Service animals help disabled people navigate the world—performing tasks, providing assistance, and enabling independence. They're protected under law in most countries, but confusion about rights and requirements is common.
This page centers the expertise of disabled people who work with service animals.
Service animal (US legal definition): A dog (or in some cases, miniature horse) individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Tasks are specific actions the animal is trained to do, such as:
- Guiding a blind person
- Alerting a deaf person to sounds
- Pulling a wheelchair
- Alerting to seizures or blood sugar changes
- Retrieving items
- Providing deep pressure during anxiety attacks
- Interrupting harmful behaviors
- Many others
Emotional support animals (ESAs): Provide comfort through presence but aren't trained for specific tasks. Not considered service animals under ADA in public places (but have some housing protections).
Therapy animals: Visit hospitals, schools, etc. to provide comfort. Not service animals.
Pets: Beloved family members but not task-trained for disability.
The distinction matters because different legal protections apply.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects service animals in:
- Businesses and public accommodations (stores, restaurants, hotels)
- State and local government services
- Employment (reasonable accommodation)
What businesses can ask:
- Is this a service animal required because of a disability?
- What task is the dog trained to perform?
What they CANNOT ask:
- What's your disability?
- Can you demonstrate the task?
- For documentation or certification
Air travel: Air Carrier Access Act allows trained service dogs. Airlines can require documentation and advance notice.
Housing: Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow service animals AND emotional support animals as reasonable accommodations.
No registration required: Despite what scammers say, there's no official service animal certification, registry, or ID in the US.
Service animals are protected under provincial human rights codes. Requirements vary by province:
- Some provinces accept dogs only
- Some accept other animals
- Documentation requirements vary
Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments, which can include allowing service dogs.
Assistance Dogs UK is a coalition of accredited training organizations. Many places accept dogs from these programs more readily.
Varies by country. Generally, service dogs are accepted, but requirements differ. Research specific countries for travel.
Disability Discrimination Act covers assistance animals. Guide dogs and other assistance animals allowed in public places. Airlines and public transport have specific policies.
Assist people who are blind or have low vision:
- Navigate obstacles
- Stop at curbs and stairs
- Find doorways and objects
- Intelligent disobedience (refusing unsafe commands)
Alert deaf and hard of hearing people to sounds:
- Doorbells and knocks
- Alarms (fire, carbon monoxide)
- Phones and timers
- Name being called
- Baby crying
Help people with physical disabilities:
- Retrieve dropped items
- Open doors
- Turn on lights
- Pull wheelchairs
- Provide balance support
- Help with dressing/undressing
Work with people who have seizure disorders:
- Alert to oncoming seizures (some dogs)
- Get help during seizures
- Bring medication or phone
- Stay with person during seizure
- Help person get up after seizure
Detect blood sugar changes:
- Alert to high or low blood sugar
- Retrieve glucose tablets or meter
- Alert others if person is unresponsive
Perform tasks for people with psychiatric disabilities:
- Interrupt anxiety or panic attacks
- Provide deep pressure therapy
- Ground person during dissociation
- Create space in crowds
- Retrieve medication
- Wake person from nightmares
- Perform room searches for PTSD
Note: Psychiatric service dogs ARE legally protected (unlike ESAs) because they're trained for specific tasks.
Various medical conditions:
- Detect allergens
- Alert to medical conditions
- Retrieve medication or phone
- Get help in emergencies
Help autistic individuals:
- Provide calming pressure
- Interrupt harmful behaviors
- Assist with sensory regulation
- Increase safety in public
Pros:
- Professionally trained dogs
- Often free or subsidized
- Support from organization
- Dog is matched to you
Cons:
- Long waiting lists (1-5+ years)
- May have requirements (home check, lifestyle)
- Less control over training
- Dog may not match exactly what you need
Pros:
- No waiting list
- Control over training
- Can train for specific tasks
- Can start with young puppy
Cons:
- Significant time and effort
- May need professional help
- No guarantee of success
- Can be expensive
Tips for owner-training:
- Research extensively
- Consider professional trainer assistance
- Socialize thoroughly
- Train in public gradually
- Join owner-training communities
- Be prepared for the possibility the dog won't work out
Service animals can cost:
- From organizations: Often free, sometimes $10,000-$30,000
- Owner-training: $3,000-$10,000+ (dog, training, equipment)
- Ongoing costs: $1,000-$2,000+/year (food, vet, equipment)
- Some organizations provide dogs free
- Vocational Rehabilitation may fund (if related to employment)
- Grants from disability organizations
- Crowdfunding
- Personal funds
Your rights:
- Go anywhere the public goes
- Don't have to show documentation
- Don't have to explain disability
- Animal should be allowed even if there's a "no pets" policy
Your responsibilities:
- Keep animal under control
- Animal should be housebroken
- Animal should not be disruptive
- You're responsible for animal's behavior
¶ Handling Access Challenges
If someone questions your service animal:
- Stay calm
- Know they can only ask two questions (US)
- Educate briefly if helpful
- Ask for a manager if needed
- Document incidents
- File complaints if rights are violated
If someone refuses access:
- Ask for specific reason
- Ask to speak with manager
- Know local laws
- Document the incident
- File complaint with relevant agency
You can be asked to remove your animal if:
- Animal is out of control and you don't take action
- Animal is not housebroken
- NOT because someone is uncomfortable or has allergies
- Service animals are a reasonable accommodation
- Request through normal accommodation process
- Employer can ask about tasks (not diagnosis)
- You're responsible for animal's care at work
- Landlords must allow service animals (Fair Housing Act)
- No pet deposits for service animals
- Applies even to "no pets" housing
- Also covers emotional support animals with documentation
- Airlines must allow trained service dogs
- Can require documentation and advance notice
- Can require behavioral acknowledgment
- See Air Travel Rights page for more
¶ Health and Wellness
- Regular veterinary care
- Proper nutrition
- Appropriate exercise
- Mental stimulation
- Rest (working is tiring)
- Dogs need time off
- Recognize signs of stress
- Provide enrichment and play
- Some tasks can be mentally demanding
Service animals eventually retire:
- Average working life 6-10 years
- May stay as pet
- Some go to adoptive homes
- Plan for transition
Fake service animals (people claiming pets are service animals) create problems:
- Make access harder for legitimate teams
- Can be dangerous if untrained
- Undermine public understanding
Note: It's not your job to police others, and someone's disability and tasks aren't always visible.
Despite legal protections, access is still denied:
- Due to ignorance of laws
- Misunderstanding of service animals
- Prejudice against certain breeds
- General gatekeeping
Document and report violations.
¶ Handler Health
Working with a service animal requires:
- Physical ability to care for and handle animal
- Cognitive ability to maintain training
- Financial resources for care
- Energy for the public attention
Consider whether a service animal is the right accommodation for you.
Animals that provide emotional support through companionship. Not trained for specific tasks.
Housing (US): Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow ESAs as reasonable accommodation with documentation from healthcare provider.
Air travel (US): No longer required since 2021. Airlines can treat them as pets.
Public places (US): No access rights under ADA.
For housing, ESA documentation should be:
- From a licensed mental health provider
- Who has a treatment relationship with you
- Stating you have a disability
- And that the ESA is part of your treatment
Avoid online "ESA registration" sites—these are scams.
- Research Assistance Dogs International members
- Look for organizations specializing in your needs
- Ask for references and check reviews
- Owner-Trained Service Dog community groups
- Facebook groups for specific types
- Professional trainers with service dog experience
Do you work with a service animal? Have experiences or advice to share?
Share your knowledge: Contribution Form
We especially welcome:
- Experiences with different types of service animals
- Tips for public access
- Country-specific information
- Training advice
This page centers the expertise of disabled people who partner with service animals. Service animals are more than helpers—they're partners in navigating the world.
Last updated: November 2025