a service animal?
Trained dog: The ADA defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for someone with a disability.
Training can include a variety of tasks such as alerting people who are deaf, guiding people who are visually impaired, calming a person during an anxiety attack, reminding people with psychiatric conditions to take medications, or protecting a person who is experiencing a seizure.
Psychiatric service: Service dogs that assist with mental and emotional health issues or learning disabilities are called psychiatric service dogs (PSDs). Psychiatric service dogs are a type of service dog and have the same rights as service dogs that assist people with physical disabilities. All references to “service dogs” in this article include psychiatric service dogs.
Training is not one-size-fits-all. Service dogs are remarkable canines capable of a wide range of tasks that help make independent living possible for their handlers; they undergo specialized training to learn tasks that mitigate the difficulties caused by the specific disabilities of their handler. Service dogs are working animals – not pets.
2. How does the ADA define a disability?
Definition: Under the ADA, a person with a disability has a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.” This includes individuals who are regarded as having a disability even if their disability is not physically visible (i.e., mental health conditions and learning disabilities).
Additional rights: In addition to the ADA, owners of service dogs have rights under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), and various state laws.
3. What disabilities qualify for a service dog under the ADA?
Assessing qualification: In the context of the ADA, “disability” is a legal term, not a medical one, and has a specific definition: an impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity. A disabled person can also be someone who has a history or record of such an impairment or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. Thus, it is up to individuals and their licensed healthcare professionals to assess whether this qualification is met.
There’s no list: The ADA does not specifically list out every type of impairment that qualifies as a disability. The disability can be a physical disability, such as blindness or impaired mobility, or it can be an invisible disability in the form of a mental condition, such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
4. Where are service dogs allowed?
In public: Businesses, nonprofit organizations, and state and local governments that serve the public are generally required to allow service dogs to accompany people with disabilities in any areas open to the public. This would include restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, hotels, office buildings, school campuses, parks, and other establishments open to the public.
In the sky and at home: Service dogs can also board the cabin of airplanes with their owners without having to pay a pet fee. Service dogs also have housing rights: They are allowed to live with their owners free of charge or deposits, even in buildings that prohibit pets.
5. Can I board flights with my service dog?
The rules: Service dogs (including psychiatric service dogs) are allowed to board flights with their owners, free of charge. The US Department of Transportation implemented new regulations in early 2021 that effectively ended the ability of emotional support animals to board most US flights. However, the DOT affirmed the right of service dogs and psychiatric service dogs to board flights in the cabin. Flights to, from, and within the US fall under the scope of these protections.
What you have to do: Airlines cannot charge fees for service dogs to board, but, to fly with a service dog, the passenger must submit a completed DOT Service Animal Transportation Form to the airline before boarding. The form requires the service dog handler to self-certify that they have a trained service animal. It also requires the name of the dog’s trainer (which can be the handler) and the name (but not the signature) of the dog’s veterinarian.
For a complete guide to flying with a service animal or psychiatric service animal, check out this helpful article.
6. What questions am I allowed to ask a service dog owner?
Allowed: The staff or employees at a public establishment such as a restaurant, bar, store, hotel, office building, or school may only as two limited questions if and only if it is not obvious what service the dog provides:
- Is the dog a service animal that is required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Not allowed: The staff member cannot require a doctor’s note, inquire about the handler’s disability, ask for an identification card or training certificate, or demand medical documents.
In addition, staff members are not permitted to ask the handler to have their service dog demonstrate its ability to perform work for the owner. It is also important to note that the two questions above are only allowed if the disability is not apparent. For example, if the service dog is being used as a guide dog for a blind person, it would not be appropriate to interrogate them about their service dog.
7. Do I need a professional trainer to train my service dog? Can I train my service dog myself?
The choice is yours: ADA service dog rules do not require that service dog handlers use a professional trainer. To make your dog a service dog, you do not need to complete any specific training program. Service dog handlers are allowed to train their dog themselves without the help of a professional trainer or training program.
Timing: Service dog owners should note that under ADA rules, service dogs in training are not yet considered to be service animals. That means that before a service dog owner can enjoy all of the rights afforded to service dog owners under the ADA, their dog must be fully trained to perform the task that assists with the handler’s disability. However, some state and local laws may give rights to dogs that are still in the training stages.
8. Which dog breeds can be service dogs?
Under ADA rules, a service dog can be of any breed. A public establishment or landlord is not allowed to prohibit entry for a service dog solely based on its breed. The service dog may be asked to leave the premises if it is not under the control of the handler or acts in a way that threatens the health and safety of others. However, staff members and landlords at an establishment or apartment complex cannot ask a service dog to leave simply because they are afraid of the dog solely due to preconceived notions about the dog’s breed.
ADA rules also take precedence over local rules regarding breed restrictions. For example, if your city bans a certain dog breed, that ban cannot be categorically applied to service animals.
9. Are emotional support animals the same as service animals?
No, emotional support animals, or ESAs, are not the same as service animals. The ADA does not protect dogs who solely provide emotional support or comfort as service animals. Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals do not require any special training.
Emotional support animals are intended to provide support for mental and emotional disabilities through companionship. ESAs have more limited access rights than service dogs. Emotional support animals are allowed in residences and on flights but do not have a right to be in places such as stores, hotels, or restaurants that prohibit pets the same way service dogs do.
That does not mean a service dog cannot assist with a psychiatric condition. For example, a service dog can be used to remind depressed individuals to take their medication. Or, for someone with anxiety, a service dog can be trained to sense an impending anxiety attack and take actions to prevent the attack or minimize its impact. However, if a person with anxiety is just using the dog’s companionship as a source of comfort for their condition, the animal would not qualify as a service dog.
10. When can a business ask a service dog and its handler to leave an establishment?
A disabled person with a service dog can only be asked to remove their animal from the premises in very limited circumstances. It is appropriate for staff members to ask a handler to remove their service dog if the dog is out of control or the dog is not housebroken. A service dog handler may also be asked to leave if their service dog’s actions threaten the health and safety of other people.
It is not appropriate to ask a service dog to leave due to allergies or a fear of dogs. Under ADA guidance, if someone is allergic to a dog and needs to share space with a disabled person and their service dog, both people should be accommodated by assigning them, where possible, to different locations within the room or facility.
11. Do I need a vest, ID card, or special harness for my service dog?
The ADA does not specify requirements for items such as vests, ID cards, or special harnesses. However, many service dog owners utilize these accessories as helpful tools that signal to the public that their dog is a service dog. By using a service dog ID card, vest, or harness, service dog handlers can clearly indicate to members of the public that their dog is on duty and should not be disturbed. These accessories help to set proper boundaries so handlers can avoid invasive inquiries and interactions.
12. How do I certify or register my service dog?
Service animals do not need to be certified or registered to qualify as service animals. Employees and staff are not permitted to require documentation from a handler that the animal is certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal as a condition for entry.
Some service dog owners will certify or register their dogs through an organization to help notify others that their animal is a service dog. However, these documents are optional and do not by themselves convey legal rights under the ADA.
13. My city requires dogs to be registered and licensed. Are service dogs exempt?
No, service dogs are not exempt from local registration and licensing requirements that apply to all dogs. This is different from organizations that register and license dogs as service animals. As discussed earlier, these organizations do not confer any official status on service dogs; their services are optional. If your city, however, requires all dogs to be licensed and registered, your service dog must also comply.
14. My city requires that dogs be vaccinated. Is that applicable to service dogs?
Yes, service dogs are not exempt from local rules regarding animal control and health. If your city requires vaccinations for all dogs, then your service dog must also comply.
15. Can a service dog be off leash?
Under ADA rules, a service dog must always be under the control of its handler and must be tethered, harnessed, or leashed unless the handler’s disability prevents them from using these items or these items interfere with the dog’s ability to safely and effectively perform its tasks. In situations where a tether, harness, or leash is not suitable, the handler must maintain control of their service dog through voice, signal, or other means of control. An establishment can ask a handler to remove their service dog from the premises if the handler does not have control of their animal.
16. Can a restaurant or hotel force my service dog to remain in a certain area?
No, under ADA rules, handlers with service dogs cannot be isolated from other customers or treated less favorably than other customers. The establishment cannot have a special area for service dogs and limit the handler’s activities to that one area. For example, a hotel cannot limit guests with service dogs to designated “pet-friendly” rooms.
17. Can a hotel charge me for staying with a service dog?
No, a business can never charge a deposit or fee in connection with service dogs. If the hotel charges a fee for pets, it must waive that fee for a guest staying with a service dog. Hotels are also not allowed to charge service dog owners cleaning fees to clean up hair or dander shed by the dog. However, a handler can be held responsible for paying for any damage caused by their service dog.
18. Are service dogs allowed in self-service restaurants, such as buffets?
Yes, service dogs must be allowed to accompany their owners through self-service food areas such as salad bars and buffets. Service animals are also allowed in cafeterias, such as those in the workplace or on school campuses.
19. Are restaurants required to allow service dogs to be seated on chairs or be fed at the table?
No, seating at a restaurant and the food served at the establishment are for patrons only. A service dog owner is allowed to have their animal companion next to them, but they cannot expect the restaurant to allow the dog to be seated or fed at the table.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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The absence of requiring that the dog has identification is a huge problem as wayyyy too many people are claiming their pets as assistance dogs. A simple photo ID of dog alike a personal identification card does not invade anyone’s ability to have an assistance dog. I’ve seen kids nipped at in places like Walmart from people claiming they are working animals. No trained dog would bite a child.
Forging identification to claim a pet is a service dog is easy. I have reported people I know who have done this but there is no easy answer. This creates a big problem for owners of real service dogs. We have problems with people not wanting to believe us but how would the ADA go about proving that the identification was false. There a lot of companies out there that charge outrageous fees to certify service dogs but they are not certified by the ADA to do this.
People should teach their children to keep a distance from any dog they do not know. People are constantly distracting my service dog while he is working because they want to pet the nice doggy…they should know better. This is how a person gets bitten by a “fake” service animal. Also, the laws need to make the penalty greater for passing off a pet as a service animal. You don’t ask a person in a wheel chair to “prove” his/her disability even though an electric wheel chair can seriously injure a bystander (I know because I use one & have run over more than one foot). Most people are smart enough to keep a reasonable distance from my wheel chair…why can’t they figure out the same with my service dog. Don’t punish the honest handlers of service animals for the ignorance or audacity of others. That being said, “fakers” tick me off too!
There are some states that have laws about harassing a service animal. I don’t like people petting mine. He doesn’t provide a service for them, he provides a service to me.
Kids should be more patrolled at ALL TIMES BY PARENTS OR CARE GIVERS. Service animals are not pets so if a handler says no… No is no. Take the kid to the zoo for crying out loud. Service animals are there for their handlers & not to entertain someone’s child…. Of course the parent that disagrees can trade places with the disabled patron & enjoy. No? I didn’t think so….
Of course not, but why are they approaching and petting them in the first place.
Stay away from them, end of that problem.
I agree with this completely. A “service dog” lunged at me in a grocery store and a “service dog” held by a.person next to me on an airplane was all over me. Too many people are abusing this (my neighbor, who just wants to take his pet everywhere, included). I.D. cards should be made mandarory.
And then what happens when traveling if your wallet is stolen as mine was while moving across 7 states in the dead of winter
how much training is needed to be certified?
The ADA does not outline the amount of training a service dog requires. However, the animal should be trained to provide a task for your disability.
No “official “ training required. Training is required; in other words if someone has a condition a response by animal should be performed to a manner of that person’s condition. There are not nationally or state official certifications Blessed by fed or state….
if you get a traiuner to do your dog itakes about 2000 hrs to train a dog for service work i started with mine whwn he was 6 months old allso ada stated the the dog has to be 18monts to 2yrs old to be a service dog noy a 6 month old puppy also the animals has to be fixed
Do service dogs need to have a patch or label somewhere starting they are service dogs?
No. But most of us put vests on that say DO NOT TOUCH, WORKING SERVICE ANIMAL. It cuts down on people messing with s legitimate team. Besides when the vest is on its work time…when its off yea my guys still work for me at home…but its i csn be a dog time too. I’ve put hundreds if not over 1000 hours into my 2 service animals. Not to mention the cost of taking care of them. Mainly, we just want to be left alone. Let me shop, get my groceries and GTFO of where im at. Most dont like to spend an extended amount of time anywhere because of how others perceive them and their SD.
All 3 of my service dogs, 1 at a time except while I was training my current dog, have worn patches stating that they were service dogs along with patches saying Please Do Not Pet Me. That still does not stop people from petting them. I was on a bus one day and a man got on and started petting my service dog. I pointed out to him that his patch said Do Not Pet but he kept petting him. I asked him to stop petting my service dog. He said okay but continued to pet him. I told him he was breaking the law but he continued to pet my service dog. I asked him if he would walk up to someone’s baby and start touching it. He thought for about 5 seconds and said ‘yes’. The bus driver made him get off the bus for disturbing me and Cuddles, my Seizure Alert Service Dog, now deceased for 3 years. We have people on both sides of the issue what we need is more true education for the public. State, county and city laws that counterdict the ADA laws should be removed or reworded so that they no longer break the ADA laws.
I’ve found patches and labels actually bring more negative attention than just traveling with my service dog without identification. I use ADA rules to determine hard line rules of what I HAVE to do: Have a prescription. Have an animal trained in 3 tasks I cannot do myself. No registration/certification/”special training regime” is required. However, a manager of a facility may ask what the tasks the animal is trained to perform. They MAY NOT ask my medical condition.
If a business offers offsite camping cabins are they required to allow their volunteers to bring a service animal? Many attendees may have allergiesetc that would also be using the cabins and this is causing a problem. I would appreciate your assistance.
If you are legally allowed to be there, then so is your service animal. Allergies of other people is not a reason to not allow you access.
Exactly. Their problem, not yours.
I’m allergic to some people, they aren’t going anywhere.
I have three small service dog. One is elderly and I don’t have the heart to put him down. I don’t take them places other than in my truck. They calm me from my aniexty and alert me to the door. I have many health issues and find it extremely hard to not have them for one day. I’ve trained them for certain jobs as in the past I’ve trained security dogs. One has a natural talent of letting me know when my blood sugar is off. No service dog should be urinating or attempting anger issues in public. What I’ve found that some animals just detect bad people and go into high alert. A good service dog is a well trained service dog.
They need to amend this law to make that mandatory. I think it’s bulllshit when ppl like to bring their dog around everywhere and claim it’s a service dog, when they know it’s not. Like I’m sure, they didn’t have laws like this before unless someone was blind, but all of a sudden EVERYONE acts like they can’t leave their damn pets at home.
No
No, Not, NEVER!!!! Handler might buy one though online because they’re tired hassle from ignorant of the law or because they’re being sketchy about actually having a medical reason & again ignorance comes into play.
Question.
If someone is claiming they have a service animal ,but is pushing it around in a stroller is this a nominal thing for owners with service animals
That service dog could be trained to detect insulin levels, have alerting behaviors… Are you in a position of knowledge to know all the services an animal could assist a person with? Sounds like you have a bias.
Perhaps you might want to learn more about the extensive uses animals can provide in lieu of deciding its viability based on the handlers care-taking preferences.
I do have a bias when I see “service dogs” snarling at passerbys from a shopping cart, lifting their leg on store products and barking incessantly at other “service dogs”. I know how many hours go in to training an authentic SERVICE DOG, I don’t consider an untrained, spoiled, yapping lap dog a service dog. I consider them annoying and a potential danger to those exposed to them.
I agree. If the person needs a service dog, it should be properly trained. People shouldn’t pass their ill-behaved dog off as a service dog. Ridiculous!😒
Note if the dog is a genuine service dog such situations would be extremely rare as the Dog and human have typically had extensive training. However, in rare circumstances if a dog is behaving aggressively or not under the owners control, it is not a legally service dog for that time period that the behavior is manifested, even if it is trained. Most people with real service dogs have been trained to understand that there may be temporary situations when their dog is not protected by the ADA because in that moment the animal is unable to serve its function. Again that is exceeding rare. Once the animal is under control and able to perform its assistive function their has it’s legal protection again. An example may be, the service dog becomes suddenly ill and has uncontrollable diarrhea, in that instance a restaurant could legally ask the person to take their dog outside, but if the diarrhea stopped then the person would be within their legal right to ask to return.
I some what agree but the comments about size is not ok I had small dog for my ptsd but behaved is a problem in my eyes
Lol sounds like you dont like small dogs…. Not all people “look like” they have disabilities.. I have a “lap dog” who is gentle and quiet.. And it also sounds like you know everything, including knowing how every “lap dog” is a potential danger to those exposed to them. Chill out dad gum!
I agree with you. Recently I was in a restaurant and asked to provide documentation for my service dog. I explained the ADA rules regarding service dogs to the server. Later, she apologized and said a so called service dog was in the restaurant and lunged at a child.
I explained even if the dog was legit, at that point they had the right to remove the dog.
I really feel it wasn’t a service animal. I could never see my service dog acting in that manner.
You seriously need to read up on the ADA.gov website before you end up in a lawsuit.
Service dogs can be trained by their owner. They do not have to go somewhere to be trained
Those are not “Service Dogs” — Common Sense, they have to be well-behaved.
And NO Pitbulls. Not Service Dog Quality.
there is nothing stating pitbulls cant be service dogs
you have no clue what you are talking about, read this document alone, it says NO BREED IS EXCLUDED. Bully breeds have been caring for children since the 1800s so much, that they were called “nanny dogs”
Please dont go out in public and make a fool of yourself like you did on this message board. We handlers have enough problems without people like you spreading misinformati0n.
Thats not a service dog
Too many people are trying to (and with no recourse) pass off pets as service animals. I see it TOO often in grocery & retail stores. It’s a problem for management because they feel their hands are tied because of the rules. I think anyone with a service animal should provide documentation if asked. I am allergic to dogs, and I’ve seen (obviously NOT service) dogs on restaurant chairs eating from human plates, in grocery carts, … I realize that I am in the minority, & would love to have a dog as a pet, but it’s not an option with my severe allergies.
Per ADA requirements documentation is not required, however the handler has a responsibility to have the dog under control at all times. Any business owner has the right to ask what tasks the dog is trained to do, and the handler must have a disability that the dog is specifically trained to assist with. Emotional support dogs do not have the same rights. A legitimately trained service dog should never be on restaurant chairs, or being fed in a restaurant and are not allowed in grocery carts. They must be on a leash (unless it impairs the work, but must be under control) or can be carried by their handler.
And should you also provide birth certificate, 1st grade report card and a copy of your credit report if pulled over by a police office who asks for them? Of course not! So why should someone be expected to provide to someone an item that the law does not require? That only muddies the waters and makes it so business owners think that those items are necessary.
Given the issue with fake dogs, Towns are starting to require real service dogs to be licensed by the jurisdiction. I like the idea, it protects the disabled person and the business.
Also, people don’t act based on fear and not knowing the law. If I found a fake service dog, I’d try to make a case for impersonating a person with a disability under NY Law.
First of all, eating off plates and grocery carts are within ANYONE’S Purview.
Kids, walking germ factories, are allowed to sit on a cart and spread more
diseases than even the filthiest canine could ever spread ( for your scientific
erudition, canines’ mouths are the cleanest on the planet and humans’ the
filthiest — simple science — I know, you think you’re so superior, you are not.
Hi can someone please help me, if someone attends a public open tourist attraction claiming their dog is a service dog, but without stating the type of dog, papers, not letting the owner even see the dog walk around what do I do?
Do service dogs even have to show anything? What if they don’t have a vest on to show they are a service dog? My youngest brother has autism and I understand completely that one day he may need assistance with a dog in the future for his needs, so I understand the position for needing one.
However, for the future if we are taking him to a public open attraction, do I need proof as in a vest to show? Do I need paper work? What are my rights? What are the business owners rights in terms of the dog having no clear indication proving he/she is a service dog? Can anyone please help, I’m in need of some guidance or advice as I’m not sure what to do
Read up on the law. The ADA does not require that you provide any type of documentation nor does it require that the animal wear a vest of any sort.
The article LITERALLY says you don’t need to show paperwork. Only need to provide two things:
To claim that the dog is s service dog.
The function the service dog is meant to perform. (They can NOT legally ask you to have the dog demonstrate this.)
It does HELP if you have a tag or service dog harness (you can buy these online.)
And if the dog is untrained or viscous or destroying property, they have the legal right to have you leave the premises. As long as your dog is calm, untrained, and not barking like crazy, you’ll be fine. If they do threaten to not allow you somewhere, let them know the ADA laws and that you will sue and win.
Hint: Print out this rule page and highlight the two requirements and the part about them not being able to ask you for papers or demonstration.
👍
Perfect answer.
Google is a wonderful thing ! Read the ADA.gov regulation. It answers all your questions. No papers… no ID.. No vest. These things may, in some circumstances be helpful but are never “required”.
four on the floor or in the handlers hands, otherwise likely not actually a service dog, but is simply being passed off as one, which is illegal
There are other recourses for different breeds of dogs that do have a breed distention a mussel can be safely used on a service dog breed that is a barky or a nip
Y type breed. A rat terrier can be trained using positive reinforcement training as most can and I train pit bull terriers to be pussycats.
Yeh okay
Not necessarily true…those are just the rules albeit with exception stated by the ADA. Some people, as I do, need their dog near their face for them to do their job. People who are susceptible to seizures, diabetic issues etc. The under control absolutely, the four on the four has exception. Most people who have service dogs are sensitive to othesr, for example I always use towlets when in the store before looking at unwrapped produce etc. She is in a carrier open top so she can still do her job, in the cart seat so she isn’t in contact at any time with the cart. As stated in the case Butler vs. Winco the expert stated (pg. 3, paragraph 3) . .. People put children with leaky diapers, colds and contagious diseases in shopping carts as well as hats coats and handbags…..and the health risks from service dogs occasionally riding in carts (although without a barrier I would object too)I suspect be substantially lower than might come from the mass of other items regularly pushed in carts.
Finally, common sense and decency.
No ! It’s 4 on the floor. Meaning all four Paws 🐾
You’re wrong. I push my dog in a stroller. He is a ptsd dog. I put a lot of time and money and heart into training him and he is good at what he does. Unfortunately he slipped a disc in his back and has trouble walking. His stroller doesn’t affect our health relationship what so ever. Stop being so closed minded.
Yes, sometimes service dogs have bad hips, or are older, but they detect seizures or other medical issues that are not visible.
Service Animals are expected to work day & night as most people (handlers) have particular health reasons that don’t clock out a certain time every day. Smaller animals are often better for certain medical conditions & getting a bit of down time or when their not at top speed is understandable. Do You Work 24/7? Now, always in a stroller… Mmmm…. That is curious to say the least. Just a simple observation.
Depends on the owner’s medical condition. What the dogs cues for this condition are. So whose to say if having the dog in the stroller is right or wrong? Is this individual hurting himself or others while the dog in the stroller? Nope?Then being different should not be a crime. As we all live in the Information age then being ignorant of the ADA rules regarding service animals should be..
The ADA allows service animals access wherever the disabled person has access unless there is a health reason.
Yeah well my hospital said no animals but service dogs are allowed but mine isn’t or anyone else’s because it can’t provide A service if I’m in the hospital ..makes zero sense and is backwards animal free but yes service dogs are allowed but not inside
I just tried to check into a hotel outside Atlanta Georgia and they said they require a state license for a service dog I have never heard of such a thing. How can this be true? I don’t have a license from out of state where I am from I never heard of requirements such as that ever. It was very upsetting after a tiring day driving exhausted to be turned away after making a reservation hours in advance
I have an Emotional Support Animal. She has recently started developing allergies on her paws due to our carpet. I have asked the landlord to please remove the carpet. We asked properly and didn’t get a response. Today I followed up via text and all I got was. “Yes I did. No on is getting wood flooring at this time.”
We live in Downey Ca.
What can you suggest we do in this situation? M
If you read the article it clearly states that emotional support dogs are not the same as device dogs. Don’t sue, read the article.
While I don’t live in California, I do work in real estate.
Two things:
(1) Emotional support animals do NOT receive the same rights as service dogs.
(2) The ADA does not require landlords to make any modifications to a property, but cannot forbid a disabled tenant to make “fair and reasonable” modifications to a unit to accommodate the disability. Not the PET’s disability, YOUR disability. (e.g, if you wanted wood floors b/c you are in a wheelchair that can’t roll on carpet, you would have to pay for them but the landlord couldn’t stop you). Even WITH a disability, you can’t make extreme modifications, such as installing an elevator.
A lot of time allergies in diet manifest in itchy sore paws. Don’t automatically blame the carpet. Liver disease can also cause issues with the skin of the feet. If you haven’t had extensive allergy workup and trials of different treatments you aren’t going to be able to say it’s the carpet. It could be the grass outside, or walking on salted sidewalks in the winter.
That is the problem with living in a building owned by someone else. They are not required to make accommodations for every individual household’s allergies or sensitivities if they don’t feel it is warranted. It stinks, but honestly they’re providing housing for so many people they just can’t do it, reasonably.
And as the article says, emotional support is not a service animal. Everyone’s pet gives them emotional support of some kind. That’s why we have them.
The laws state that if your dog is used for emotional support because you have PTSD, you can sue. The other reply you received for your post is only half right. If this is the case and you have documentation that says you have PTSD, the apartment landlord has to abide by ADA laws. Contact your local ADA for further guidance. Good luck to you.
Look up Fair Housing Act emotional support animals are in this act.
Move, its absurd question to ask of your landlord. There a good chance your dog will ruin the new wood floors. Might I suggest the dog booties to protect its feet??
It an ESA. Not a Service Animal. You and your dog are not afforded rights to have your flooring changed. This would not be considered reasonable either.
ESA and therapy dogs absolutely SHOULD be considered a service animal. My daughter has been a victim of domestic violence and molestation. She has extreme anxiety in certain situations as well as cannot handle changes very well. Our dog helps with all of that. And yes, she’s a toy poodle. A VERY well trained one.
I am tired of being discriminated against because people have these notions about what is or isn’t a service animal based on what tasks it can perform or not because tasks can be as simple as being there while someone goes through an episode. Just like in psychiatric episodes. My partner is a Veteran and also needs her presence with him. She also volunteers at nursing facilities and hospitals because she is so well behaved. But, because there are people out there trying to pass off just a pet as being a service animal, it makes others question my dog and her purposes. In my experience, the discrimination has mostly came from those with ‘legitimate’ service animals as I have had said to me directly from just a week ago with a PTSD working dog. My dog was/is performing the same exact duty, only for different reasons.
I want to know if the customer with a service dog is required to answer the two questions that a business owner is allowed to ask. And if they refuse or say it’s not as any of my business can I ask them to leave.
Your dog is not a service animal, he is a support dog. Therr are no laws they have to follow for your dog.
nothing you can do about it, your emotional support animal is your responsibility, no the landlord or any body,
Its not a service animal, so its abuse from your part to try to take advantage of ADA legitimate animal.
Emotional support doesn’t usually follow the same regulations.
In housing situations under the Fair Housing Act, your request about the carpeting would come under the heading of you asking for an accommodation. It’s likely that your request is NOT a ” reasonable accommodation” and you should look at other remedies to your pup’s condition.
The people claiming that your dog is an emotional support animal and not a service animal are wrong.
Dogs trained to assist individuals suffering from PTSD are considered psychiatric support animals and fall under the legal protection of a support animal not emotional support animal .
for more information Just google psychiatric support animal vs emotional support animal
Your dog does not qualify for a “reasonable accommodation” under disability laws. If YOU had a disability and the carpet was causing problems for you then you could ask for an accommodation for the carpet for yourself. Even if this were true, your landlord may still not make the changes and instead, require you to pay for the work yourself
Ask for a Reasonable Accommodation. If the apartment complex can afford wood floor, by law they have to do it. If they can’t, they might pass the cost on to you but they still have to do it.
Either way, they have to do it or you can file a complaint against the company
Booties and floor coverings for the dog. Check also with Human Rights Or Civil Rights Commission for more help for exact wording. Generally the person making the request is responsible for providing the needed aids such as ramps,.service animal, and any modification needed. The owners and landlords cannot deny access.But they don’t have to provide it. Keep reaching out and you will receive the answers and help you need.
Have your vet prescribe allergy medication or Put mittens on his paws!. You’re being ridiculous and taking advantage of ADA by expecting the LL to is pull the carpet and instal a minimum expense of $5000 for wood or tile flooring. Shame on you. You can always pay for this yourself….. but of course you won’t.
Stop using your pet as an excuse for new floors. It’s not a service dog. Emotional Support Animal is another word for pet.
When people use the system made for real working animals to fit their wants not needs. It makes it tuff for all of us.
Emotional Support Animals are different than Service Dogs. He/She does not have to accommodate an Emotional Support Dog. Emotional Support Aninals are only given the same rights as a service dog is.
Service dogs are working animals – not pets. They must be trained to perform a task that is directly related to the handler’s disability. The ADA does not recognize dogs who solely provide emotional support or comfort as service animals.
Did you miss this part?
Yeah… go spend 10.00 on dog booties or lay down plastic. It’s emotional support not a service dog. Unbelievable
Nothing really beyond finding a new place to live or offer to pay for it yourself. An emotional support animal is not a service dog.
Did u even read what ur commenting on. A service dog can’t not be used for emotional support.
You could get booties for your dog. I would also recommend that you rent a carpet steamer or buy one and clean the carpet with peroxide in the cleaner container. It will not stain or fade the carpet and then follow up with white vinegar rinse. Your dog may be allergic to soap residue from previous carpet cleaning.
If she’s still allergic, you can try is putting down cotton rugs on top of the carpet or ask the landlord if you can pull up the carpet and put down flooring at your expense. Or look for another apartment.
Can a gym owner make you call ahead an tell them your bringing your service dog an tie him up at the gym when my dog is under my control laying by my feet or near by less than 4feet away detects my seizure an PSTD
Sue, it is illegal.
Sue,
The ADA has a requirement that a service dog can not be left along in a hotel/lodging room.
Unless you can prove to your landlord that your dog is a service animal and registered as a service animal in your state then you are out of luck.
You have to be legally disabled to have a service animal.
they fall under the fair housing act, there are a few laws you have to follow. however this is an unreasonable acomadation so the landlord dosent have to do this. even with a service dog.
The ADA states that in the case of service dogs the ADA laws superseed state laws. That hotel was in vialation. Please report them to the ADA. The more people that get prosecuted for breaking the ADA laws the more people who will start obeying these laws.
Report them to the ADA
Legally they can not do that. They can ask you what service your dog provides and ask if your dog is a service dog but they legally cannot ask for paperwork. Check ADA regulations. You could actually sue the hotel if they didn’t allow you to stay there.
If your dog is really a Service Dog, why would you want to leave it in a hotel/ motel room?
I know how to train a service drog!
Under the ADA a hotel can not ask you for paperwork regarding certificates or proof of the dog’s ability to provide a service to you. I find that most places like this are uneducated or ill-informed about the Ada laws concerning service animals and what they can and can’t ask or do I hope you got the room and I hope you inform them of the correct procedure I’ve always told people look up the American with Disability Act about service animals.
This just happened to us. Not sure how to “certify” the dog. He’s a diabetic alert dog.
yes servce dogs are allowed inside a hoapital i have the book from the department of justice
the dog does not have to be certifited i have the laws on serve dogs i have the book from the department of justice
They can NOT deny you your Service Dog and they can NOT ask you for paperwork- if your Dog has Service gear or Tag on collar that should be sufficient enough! Here in Seaside I have had my Service Dog stay with me at no extra cost as she is a Service Dog and not once was I asked for paperwork!!
a service dog does NOT have to even have gear so that is irrelevant.
Because of people who have no disabilities using the service dog title for their untrained, uncontrolled animals, more states are enacting certification and licensing requirements for service animals. I have a trained, certified and licensed service animal, I am all for these requirements. If you are disabled, you have to have a placard or disabled plate, why should service animals be any different?
Not true! My daughter was “Autism” she doesn’t have a disabled plate on my car. But does have a registered service animal now the service animal has her own card with her name dogs picture and my 6 yr olds name as the handler. The dog isnt allowed to go to school with my daughter since everyone has a story why there scared of a German Shepherd
doing that to persons like me truely disabled would only add costs fees and goverment regulations i could not afford or follow because of my disability. My serice dogs , i need 2 I have MCTD Hymalitic anemia cold variant and degenerative bone disease of the spine, and i live by force in an isolated place with nothing near ,so please dont say that asif we all need to certify the one thing that gets me alive through the next flair
There is no such thing no state license
State law can not over ride federal law. They are completely wrong in Georgia and can be civil
sued.
usiness owners and staff are only allowed to ask two questions regarding service dogs. They may ask if the dog is a service animal that is required due to a disability and what type of work or task the dog has been trained to do. The ADA prohibits them from asking about a person’s disability. They are also not allowed to require any type of identification or certification documents for the dog or medical documentation from the handler. They also may not ask that the dog demonstrate what it has been trained to do.
its illegal and report it so they learn what they already should know. If it’s a Chain of hotels report and sue them its what the law is for
I stopped at a rest area in GA, early Aug 2019. I was heading to the family restroom & denied access to the restroom accompanied by my service dog. It’s visible I’m handicapped, & parked in the appropriate area. I was questioned about the tags & documents regarding qualifications. I told them I didn’t need documentation nor were they allowed to demand any. The only thing they can ask is if the dog is a service animal, subject dropped once you confirm by a yes. Went back to my car & called the Sheriffs office in that county to file a complaint. I was told it was not something they handle & told to speak with the supervisor over that rest area. When I returned back home I called the GA Department of transpertation & given a ph # to call. I Called & left ms., I received a return call within a short period of time. A formal complaint was filed, I was told a letter would be sent to the company along with a fine of $1,500.00 holding them liable 4 misconduct. I told them this kind of pregidous & discriminate behavior was totally unacceptable & I would be speaking with an attorney. They work in & around the public, they need to know the laws, etiquette, respect, & compassion. Many people look down on others who are disabled & require extra assistance. Hope this helps, good luck.
Yes, a lot of states require you to have a dog license and proof of rabies.
No such rule in GA. Service Dogs are NOT licensed, anywhere … nor does the overriding federal reg’s recognize certification. You ran into an uneducated hotel employee. I lived in GA for 20 yrs… stayed in Atlanta many times with my highly trained Hearing Dog. When I travel, I always go in and register first when possible. The front desk folks can tell I am Deaf. Once registered I say, ” Just so you know, I do Hav a Service Dog with me”. Never an issue.
They were not compliant to ADA regulations & DOJ Laws. HIPPA also is violated if said establishment(s) require specific medical reasons for dog or specific tasks. Your personal health is your business & if your health warrants a medical aid such as a service dog… Establishments are only by law allowed to ask 3 simple questions.
if it is a true service dog and not a emotional support dog, feel free to file a lawsuit it was a violation of the ada, you will win ive have filed over 20 and have won every single one
The state itself may require such but according to federal law this is not required. Familiarize yourself with this section of the law on the ADA site and politely explain that federal law is above state law. You are allowed with your service dog in all areas where any other customers would be allowed. It is illegal for them to turn you away unless your service dog is acting out or has a health complication such as a bladder infection that is causing leaking. Even in such an event, they are required to allow you reasonable time to fix the issue. For example,in the case of a bladder infection, you would of course want to see a vet as soon as possible, but until that could be done, you would need to buy diapers for your service dog to wear until he/she had been treated and healed. The laws are fairly simple and the rights are very equal to both the service dog owners and the businesses and yet there is much confusion. Some of the confusion is due to service dog fraud. Try to be patient with the businesses but do stand your ground. Ray –
That was completely illegal — a FEDERAL Offense — and as such, recompensable.
Get a good attorney, very clear cut violation. NO STATE LAW can be ineffect IF it
DOES NOT COINCIDE with Federal Law. Federal Law ALWAYS Trumps State Law.
Federal Laws over rule state ones, and if you had the Doctors paperwork (think Prescription), they broke federal Rules in not allowing your Service Dog to stay. More, than cannot expect other states to have (what federal laws don’t require) Service Dogs to have State Licenses.
In short, they broke federal laws.
Please contact the department of human services for the city where you tried to make your reservation. If not Google department of justice, Americans With Disabilities Act, and then the city and state where are you had a problem. That should refer you to the person who will happily and for free educate these jerks that required mythical perwork. Just like online service registries are fake, also the state cannot and will not demand any kind of certification. Federal law and the ADA trumps every state law and every pissy little Business owners “I don’t like dogs made into my business policy “garbage. Good luck
Thank call a cop
If credentials/proof of service dog designation cannot be requested then how is the service dog status determined?
There is no document that proofs the legitimacy of a service dog. The details of a person’s disability are protected and private. People may only ask 2 questions when to inquire about a service dog: 1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? 2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? You may find this article on how to verify a service dog interesting: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-verify-a-service-dog/
please go to the ADA website. they offer a form for filing a complaint against the hotel. Please do this for all of us that need our dogs.
the only license the dog needs a county dog license and proof of rabies shots maybe that’s what the meant you should have the tag on the dogs collar there are not state licenses for any service dog go after the hotel they are in violatin of the service dog rules
Show him under the ADA and the Fair Housing Act that no certification is required for a Service Dog. The ADA law overrides any State law.
I have a question I have a service dog she is 4 lbs she is well trained but al of a sudden my apartment manager haven’t Bering mowing I asked them to mow because my little dog is starting to break her training because the grass is hire than her is there something I can do about this.
I was bitten at a small restaurant by a Great Dane who was ID by the owner as a Service Dog. It bit my privates and did serious damage.
That’s against Federal ADA laws. You could sue them for discrimination.
Had 2 different hotels try that with me but told them I’d b calling the police and I pulled out my phone. They both backed down and said the get to many people with dog that are not real service dogs. I told them both the clue for u as s merchant is to watch How the animal behaves and how the handler deals with inappropriate behavior from the dog. Another hotel tried to charge me double for a pet fee. I refused to pay it and again pulled out my phone. Again they backed down. I had this guy look up the ada regs pertaining to service animals. He was shocked to read the law. The next morning I had a talk with the hotel mgr. told her they came within a min of having the police there and my attorney too. I also asked if she knew how much the night clerk was charging for pet fees. She said it was $25, yep you are correct so why did he try to charge me $50? She was flabbergasted and very embarrassed. Said I’ll speak to him when he comes in this evening.
All 3 of these hotels are a major chains top $$$$$ hotels. Not there low end. So they should all have known better.
A clue is, have the ADA web site on speed dial and your atty too.
FYI: I am lucky as my grandson trained Service Dogs. So when my fox said I should get one for my mobility issues I knew exactly where to go and what to do. Also, here most reputable service dog training organizations require the human to go to classes to learn the ADA laws, dog CPR, dog 1st aid etc. and other useful things. Tax breaks etc.
Good luck and don’t let them get to you stand your ground. We’ve all been there.
You can sue. That is as clear cut of a violation as there is. There is NO licensing requirement. And requiring a “license” is a violation of the ADA. They can ask two questions: 1. Is the dog a service animal assisting a person with a disability? And 2. What task(s) does it perform? End of discussion. Anything beyond that is illegal and subjects them to liability.
I recently had three male construction workers in my Airbnb home that was booked by a female not even staying there so her reviews didn’t mean anything. I was not told about two Rottweilers coming too, they left the Rottweilers everyday in the home while they went to work. If they don’t have to tell me about them or prove they are service dogs then I’m not able to stay in my home after they leave because of my allergies, doesn’t seem right. They should have to prove they are service dogs and on top of that I can’t charge for them being there, so the dog hair in my pool, poop all in my yard and dog hair everywhere and my new comforters smell like dog even after washing them. I do feel sorry for people with disabilities but what about people that are not get away with this.
This isn’t right. You can charge people, even if they have an assistance animal, if they leave a mess or destroy property.
If they are service dogs they should be going to work with the owners not staying at the house. If they are emotional support animals they typically stay at home but i believe the owner can be charged if damage was done to the property.
If you are choosing to list your home on Airbnb, then you are legally expected to comply with ADA Title III regulations. Airbnb’s policies are quite clear about the rules for assistance animals. https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1869/what-is-an-assistance-animal
Under the ADA there is an important caveat when it comes to health and safety concerns. If you are allergic, then Airbnb clearly states you don’t have to comply. I’m not sure if you have to post it on your listing, but you can check with Airbnb about the rules. I have a service dog and I would not be able to travel without him. So let me play devils advocate for a moment, if I were looking at your listing how would I know that your allergies are real? Someone could potentially say they had allergies just to get out of providing accommodations for me. And you know what, there may be some bad seeds who do play the “allergy” card. However, that won’t stop me from believing that your allergies are real. Because if they are, then who the heck am I to judge your medical needs?
Now with all this being said, what the construction workers did was inexcusable! The ADA states that handlers must have control over their animals, so if someone doesn’t pick up after their animal then they need to be charged for that. Also fun fact, a service dog can not be left in a hotel room. Anyone who is actually disabled needs their dog at a moments notice, which is why they are always with them. Sounds like you have legitimate concerns and need to do a little more research. All I ask is that you don’t judge me or others based on the actions of a few bad seeds.
10 years ago I was homeless for almost a year. I have a service dog. We lived part of that time in a public homeless shelter. To live in the shelter I was required to shoe documentation from my doctor that my seevice dog was legit. There was another woman in the shelter who also said her dog was a service dog. I over heard her one day bragging that she had gone online and forged papers to prove her dog was a service dog. Unfortunately the way the ADA laws are it is very hard for you to prove wether or not a dog is a service dog. I would suggest that if you find the service dog left in your home without the owner there to call the police and then get a copy of the police report so that you if need be you can charge the owner for cleaning and damages. You might have to insist on a police report. If the officer refuses call their supervisor. But do nothing to interfer with the dog because if it should accually be a service dog you would be breaking the law.
I was born with a heart defect. A floppy valve that gets stuck and feels like a heart attack. I have to breathe very shallow, not talk/ not move until the valve relaxes. I literally grew up in hospitals in Boston until they realized I have a floppy valve. I’m old now, 66, but I still have episodes. The seniors here told me they don’t want my certified service dog on their bus and there aren’t any other buses in town. I don’t have proof of my condition after so many years, but I’ve had a service dog since I was 15 to stop people from thinking I’m having a heart attack, calling an ambulance and hauling me off to an ER. My dog alerts me just before the valve gets stuck, so I’m prepared to sit or lean on something nearby and begin shallow breathing. She’s extremely well-trained, calm and clean, sits at my feet against the wall when traveling with her head in my lap. I always choose the single seat behind the driver that no one ever uses. Drivers never complain, but yesterday I was told that other riders have complained about me taking my dog with me despite her vest and dated certification tag…as if I was breaking a law or joy-riding. I’m so upset. She was with me when I moved into the senior park, when I could still drive safely. I don’t want to drive anymore. I’m a retired dog trainer, btw…I worked with Guiding Eyes and am a retired member of a police dog club…I know, from experience, which dogs have the ability to guide & accompany persons with disabilities, but people who don’t need a service dog don’t want dogs around, it seems. Sad. BTW, pouring Listerine Mouthwash on a dog after bathing it and rubbing it into the fur and skin makes much more allergy friendly.
For the most part I agree, except for one thing. Someone might not need a service animal with them for certain tasks. For example a legally blind person (Stargardt’s disease is a good example of a condition that leaves a person with some vision — typically around 20/400) might not need his/her service animal with him/her when s/he goes to the hotel pool or gym. But s/he might always take the dog when s/he leaves the hotel. Service animals also get tired, ill, injured, or overworked. They need time off too. And there are places where even service dogs are not allowed or where bringing one wouldn’t be practical. A private residence certainly can exclude a service animal. So if one is attending a private function, one might well leave the dog behind, especially if the person is going with a guest (like going to a wedding at a private home with a date or a spouse). Or maybe the person is going sailing, cycling, kayaking, golfing, ice skating or whatever. People with disabilities who use service animals (including legally blind people and people with all kinds of other disabilities from hearing impairments to PTSD) do ALL of the things I list. They often leave the dog behind (one certainly wouldn’t help you on the ice, for example). So the mere fact that a (preferably) crate trained service animal was left in a room does not mean it isn’t a service animal. Now, if the dog is constantly being left in the room and is never seen performing any task, that may be grounds to get suspicious. A couple of construction workers going to work each day without their dogs certainly qualifies as highly unusual. Those probably aren’t service animals. So on that part we definitely agree.
It is the handlers responsibility to clean up after their service dog. The fact that service dogs are protected under the ADA act does not mean that you don’t have rights as well
where can I find out my rights as a proprietor where we do not allow pets. If a dog is not identified can I ask them to have the vest on? We have a venue where events with large crowds and kids are held. Service dogs are welcome, I have no issue there, I just want a vest or collar on them to protect the person with needs and our other patrons. I get that some people are harassed with dogs, don’t agree with that at all. But I need to care for all the people who enter our gates and would just like the service animals identified.
Business owners and staff are only allowed to ask two questions regarding service dogs. They may ask if the dog is a service animal that is required due to a disability and what type of work or task the dog has been trained to do. The ADA prohibits them from asking about a person’s disability. They are also not allowed to require any type of identification or certification documents for the dog or medical documentation from the handler. They also may not ask that the dog demonstrate what it has been trained to do.
a service dog has no access rights to the pool. also they legally HAVE to clean up after their dog.
If they were left behind, they aren’t service dogs.
If you are allergic to dogs and you don’t want them in your home then if you can’t comply with the Ada service dog rules then don’t rent. If you can’t comply rest the Constitution’s ride of individuals with Americans with Disabilities for service dogs then you should not make money on renting your property. Go ahead and enjoy it and have fun with it but don’t make money on it unless you’re able to rent to everybody the answer and don’t have disabilities.
By law your are entitled to know in advance of customer who need aid & attendance of A (generally singular) Service Animal. They by law have to only answer 3 simple & Not Invasive Questions. Service animals are Not Breed Specific. Wether it’s an Airbnb or motel motel a room or place for rent without an actual lease; it matters not. It’s simply the a meeting in the middle for both parties. May you have better guest who do not break the law.
If it is a service dog, it would be going with them. If it causes a health risk, you don’t have to allow it. You can in some states charge the person with trespass due to the dog and the person will have to prove a disability. If you don’t think it’s a disability under the ADA, you have a right to ask further questions. You can’t ask what the disability is.
Service Dogs by definition go with the person.
Fraud. Also — critical — Service Dogs HAVE TO BE TRAINED.
Guardians MUST CLEAN after them — you have been defrauded.
Get a good attorney — Total Setup just with the female booking.
If they were left in your home each day, while the people were at work, they clearly are NOT Service Animals.
You have every right to get anything replaced no matter if the dog was a service animal a therapy animal or a police canine. If damage was done it is your right to get it replaced. Did you get any sort of vaccination records on those dogs? Did you ask the correct two questions? I’m assuming you’re in the United States?
Please let us know. Also, personally I am not aware of anyone who has a service dog let alone a pair of them that they could leave alone all day. My service dog never leaves my side unless I’m taking a shower and then he’s about 4 feet away. (But only because he hates water). I really hope this helps you, please let us know!
My therapist will not let me bring in my service Animal into his office. He said that he is allergic to the saliva. My service Animal does not lick anyone. Can he reject my service Animal ?
For a service animal to be legally denied access under the ADA, one of the following three conditions must be met:
1) There must be a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Fears, allergies and possible lawsuits do not suffice.
2) The entity must show that providing a reasonable accommodation poses an undue financial burden or hardship.
3) Providing a reasonable accommodation would fundamentally alter the operation of the entity.
Your therapist’s office is not a place where “the general public ” is allowed. It is a private office … where appointments are made. So unfortunately, yes, your dog can be excluded. Personally, I do not take my dog to medical appt’s unless it is unavoidable. I choose to not be distracted, or have my provider distracted by my dog’s mere presence.
Find another therapist… If he’s that allergic he by reasonable conclusion… Stay the !?$@ home & do telehealth🤬
Maybe. If the therapist is the one that provided you need accommodation of a service dog based on your disability, I’d think you have a better case. If another doctor prescribed it, you may still have a case. If you registered your dog on one of the online places and obtained service equipment for the dog and the therapist knows you don’t have a disability requiring a service dog under the ADA, he has every right to tell you no. ,
NO, he cannot refuse — his problem.
Tell him to get medication for it.
Once you leave your home you have to deal with the public.
Read ADA Law — allergies not acceptable EVER.
I dont think so if resterants cant denie for alergeys then niether can he but i am also still new to this so im not sure
He can not refuse to let your dog come in. But, why would you want to see him anyway? I don’t believe it would be beneficial whether he really had allergies or not. I had a similar situation with a new therapist. She was totally afraid of all dogs. Any breed any size. The building where I would go had several therapist on staff. She and I agreed I would be better suited with a different therapist. Within a week I had another therapist to see. Problem solved.
I work as a nurse in a hospital and a supposed service dog that was unleashed laying in its bed with food and water ain an icu room of a patient ready to spend the night. The service dog was not for the patient but was a comfort dog for the patients daughter. The dog had been agressive to staff for several days. But all that was said was ohh he wont bite says the owner. The patient begain having issues i had to run in and preform manovers to save the patients life. While being attacked by the dog he bit my scrubs charged me several times and finally bit my leg. The owner did nothing other staff did nothing. I saved the patient under conditions i should not have had to fight through. I was in a now win situation if i go back to ICU the patient is still there the dog removed but now i have a combative faimly to deal with a charge nurse whos mad because i reported the issue to my superviser not her (in my opinion she was aware since she saw for days what had been going on) and only the hospital and my supervisors had my back. You have to find a way to protect the public against attack from these supposed needed animals. You need to he able to prove your service animal is safe for the public. And keep the under control. Really the patient was lucky i fought through the pain because he would not be here if i had run out during the attack.
If in a hospital the dog is allowed anywhere the handler is, except for burn units and procedure rooms for, they are allowed in the waiting rm and the patients room if they say otherwise they are wrong.
File a lawsuit. That is illegal under the Federal ADA law. You will win.
The VA is being misled about Service Dogs and their training. An owner of the dog Can train it !! It does NOT require a dog to be trained by organizations such as Canines With a Cause. It does not need to be “CERTIFIED” by Anyone!!!!
Service Animal are able to go in and stay with patients at hospital. Mine does all the time.
They can only refuse your dog if you are in a specialized unit (like ICU) or if you or anyone to assist you is not able to manage your K9.
What kind of moron brings a dog to the hospital if it is not a REAL service dog that is individually trained to provide a specific service? Emotional support is a stunningly fake trope.
I see where business owners may ask what type of work or task they are trained to do,but they are not allowed to ask about a persons disability.Is that not telling people what disability you have .
I would like to see legislation that REQUIRES service animal handlers to provide documentation regarding the animal’s certification as a service dog. I live in a city where people bringing their dogs into grocery stores has gotten completely out of hand, and these dogs are clearly not trained to do anything other than be present! They ride in the grocery carts, they wander in the produce and meat sections unleashed, and store managers won’t do anything…they claim they CAN’T do anything. This is especially bad during hot weather, as people don’t want to leave their dogs in a car. This self-centered “rules don’t apply to me” behavior gives responsible dog owners (whether they have service animals or just companion animals) who play by the rules a bad name. I’m totally sick of it…why would it be so onerous to require documentation for service animals?
The bookstore on my college campus is saying I can’t bring my dog into the store and on top of it they laid their hands on my dog without my permission!
they are allowed in the hospital but are not allowed when you are admitted as they can interfere with staff taking care of you. Being a nurse and now needing a service dog I realize that more often than not the person has separation anxiety when separated from the dog and sometimes the dog also is upset that they cannot work yet normally one is not hospitalized for long. Please be patient with staff and hospital rules because dogs (even when vaccinated) can cause problems for other visitors, patients and staff. Hopefully you will not be there long. Some who are in hospital for mental disorders are allowed to keep their service animal with them. Just depends on the animal and what is being done.
I’m sure everyone would love to bring something from home to the hospital.
Kittens, snakes, tree squirrels..etc.
But you are truly missing the point of a service dogs duty for a “disability”. It’s not a choice, it’s a human right to have help to overcome hardship of disability or to alleviate. You might want to research the hospital policy on pet visits and service dogs and listen to the advice of the doctors.
I had.to go into the hospital in Portland and the were more then accommodating for me. Of course Gypsy was a pom and was not any problem. She was with me for 12 years, I miss her everyday
Too many people bringing their dogs into food service stores saying they have a service dog and they don’t have to prove it and can only be asked if they have a service dog, but it’s obvious the dog is ill trained and doubtful the dog is trained to help with any disabilities. And then those who admit it’s for only emotional support which the law states isn’t a service.
I fully support service dogs, just not the humans who suddenly all believe their PETS can now be taken into any business they feel.
Is there a law against people harming poisoning or trying
to kill a service dog.
That is very weird. A service dog is allowed in any public area, so you’re is legally allowed to be inside the hospital with you. Where ever you go your dog is supposed to be allowed to go with you.
Service dogs are absolutely authorized to enter any public part of the hospital, or any area the the service dog handler is allowed to enter, unless in a sterile environment or there have been quarantine procedures put in place. In some states, NC being one of them, service dogs in training are afforded the same protection under the law as fully trained service dogs. Read all of the ADA regulations and individual state laws regulating service animals. Emotional support animals have absolutely no protection under the law and establishments are NOT obligated to allow access. Nor is anyone allowed to ask for documentation for you or the animal, even in states that require it, because the federal regulation states that the regulation that affords more rights is the governing regulation.
Thats not true. They ARE allowed in hospitals and hospital rooms if youre a patient. The one place that my service dog was not allowed was in the OR while I had surgery … for obvious reasons. He stayed in my room under a nurse’s watch.
I am permanently disabled and have a Service dog.. Today I was asked for a Dr. note and paperwork, while I was shopping at the Dollar Tree today. I had no problems at Children’s Hospital, they were awesome all the staff was great, even got to take him in the recovery room after my child’s surgery, never once asked me for documentation. Ooo
Service animals can still preform tasks while in hospital mine has and for the hospital to deny you is illegal and they can and will be fined for it
I have a guide dog. She accompanied me when I go to the hospital all the time with no problem. I am just as blind inside the hospital as out of it. A person can’t check their disability at the door.
Actually, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA Law) Service animals are allowed anywhere their handler, or the general public is allowed, even in places like restraunts, which some may call a health issue.
My service dog is a smaller dog and he is trained to alert me in specific medical situations. He travels everywhere with me and sits on my lap at work, on airplanes, in restaurants and most places. I recently was told at a restaurant that he had to stay on the floor. Because he is smaller it’s much harder to detect certain medical situations if he is not near my heart. He sits quietly on my lap under the table and has never caused an issue in the 4 and a half years I’ve had him. I explained to the manager my situation and even offered my paper work and prescription from my doctor explaining my need for my service dog but they would not let us in the restaurant if he didn’t remain on the floor. Their policy said they can’t have dogs on tables, chairs or furnishings. He would be on my lap, not on a chair or furniture and absolutely never on a table. The law doesn’t specify anything about this yet they would not seat us. What can I do at this point?
In the case of medical alert dogs where proximity is necessary, the dog MAY sit on your lap. Basically the only exception, otherwise they must remain on the floor.
File a lawsuit. The Federal ADA does specify the fact that it is a working service dog and the specific services you need that SD to do. You will win. Get a lawyer and sue them. In my state you have three years to file a lawsuit.
Submit a complaint to the ADA.gov
The restaurant will regret their decision
The Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA, protects you from this sort of foolishness. Get some ADA cards to hand out to skeptical or fussy people. You don’t have to explain your condition or reason for having a service dog anywhere at any time as long as the dog is trained, as yours is, and wearing a vest, to take your dog anywhere and keep your dog on your lap. Get the cards. They work.
There is no such law & such a manner does not violate any health code violations especially since anyone who ever been a parent know our sweet little ones has potential walking germ o’ factories. Be honest or wake up parents or both! I digress as ignorance is ignorance. People can’t read & understand their extraordinary made up rules them then I don’t know if I’d trust them check food temps, wash hands after every glass, fork, knife, spoon, plate & bowl was removed from table. Watch’m & see what I’m saying. When people are so ignorant simply ask for your food to be boxed up, politely ask for the check, pay & never ever ever go back.
Huge Violation. Get a good attorney.
Private Policy vs law.
I suggest you get it in writing from as many doctors and trainer you can that the dog will perform better or has been trained to sit on your lap to perform the duty or as close to you as physically possible. Always keep your video phone recording when confronted by the unintelligent that make rules that are not state or federal.
Be polite and understanding because they still have the right to not accommodate to you and the service animal at that given moment but when service has been refused and you are well equipped with video of refusal and your “t”s are crossed and your “I”s are dotted a judge may see it in your favor.
A dog(regardless of it’s size can hear a human heart beat from 50 feet away. A Service Dog is trained to lay down under your chair or under the table by the Handler’s feet. The restaurant owner is correct.
Rumor has it that there is a move to put service animals with 4 on the floor. because so many people take their purse dogs with them and claim they are SDs. i dont know where it is in the process of becoming policy, or is its just rumor. good luck to ya.
I work for the school,I am a custodians.i do work at nite where there no kids around.my service dog is train,I am hearing impaired.He is registered with the state of michigan.the school who I work for told me no.i don’t hear too good on the phone,is better to text me.thank yo
Not allowing an employee (that the school is taking advantage of state and federal tax benefits by the hiring of a disabled person) a “reasonable” accommodation is unlawful. They need to be sued to teach them a lesson because you can bet on it that they are discriminating against the students if they’re worried about a custodian and a service animal. Your animal is also a critical need for YOUR safety as you can’t hear certain things to warn you the way others can hear. It hurts to “hear” a government or quasi-government entity violating the most basic of our ADA (i.e., the LAW). This is as basic as the need to wear a seat belt while in a moving car.
Unless you can prove to your landlord that your dog is a service animal and registered as a service animal in your state then you are out of luck.
You have to be legally disabled to have a service animal.
Actually, they can refuse a service dog in training. One of the reasons my trainer doesn’t use “in training” patches. Stupid loop hole in the law. How can you train a dog without taking them into environments like stores, hotels and airplanes? But the establishments, including employers, can refuse a dog that hasn’t completed training.
They are in the wrong and the ADA will take action.
File a complaint with ADA.gov
The ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, protects you so you can have your service dog with you anywhere. You can buy cards to hand out if anyone questions you about your dog’s presence anywhere, anytime. Also, get your dog a service dog vest, it stops people from bothering you about your dog’s presence and the service your dog provides.
is it the owners responsibilty to make sure the animal is clean and does not have an overwhelming nasty smell.?Especially in a food envuroment. If rhe animal smells terribly can the restaurant ask them to leave? When other patrons have complained about the smell.
Yes and no if the dog smells that’s one thing but fleas are other I would rather you clean the dog before taking him/her anywhere legally they can’t ask you to leave because of that and you take the case the court your libel to loose the case
Smell is relative and people can make it up to have an excuse.
Can’t prove smell — since it can be fabricated so easily.
Violation.
I have a service dog for my autism, and I went to a restaurant and they told me I had to leave or show them proof my dog is a service dog
That is illegal. By Federal ADA laws they can not ask for proof. File a lawsuit and sue them.
Wow, no wonder these rules are abused so much! They’re so loose even a toddler could take every advantage possible.
Why is it that you have to have medical proof for having a disability, but not if your dog is an actual service dog? How hard would it actually be to require a test and registration for service animals, especially since they have such a huge responsibility? It doesn’t even have to be anything particularly hard, just make sure they know all the basics that a regular pet would learn and that they’re calm in social situations.
A card that only fully trained service dog owners can get would really help so that there’s less abuse of the rules and those who have actual disabilities face less stigma/uncomfortable questioning when out in public!
Illegal to require. Just as it’s illegal to impersonate a person with disabilities in need of a service animal attendant. That’s why they ask for illegal proof or bs certificates. The truth to the matter it’s nobody’s business but, those you choose to tell of your health conditions. Just as it’s no one’s business to know a service animal is required to stave off or help manage a seizure disorder for their handler because he or she’s experienced some of the most horrific crime man can do to another. It’s simply not their business….
I kept the accommodation paper from my Doctor with me at all times. It just said that I was a disabled person and had an accommodation for a service dog, nothing really specific. I was asked if my dog was registered as a service dog not long ago. I said, why I’m the person with the disability not the dog.
If you have a real service dog, I recommend the accommodation on medical letterhead. My original one was on a prescription pad back in the day.
From what I know, federal law doesn’t mandate the dog be registered as service and you can’t be mandated to do so.
Read ADA — can’t require — you have a rock solid lawsuit.
I worked in a food establishment and we had multiple people bringing there dogs in on different occasions, and I personally feel that this law SHOULD make it mandatory for service dogs or handlers to have a card or documentation or tag that confirms the legality of it, because more times than not, people like to bring their dogs along, and says they’re service dogs, when 9/10 is a complete lie. And it’s not fair for businesses to allow their dog inside on their word. I just think that should be incorporated into the service dog law. Because it turns into a circus all of a sudden.
Once again ( this happened first in March) I was refused boarding on Jet blue airlines. My sad has been traveling on JB for over 3 years with no incident. However, once again I tried to board a flight with my service dog ( I should add that I paid for 2 seats. For 3 1/2 hours I was detained and finally not allowed onboard. In March I was told that I need a doctors note for my physical disability and training papers for the dog. While I know that this is contraindicated by ADA. But, I did what they asked. At the airport I was told that my training records were inadequate and my boarding was refused. The situation caused me to have heart palpitations and EMT was summoned. I can fly on other airlines without a problem. I even flew JB in Feb from Newburgh NY but Ft Lauderdale JB supervisors refused my boarding. I should also mention that the flight crew on American wrote me a letter stating that my dog showed exemplary behavior. The agent at JB falsely stated that my dog showed poor behavior….a BIG lie.
Actually, you do generally need a doctor to say that you have a disability requiring accommodation to qualify under the protection of the ADA. It’s the prescription that gives you a legal right to have the dog, not some registration paper. I get my paperwork updated every few years to continue to qualify just as the law says.
Training papers for the dog are different. You could make a complaint to the EEOC, they generally watch those things I believe. If you do make a complaint, use your prescription, your other boarding passes with the dog and the letter from the airline.
So It says no one can ask for paperwork
What stops me from buying a harness with a patch stating service dog and going around town with it getting all these special services?
Hello, I’m a therapist who work with children and adolescents in the field and home. I was recently prescribed a dog for my disability. This what they sent me:
As you are a field-based therapist, there are a number of important considerations regarding your request that we need to understand, so we can have a productive dialogue:
Your note says that the prescriber will not be liable for any actions of the dog. How are you prepared to deal with potential liability that may result from a bite or other action by your dog? Do you have insurance that would cover this event?
How will you handle interactions with other animals while at clients’ homes?
Have you discussed with the clients how they feel about having a dog at the visits? Do you have concerns that the therapy may be distracted by the presence of the dog?
Do you know the clients’ and their families’ comfort level around dogs in general and dogs in their home specifically? What if a client had been attacked by a dog previously and was afraid of dogs? How would you proposed dealing with that situation?
What if a client’s pet attacks your dog? Or vice versa?
Has your dog received specific training with respect interacting with others?
Many times there are others present in the home besides the client. What if any of them has a fear of/or allergy to dogs?
There may be fleas, etc. at off-site locations. How will you ensure the cleanliness/health of the dog?
Are service dogs in training allowed in a “no pets allowed “ apartment complex
A service dog in training isn’t considered a service dog yet. Therefore, the dog would not have any special access rights. You may ask the apartment managers if they are tolerant of service dogs in training, but by law, they don’t need to accept them.
I was told my service dog must sit on the floor of a restaurant. My dog is a small dog, has been trained to alert me in a few different ways. One that he needs to be near me to detect. If he is on the floor he can’t do his job correctly for one of my conditions. He was on my lap. Not on the table and not on seat. He is 5 years old and has been trained since he was 5 years and has traveled all over with me. This particular restaurant has a waitress who clearly has an issue with dogs, as she is the only reason we were told we had to leave. She was not even our waitress but had to get involved. I must add my dog was sitting quietly on my lap under the table and most people didn’t know he was there. I have tried to reach someone in their corporate office but I never get a response or person to speak to. What can I do in this case. Please help.
If it were me, Get a lawyer. Make sure you have your medical documentation up dated. Go to the restaurant with the lawyer. You may have to do it a few times before the girl is there. Then the attorney can say he/she saw the discrimination. Also, if you can’t eat there based on there rules, You can make them bring you what you want.
As a business owner of an outdoor event that books dozens of working animals, I have issue with untrained service dogs and handlers as they could cause real safety issues to the rest of our patrons. We have had people bring “service” dogs in t shirts that had service written on it in sharpie. “Emotional support” dogs that barked continually at the horses (to the great concern of the jousters)and other dogs on site. How is a small business owner to protect the rest of the public, and their business against unscrupulous pet owners masquerading their pets as working service dogs?
My service dad passed away Africa ten years I have a wonderful new opportunity she was certafied with her last owner how did I transfer her licensing!
How can a service dog be identified when taken into public places? It sounds like anyone can bring a leashed dog into your business and claim it is a service dog.
I work in a restaurant, What do you do if guests come in and when asked what ask the animal has been trained to perform they answer “General” as a response?
I do understand these laws. But I work at a hotel and guests sometimes say it is when clearly it is not. So how can we keep our no pet policy in effect.
I have a small diner in Virginia we allow services dogs but I have this one lady that brings hers in here and my servers said the other day she had it on the the table between her and the table And so the dog was partly on the table my customers complain about this dog being on the table what can I do about this I asked her to put it on the floor and she got mad and leftAnd said she would never come back and she’s harassing me on Facebook about not coming back to my diner and she just keeps on and on and on
ADA, I don’t know if you actually read these comments or not, but I think you need to seriously rethink your rules that don’t allow businesses to ask for proof that the dog is a real service dog. With the ever increasing number of fakes out there, requiring the handler to carry some sort of license to present if asked for proof seems like a really good idea. It wouldn’t have to get personal and say why the dog is needed. Simply make it something that only a trained service dog can get and that would greatly help to reduce fake service dogs and allow businesses an easier way to differentiate between real and fake and kick out fakes. It would also make it better for the people with disabilities because hopefully they won’t have to worry about that fake service dog in the grocery store attacking their real service dog or things like that. I read too many articles about fake service dogs attacking and that makes it very dangerous for those with real service dogs!
Groomer m i moved to another state and duing the move my purse was stolen anything i had from my doctor that showed proof was gone my doctirs closed due to retirement and the company that took over the records wanted money i do not have just for a copy so sometimes its more of a problem for us
If patrons or staff to a business are allergic to animals, can the business limit or ask that the emotional support animal not be permitted?
Can a landlord require medical documentation from persons who is looking to rent out a unit.
Landlords cannot require any form of documentation for service dog owners. Please see this article for more information on service dog verifications: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-verify-a-service-dog/
These laws need to be revisited since they were put in place 30 years ago. There are too many people lying about their dog being a service dog and we can’t ask for documentation/license since it is against the law. People will go out of their way to purchase service dog vests and leashes that are easily accessible on the internet to avoid being approached by staff or security in public places such as the library. It has created a real problem for airlines as well.
Hey so i was a star bucks, and when they asked if my dog was a service dog, i of course told his he is for my anxiety, he is a small dog so he is up on my lap because of the high chairs, the manager then came up to me and told me I have to leave or put him on the ground, it this ok or should i say something to her?
We were just denied access to The Parker House , a restaurant in Stratford CT. with my daughter‘a service dog. He wanted to see papers. I don’t think they are allowed to do that.
Can a service dog truly perform its task if it’s in a stroller
No id say thats a pet
yes, depending on what its trained for. seizure alerts or diabetic alerts for example
Thank you ADA. You are on the right track with your recent changes. The being said, there are three things I would still like to see happen. The first would be to have a national certification of Service Dogs. The second, ALL Service Dogs must be professionally trained by certified trainers. And third, limit breeds to ONLY stable, non-aggressive temperaments.
I am an elderly blind person. My Guide Dog had two years of specialized training through Guide Dogs for the Blind before she became my Guide Dog. She is absolutely essential for my safety in going about my daily activities and work.
She and I have both been attacked on numerous occasions by fake service dogs. I should not have to give her up and become a shut-in because of people without any disabilities think their misbehaved, uncontrolled dog has”the right” to be in stores, restaurants and on public transportation just the same as a person with a disability.
Over the years I have had my Guide Dog, I have encountered people with their dogs in stores, on the local public transportation, in the hospital and in restaurants. Ill strike up a conversation with some of these folks. They have offered (without being asked) reasons for having their “service animal” (that they trained themself) which have included the following: “He bites people who annoy me.”, “It’s not really a service dog, I just say that so I don’t have to leave him at home. He gets so sad ya’ know.” or “It has ‘rights’ too.”
I write and lobby Service Dog Bills in my state. In a four month period of time I personally was aware of nine Guide Dogs that were attacked that sustained injuries while performing their duties in public areas. My Guide Dog was one of these nine dogs. Four had career ending injuries. There were three Guide Teams struck by cars in a two month period. Two of these Guide Dogs had career ending injuries, one Handler was severally injured and one Guide Team was killed. This is no joke folks! These incredibly highly professionally trained dogs literally are the only fully functioning eyes a blind person have.
My hospital let me and he,/she can be there for emotional support and reasureance in case you wakeup Terrified, can’t think of a time when you’d need the dlog more/!
Churches are exempt
Do service dogs do good with other animals in the home? Or is there a rule about being the only animal, ie cats and dogs
No, there is no limit on how many or what kind of pets you may have (other than possible limitations set by your landlord). Just make sure your service dog can still focus on the tasks and will not be distracted by other animals in times of need. You may find this article on basic training for service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-training-guide-the-basics/
Can a service dog be a guard dog? I have my dog alert me of people coming to close to me but does not pose a threat to that person. She just alerts me of people coming to close.
As defined by the ADA a service dog is trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. If your dog is guarding you because of a physical or psychological disability you could be eligible for a service dog. You may find this updated article on the requirements of service dogs interesting – https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-requirements/
When a store for an example posted”for health,&safety reasons” you can not put your dog in the seat on a shopping cart. I have printed on brightly colored paper the current ADA rules. I give this to whomever, telling them that your health,& safety concerns should only be for employees that prep the food,¬ for the customer buying it! How often does a toddler poop,or pee in the diaper,as they are in the cart seat? Or the toddler who was in the rain,& got mud on his shoes. Then before being told not to. Is jumping up,& down getting mud all over the seat? Unlike most small children a service dog is highly
trained. Trained to specifically meet the handler’s needs. Such as to smell the chemical imbalance as the onset of a seizure approaches. As in my case I have them occasionally. I also have COPD. Larry gives cues,such as but, not limited to a paw scrape on the arm,sometimes it’s followed with a sharp yap if he smells a sent that may trigger my COPD. He,& I do communicate a lot via site,& sound,of which he is unable to do so while on the ground looking out for other shopping carts pushed by the idiots who don’t pay attention. Nor can he do so from a carrier. Sure I could carry him. I also have neuropathy I do not have the hand strength nor the balance required to carry 10lbs,& shop. So I always put a towel down 1st. to act as a barrier. He will also have peed,& pooped outside before going in the seat. Larry is 10 lbs. of my Pomeranian Chihuahua life line. If somewhere the 1 individual reading this. Has gained some comfort,gained some understanding,& gained some knowledge. Then Larry,& I have done our job. Be safe during this crazy pandemic.
Will someone please help or advise me on the following. I have a service animal. I entered a gas/service store. When the clerk noticed my dog, he did not ask of me the questions required under ADA. My animal was leashed sitting at my feet while I had been waiting in line and had no contact with other customers. The clerk demanded I leave
I tried to explain that I had a right to be there because of my disability. He called the police and I was cited for criminal tresspass because I did not leave when told and because of the dispute I had called my husband to take my animal. Upon seeing me pass the leash the officer turned to me and stated ‘that well I guess you’re guilty of tresspass now” My email is shadylady421@gmail.com
What can I do? If convicted there is also a 6 month jail penalty in addition to a 500 fine.
I have a passenger that stands at the corner all day panhandle for money but at the end of the day he gets on the bus and says his dog is a service dog, he has fleas, and his coat is mange but no one at my company would believe me ..what can I do?