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What Are ADA Pets?

Americans with Disabilities Act service and guide animals are not pets. According to the March 11, 2011 Federal Register, "A pet or support animal may be able to discern that the individual is in distress, but it is what the animal is trained to do in response to this awareness that distinguishes a service animal from an observant pet or support animal.'' The ADA defines service and guide animals to distinguish them from therapy animals, companion/emotional support animals and pets.

  1. The Work of a Service Animal

    • The ADA states that "the work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability." An individual other than the disabled individual may be the service animal's handler, but the purpose of the service animal must be to assist the disabled individual. Service and guide animals can assist with many life-function needs of disabled individuals, including such tasks as guiding the sight-impaired; retrieving objects; alerting the hearing impaired of the presence of others or important sounds; opening doors; turning on lights; carrying objects; pulling wheelchairs; providing stability and balance; alerting individuals when a seizure starts; protecting an individual from falls during a seizure; and reviving individuals after a seizure. Psychiatric service animals may do safety checks, remind the individual to take medications, attempt to stop self-mutilation or other injuries, alert the individual to a psychiatric episode or take the disabled individual away from the environment provoking him.

    Training

    • Service animals may be trained by a professional or organization, or by the disabled individual. Licensed schools usually train and certify guide animals, but other service animals may or may not be licensed.

    Identification

    • Service animals are not required to wear identification stating they are assistance animals, but disabled individuals often use special tags, vests, harnesses and backpacks to identify them in public. They may be any breed or size, and are not always dogs.

    Protection

    • Federal and state laws protect disabled individuals and their service animals. Businesses open to the public must allow individuals and service animals anywhere on the premises the public is allowed.

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