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Hotel Rights for Service Dogs
Just like everyone else, service dog owners will stay at a hotel every so often. When they do, they can bring their service dogs with them for the duration of their stay. No matter how extravagant or simple the hotel is, the service dog must be allowed to remain with its owner as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ADA defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to provide help to an individual with a disability. Their assistance allows an owner to perform a task that they are unable to perform themselves. Therefore, service animals are not pets because they serve a specific and essential medical function.
Service dogs may accompany their owners wherever they go. Due to this right, federal regulations let service dogs into public areas, like hotels. Hotels aren’t permitted to decline the presence of a service dog within their business, even with a “no pets” policy in place — the hotel’s pet policies do not apply to service dogs.
What Questions Can a Hotel Ask?
If a service dog’s function isn’t immediately apparent, like a guide dog, employees may only ask the dog owner two questions:
- Is your dog a service dog?
- If your dog is a service dog, what service does it provide?
It’s against federal regulations for hotel employees to ask for any proof, like a certificate or license. Due to privacy laws regarding health and disabilities, employees aren’t allowed to inquire about the service dog owner’s qualifying disability.
Most hotel employees are aware of ADA and service dog regulations. However, some staff may be unfamiliar, ask too many questions, or behave inappropriately. If this occurs, a dog owner can politely ask to speak to their supervisor.
Can a Hotel Make Limitations Regarding Your Hotel Experience?
Hotels cannot isolate service dogs and their owners from other guests or restrict them to certain rooms.
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A hotel isn’t allowed to restrict a service dog owner from amenities that other customers can access. For example, the restaurant areas of a hotel should be accessible to a service dog and its owner. Shopping areas and hotel grounds should also be open to service dog owners.
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Can a Hotel Charge Extra Fees for Having a Service Dog?
Hotels are not allowed to charge fees for a service animal that guests without a service animal don’t have to pay.
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A hotel can’t charge a fee that wouldn’t apply to patrons without a service dog. For example, a hotel may charge for the repairs for damages incurred by a service dog. However, those same fees would also apply if a non-disabled person would be charged for the same damages.
Hotel owners should think of a service dog as an extension of a person’s effort to overcome a disability, rather than an animal. It would be wrong to charge a person with a disability a fee for their cane or wheelchair; thus, the same applies to a service dog.
When Can a Hotel Limit or Refuse Services Due to a Service Dog?
Hotels can refuse customers whose service dog behaves aggressively or becomes disruptive.
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There’s a reason why service dogs undergo extensive training. Poor behavior by a service dog can compromise their ability to do their job. These dogs are around the public more than other dogs and, and need to be safe at all times.
If a service dog growls or barks at other customers, the hotel can ask the owner to remove the service dog from the premises.
Hotels may also refuse entry to a service dog in sterile settings. For example, a medical area where surgery is performed can be considered a location where a service dog isn’t allowed.
What is a Service Dog Owner’s Responsibility in a Hotel?
The hotel employees aren’t obligated to care for the service dog. The dog’s needs have to be met by its owner. Feeding, exercising, grooming, and toileting the dog is the owner’s responsibility.
A service dog needs to be under the owner’s control throughout the entire stay. The dog should always have a leash or a harness unless it interferes with its tasks. The employees and guests aren’t allowed to feed, pet, or play with the service dog. Also, service dogs should be in the presence of their owner at all times. Leaving a service dog alone in a hotel room can endanger hotel staff and put the legitimacy of the service in question.
Visiting Hotels with Your Service Dog
When staying at a hotel with your service dog, be firm but courteous towards the hotel employees and other guests. Recognizing a service animal might be difficult at first. The ADA doesn’t require service dogs to be registered or have a certificate. However, having the appropriate documentation on hand can reduce the need for clarification between service dog owners and hotel employees. Registering a service dog can help make fulfilling their task easier for you and them.
If initially there is tension between a hotel employee and a service dog owner, it’s best to remain calm and explain the legal rights of service dog ownership. Bad experiences in the past may have shaped the employee’s views. Setting a good example and presenting a well-trained service animal may help overcome any disagreements left in the room.
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Distinguish your Service Dog from a Pet
Many hotels have policies against pets, but service dogs are not pets. An ID can help distinguish your service dog from a pet, ensuring you get access to your room and other hotel facilities without hassle.
Under the ADA, hotels can’t require documentation for service dogs, but having an ID card can simplify interactions with hotel staff who may not be familiar with service dog laws.
Remember, while ID cards, certificates and other documents can be helpful, they do not convey any rights under the ADA.
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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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Have a question: If someone is coming to stay at the hotel are suppose to at least let us know they are brining their service dog if they have one?
The hotel guest should inform the hotel before arrival or during check in that they require the use of a service dog. The hotel can validate the guests request by asking two questions (if the disability is not obvious): 1. Is the dog a service dog required for a disability? and 2. What work or task has the service dog been trained to perform? Ideally, hotel guests should give advance notice so the hotel can make appropriate arrangements to accommodate a service dog.
Sounds like you can just say your dog is a service dog to avoid a pet fee. You should show proof by law.
In order to have the rights of a service dog owner, you must be able to answer two questions (if your disability related need for the dog is not obvious): 1. Is the dog a service dog required due to a disability? and 2. What work or task has the service dog been trained to perform?
Agree, Service animals should have an ID that can’t be copied. Doesn’t have to say anything but just shows if they are truly Service animals. Anyone can Lie.
Being a hotel owner, I find it appropriate to let the hotel know ahead of time you will be bringing a service dog. This could avoid awkward interaction with hotel employees. I had a guest show up with the dog, and when I said “Hello, oh we don’t allow pets inside the inn”, her response was “he isn’t a pet”. After I stared at her in confusion, she finally said “it is a service dog”. I was taken back because shortly before this interaction, the dog was running all over the place without a leash. I have friends who have a service dog and it is clear he is a service dog, as he wears a vest and is well behaved. Had I known ahead of time, I wouldn’t have even approached the guest and had this awkward (just not very pleasant) interaction, which set a somewhat grumpy tone with us both. I then said “Oh! It would have been nice to know ahead of time, as we may have other guests who are allergic to dogs or alerted other guests about the fact a dog will be present inside the inn, where typically dogs are not allowed. This is a bed and breakfast type atmosphere and I would have appreciated the heads-up. Legally, did they need to tell me? No. But as a guest in someone’s home, perhaps its a good idea to let them know.
Good to know that mentioning service dog before arrival can be a benefit. Also service dogs are not perfect and when a non service dog distracts, it can cause the trained service dog to become distracted and dogs have natural instincts to be curious or play, So that is the biggest challenge is not let our dog get distracted as if he barks or shows signs of play, then we may be asked to leave..
Also, what about other guest who wish not to be around a pet, Have had businesses struggle with who to accommodate,
This also will be our first time going to a pool with service dog. So our dog does not assist in swimming, so it will have to stay down while owner swims. But is there a disability that a swimmer would need a service dog in the water? I have only heard about rescue dogs working while in water such as if a swimmer is in need of assistance. So I don’t see that a pool would be a place where a service dog would enter unless it is to rescue for seizure or other potential drowning situation. So the big concern is since the dog is always with the owner, Having the dog stay down near pool while owner swims as it can not be left alone in room. Any suggestions? Thank you
Ummmm no hotel worker need to ask those questions ..when your animal has a service vest or tag showing that it’s a working animal and not just your pet .. it’s VERY UNPROFESSIONAL for ANY hotel worker to asked about proof or give you shit about it.. you need to report that person to the hotel owner and if it was okay to ask those questions then what is the point of having items on your animal SHOWING in PLAIN sight that it’s a working Animal!!
Hotel workers are allowed to ask two questions under the ADA: Is the dog required because of a disability and what work or job has the dog been trained to perform? Hotels do not have to rely on service vests or tags as proof.
Keep reading…..service dogs should be trained to perform tasks. I assure you true service dogs do not run all over and a dog running all over upon check-in is not a true service dog and cannot perform tasks on demand (no-can-do if you aren’t right by your owners side). It is terrible for true service dog owners to have to have these stereotypes placed when they don’t really even apply.
I have a service animal and so does my husband.
I went down to the hotel desk to get another key and the man was very verbal about my service animals.
I stated I needed another key to go get the dogs to walk.
He said, “ I HAD TO HAVE THEM WITH ME AT ALL TIMES”, “24/7” and “ I Can’t have 2”.
“What was my disability”
He was abrupt and “I” felt very uncomfortable.
I was embarrassed to tell him of my issues, but I did. I also felt persecuted, to have to state this in public, to some random person.
WHAT ARE THE ALLOWED QUESTIONS BY NON MEDICAL PERSONS AND
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ANIMALS ATTENDANCE WITH THE HANDLER?
Third parties can ask two questions to verify a service dog: 1. Is the service dog required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?