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Service Dog Laws – Know your rights
Do you know what to do and say when you are traveling with your Service Dog?
Taking the step to adopt and train a service dog is tough work. The bond a handler and a service dog develops is one of the deepest and most meaningful relationships that exist.
A challenge many service dog handlers face is how to travel and enter public spaces with their service dog. Especially at places with a no-pet policy. Restaurants, hotels, and airports are typically better informed about service dog laws. However, places like the beach, movie theaters, and schools are less informed about service dog rights. It also brings up specific questions that may be hard to answer.
- Is my service dog required to wear a vest?
- What if my service dog is denied access?
The most important step is to understand service dog laws clearly. We have included a few tips on how to handle and work with hostile employees who are aggressive or ignorant about your service dog.
Service Dog Question #1- What should I say when an employee asks me about my service dog?
The first step is to assess if the person is aware of service dog rules and regulations.
- If they are aware of service dog rights, simply inform them that you are traveling with a certified service dog, and confirm the task your service dog provides. Thank them for asking politely and proceed with your day.
- If they are not aware, show them your service dog certification or license. Inform them that your dog is a trained service dog and has public access rights. Let them know that your dog will not interrupt business practices and will remain by your side, as permitted by federal law.
- If they remain hostile towards your service dog and deny you access, refer them to Service Dog Certifications for more information on service dog laws. Let them know that they are violating your rights and are openly discriminating against your disability by preventing you access. Ask them to speak to their manager and stay firm but calm and polite. By staying firm and helping them understand service dog rights, you are helping other service dog handlers avoid negative confrontations in the future.
Service Dog Question #2- Do I need a Service Dog vest?
- A convenient way to avoid this issue is to order a service dog vest for your service dog. This will help communicate visually that your dog is not a pet and is a trained service dog. This may help eliminate some verbal confrontations as there is a visual indicator that your dog is a service dog. This is particularly helpful for people suffering from PTSD, social anxiety, or any invisible disabilities.
- If you choose not to have your service dog wear a service dog vest, that is your legal right. Some people choose not to have their service dog wear a vest because it is uncomfortable for the dog and distracts them from performing their task. Others choose not to have their service dog wear a vest because they are not comfortable with broadcasting that they have a disability. Remember, not all disabilities are visible and no one should be judged for trying to improve their lives. If the person you are speaking to demands that your dog wears a service dog vest, inform them that you choose not to have your service dog wear a vest but that you have your service dog certification or identification to share with them.
- If they continue to insist that your service dog wear a vest, inform them that the ADA does not require your service dog wear a vest and even specifically prevents companies from requiring this. Ask the person to speak with their manager or refer to service dog rights on Service Dog Certifications.
Service Dog Question #3- People are provoking my Service Dog, can the property ask us to leave?
Your service dog needs to be in your control at all times and cannot bark or cause a disturbance in public. However, the ADA also specifically states that a service dog may respond by barking if provoked and is not deemed a disturbance if the barking was provoked. If this is happening to you, inform a store employee that your service dog is being harassed and request they assist you. Examples of provoking include:
- Aggressively staring at your dog
- Touching your service dog without permission
- Whistling and talking at your dog in a menacing way
Service Dog Question #4- Can a person ask me why I need a service dog if I am not blind or in a wheel chair?
No one is ever allowed to ask you specifically about your disability. They may only ask you two questions regarding your Service Dog.
- Is that a service dog (if you choose not to have your SD wear a vest)?
- What service(s) does your service dog provide? (They may not ask you to demonstrate your dog’s service)
Service Dog Question #5- Should I carry a service dog license?
You are not legally required to have a Service Dog Licensed, Registered, or Certified. Many handlers prefer to carry one to avoid harassment while out in public. Unfortunately, service dog rights are not common knowledge and people often assume your dog is NOT a service dog unless you carry a Service Dog identification card. You may choose to order one and register your service dog to avoid confrontations with ignorant store employees.
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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I have a registered Epilepsy service dog, the Residential services manager Deana Glover is purposely discriminating against me because I use a service dog, she will not let me attend meetings with the other residents because I have a service dog. Her exact words were”I don’t know why you need your service dog in the meeting, when there are people who can call 911 for you if you have a seizure. ” the whole point of me needing my service dog is to help me know that a seizure is coming, but if I am not aloud to have him in common areas, she is basically try to jail me in my own apartment. What should I do?
Bring your dog to the meeting and if confronted, quietly inform her your rights concerning your medical condition are being breeched.
My husband has a service dog for his PTSD amd other problem he was not allowed to bring his dog in the courtroom the we should him the dogs ID card bailiff said not he wont let him in what should we do this dog never leaves his side
The problem is that you can’t call the police
You have to get a lawyer and go the civil court route
Which takes time( you don’t have) and money
I want to know what I can do as an ordinary citizen when a person claiming to have a service dog and the dog clearly is not under control? The dog clearly was pulling at the end of the leash long before my smaller dog and I approached.
If I have to tell stores what service my animal provides for me isn’t that against the HEPA Law. That is having to disclose my disability to the public, and I should not think this is legal.
You only have to let them know that your dog is a service dog, and what task he provides for you… does he alert you of a medical issue, helps you get up in the morning if you have depression, or maybe he reminds you to take your medication (which could be at different times of the day). No one needs to know anything, and they cannot tell you that your service dog cannot be with you. If someone doesn’t allow you somewhere because of this, call the police and let them know the situation. Or ask to speak with the manager.
So any person with a dog and claims it’s a service dog has the right to bring that do anywhere? A person who owns or manages a business can’t request a license for proof, because do lie, so they can take their dog anywhere? I find it ridiculous.
No. You can ask if it’s a service animal, and what action is gives to the owner. The service dog must be in total control and under the command of the owner at all times. If the dog barks, or does anything that would count as being “disruptive” you have rights to ask for the dog to be removed. I have a service dog, and I don’t bring him places when he’s not working, or if I do bring him, he behaves. Normally, anyone who has a service dog will show you their Service ID no problem. We don’t want any hassle or confrontation just as much as you don’t.
What you signed ridiculous as a federal law I have a service animal it’s none of anybody’s business what my medical condition is however my dog provides a service for me. I had a massive stroke in 2018 and that’s all I need to say but I have other conditions as well I owned a service dog who did me well for 12 years I had to retire him because of his age I now have a new one who’s in the process of learning and doing quite well you cannot discriminate against the disabled person if they have a dog is that your reasoning you have broken a federal and state law charges can be pressed against you as well as a lawsuit. So it is a law it is not ridiculous unfortunately some people are cons I just want to take their dogs anywhere mind are calm and well-behaved out in public I take them to restaurants I’ve taken them to the hospital I paid him and his movies I taking them to the grocery stores.