Dogs are more than just amazing companions.
Some of our canine companions, like service and emotional support dogs, have superhero-like abilities!
Service dogs are highly trained to perform particular tasks for people with disabilities, helping them navigate daily life.
On the other hand, emotional support dogs provide comfort and emotional stability to their parents, especially those dealing with mental health challenges. They might not have the same specialized training as service dogs, but their presence is just as powerful.
Let’s dive into what sets these helpful hounds apart and their unique roles in our lives!
What Are Service Animals?
Service animals are specially trained to provide support, both physically and emotionally, to people with disabilities.
Aside from dogs, the most common service animals are, believe it or not, pigs, miniature horses, and capuchin monkeys!
Service dogs receive specialized training to perform tasks depending on the owner’s needs, such as:
- Guiding: Guide dogs help people who are blind or visually impaired navigate around obstacles.
- Hearing Assistance: Service dogs alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to alarms, doorbells, or even a baby crying.
- Mobility Assistance: A service dog can assist owners with mobility issues by pulling wheelchairs, helping them balance, or picking up dropped items.
- Medical Alert: Some dogs sense and alert their owners to medical issues like low blood sugar, seizures, or even changes in heart rate.
- Psychiatric Service: Psychiatric service dogs provide comfort and perform tasks that help mitigate their handlers’ disability.
Can All Dogs Become Service Animals?
It takes a special kind of temperament and trainability to be a service dog.
Certain breeds are naturally suited for such work, such as:
- Labrador Retrievers
- German Shepherd Dogs
- Golden Retrievers
However, these are not the only breeds fit for service work. Every dog is qualified to become a service animal as long as they exhibit the right personality, trainability, and ability to perform the right tasks.
Do I Need to Register My Service Dog?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you’re not required to register your service animal.
There isn’t an “official” service animal registry recognized by the ADA or the Department of Justice.
Therefore, registering your service dog through private companies doesn’t give you or your dog any extra legal rights.
Some service dog owners register their canine companions for convenience. Owning official paperwork stating that their dog is a service animal may help smooth things over in public situations.
For instance, if someone’s disability isn’t immediately obvious, official documentation will prevent uncomfortable questions or even discrimination. It’s about avoiding hassle rather than fulfilling a legal requirement.
The process of getting a service dog is rigorously specific.
It’s not just about picking any cute pup from the shelter.
Every service animal must receive special training to perform disability-assisting tasks.
You may get a dog and have it trained later or go through a service dog organization that trains and pairs canine companions with the right people.
What Are Emotional Support Animals?
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide emotional support to their owners.
Unlike service animals, which are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, ESAs don’t require any special training.
Their primary role is comforting their owners with their jolly presence, especially mental health patients (anxiety, depression, or emotional distress).
The unconditional love of an ESA alleviates stress and increases feelings of security and well-being.
The most common emotional support animals include:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
- Birds
- Hamsters
Can All Dogs Become Emotional Support Animals?
Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals don’t require specific training to perform tasks.
Their primary qualification is the ability to positively impact their owner’s mental and emotional well-being.
Certain dog breeds are commonly chosen as ESAs in the U.S. due to their natural temperament and ability to bond with humans, such as:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Poodles
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Do I Need to Register My Emotional Support Dog?
Since there’s no official government registry for emotional support animals, you won’t need any special registration or certification for your canine companion under U.S. law.
The essential step in getting an emotional support dog is an official letter from a mental health professional (e.g., a psychiatrist or a licensed therapist). This letter must confirm that having an emotional support animal would benefit your mental health.
Having this letter is especially important when looking for a place to live since certain landlords or housing providers have rules about pets. But with an emotional support animal and the proper documentation, they must make accommodations for you under the Fair Housing Act.
This means waiving pet rules or fees, as your emotional support dog isn’t just a pet—it’s an integral part of your mental health care plan!
“It shall be unlawful to discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling, because of a handicap …”—42 U.S.C. §3602 (f)(2)(B).
“Discrimination includes a refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.”—42 U.S.C. §3602 (f)(3)(B).
3 Differences Between Emotional Support and Service Dogs
Service Dogs Receive Specialized Training
Service dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities.
For example, they’re trained to guide someone who is blind, alert someone who is deaf, or provide balance and support to someone with walking difficulties. These dogs receive ample training to master these specific tasks while knowing how to behave in public places.
Emotional support dogs, on the other hand, aren’t trained to perform specific tasks.
Instead, their central role is to provide comfort and emotional support just by being there. They relieve feelings of anxiety or depression purely through companionship.
Emotional Support Dog May Be Denied Access in Certain Areas
Another key difference between emotional support and service dogs is where they can go.
Service dogs enjoy a special status that lets them go anywhere their owner goes, such as restaurants, stores, and even airplanes.
Emotional support dogs do not boast the legal right to go everywhere service dogs do.
Businesses like restaurants and shops might say no to ESAs because they don’t enjoy the same status as service dogs. Their presence only concerns emotional support, not the performance of day-to-day tasks.
Only Service Dogs Have Guaranteed Access to Planes
The rules around taking service dogs and emotional support dogs (ESAs) on planes have recently seen significant changes, especially concerning ESAs.
In December 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) revised its Air Carrier Access Act regulations. The significant change to remember is that ESAs are no longer categorized as service animals. Therefore, flying with an ESA means flying with a pet—and paying regular pet fees.
“Carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets.”—Service Animal Final Rule, 4. SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROVISIONS.
Due to DOT’s revised regulations, major U.S. and international airlines have updated their requirements for traveling with service dogs and ESAs:
- American Airlines requires a Service Animal DOT form for anyone traveling with a service dog.
- Alaska Airlines permits only service dogs, including psychiatric service animals. They allow a maximum of two service dogs per guest.
- Delta Airlines only allows service dogs, for which owners must fill out the provided DOT form. They no longer recognize ESAs as service animals.
- Southwest Airlines allows ESA dogs, but they’re treated differently from service dogs. While service dogs can fly without fees, ESAs are subject to pet policies.
- United Airlines allows up to two service dogs per passenger. If you’re bringing a service dog and a pet, you must buy an extra seat.
- British Airways allows recognized service dogs in the cabin. They also allow other pets up to 13 pounds, but these are subject to pet travel policies.
- Emirates only allows emotional support animals to be transported as cargo. However, they do permit guide dogs in the passenger cabin.
- Lufthansa allows dogs to travel in the cabin for free. However, they expect the dog to be well-behaved—no excessive barking or jumping at people or other animals.
Can I Take My Service or Emotional Support Dog to Work?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), primarily Title I, which covers employment, plays a significant role in taking service or emotional support dogs to work. It states that employers must provide reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.
This doesn’t mean every workplace must allow every type of animal.
For example, if the presence of a dog poses a safety risk or significantly disrupts the workplace, the employer might need to research other ways to accommodate the employee.
Emotional support dogs don’t have the same legal protections as service dogs under the ADA. Employers might be more flexible and allow them, but they’re not legally required to do so. It often depends on the company’s policy and the nature of the work environment.
Talk to your employer if you have a service dog you need to take to work.
Explain your situation, your service dog’s role in helping you with your disability, and how they can be accommodated in the workplace.
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Call us at (866) 592-2742 or, if you’re from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New York, visit us at 131 Kenilworth Road, Marlton, New Jersey 08053, to learn more about our obedience training classes.
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References
- “Emotional Support Dog vs Service Dog: What’s the Difference?: Pettable – Esa Experts.” Pettable, pettable.com/blog/emotional-support-dog-vs-service-dog. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “ESA vs Service Dogs: What’s the Difference?” NSARCO, 25 Apr. 2022, www.nsarco.com/esa-vs-service-dogs-whats-the-difference-2/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the Ada.” ADA.Gov, www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- GovInfo | U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2010-title42/pdf/USCODE-2010-title42.pdf. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Most Popular Service Dog Breeds.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 5 Oct. 2021, www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/most-popular-service-dog-breeds/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Psychiatric Service Dog vs Emotional Support Animal: Which Should You Choose?” Service Dog Training School International, www.servicedogtrainingschool.org/blog/psychiatric-service-dog-vs-emotional-support-animal. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Service Animal or Emotional Support Animal: What’s the Difference?” ADA National Network, adata.org/service-animal-resource-hub/differences. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs: What’s the Difference?” BeChewy, 15 Nov. 2022, be.chewy.com/what-is-an-emotional-support-animal/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- “Service, Working,Therapy, Emotional Support Dogs: Which Is Which?” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 27 Aug. 2021, www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-working-therapy-emotional-support-dogs/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.
- U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form, www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-12/Service%20Animal%20Health%20Behavior%20Training%20Form.pdf. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.