To make your dog a Service Dog, they must be trained in a certain task that assists you with a disability. They must also be trained in proper obedience, good manners and public skills.

You may train your dog on your own, with assistance from a private trainer, or through a 3rd party training program. No certificate is required to prove your dog’s training. Registering your dog with Service Dog Certifications provides identification to landlords and businesses who may request proof of registration.

The American Disability Act defines a service dog as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  Many people with disabilities use a service animal in order to fully participate in everyday life. Dogs can be trained to perform many important tasks to assist people with disabilities, such as providing stability for a person who has difficulty walking, picking up items for a person who uses a wheelchair, preventing a child with autism from wandering away, or alerting a person who has hearing loss when someone is approaching from behind.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.

Business are not permitted to ask individuals with disabilities to remove their service animal from the premises unless:

• the animal is out of control and the animal’s owner does not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie); or
• the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

Individuals with disabilities may be asked:

• if an animal is a service animal; and/or
• what tasks the animal has been trained to perform

Accordingly, Individuals with disabilities often choose to voluntarily identify their service animals in an online registry and carry physical identifiers such as ID cards, and certifications

Emotional support Animals (ESAs) provide comfort to individuals suffering from anxiety, stress or other mental health concerns, and help them deal with challenges that might otherwise compromise their quality of life.

For some individuals suffering with anxiety or other mental health issues, the presence of a dog is critical to their ability to function normally on a day-to-day basis. Emotional support Animals (ESAs) provide comfort to these individuals and helps them deal with challenges that might otherwise compromise their quality of life.

Although all dogs offer an emotional connection with their owner, to legally be considered an ESA, the dog must be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must determine that the presence of the animal is needed for the mental health of the patient. For example, owning a pet might ease a person’s anxiety or give them a focus in life. The dogs can be of any age and any breed.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to anyone based on race, religious, gender, age, and other factors including a disability. By having an Emotional Support Animal, an individual falls within the definition of having a disability under the Fair Housin Act. Accordingly, landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations to those who maintain an Emotional Support Animal. Landlords may not charge an additional fee for assistance animals.

This also applies to travel accommodations. Upon meeting the requirements, hotels or short term rentals are not permitted charge an additional fee for traveling with an Emotional Support Animal. Providing a certificate to your hotel front desk or Airbnb host should be sufficient evidence to waive a pet fee in the majority of cases.

Emotional Support Animals are not automatically qualified to fly. We always recommend contacting your airline as soon as possible, in advance of any air travel plans, as each airline maintains their own policy with respect to allowing Emotional Support Animals to travel in the cabin.

Registration comes with the purchase of any certification. By registering you affirm your dog as a Service Dog, Emotional Support Animal and/or Therapy dog as defined by the American Disability Act or the applicable legislation in your jurisdiction. Proof of registration is included as an instantly downloadable PDF.

Under the Air Carrier Access Act, Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals are permitted to travel in the cabin with their handler. Airlines can determine if an animal is a service animal or pet by:

• The credible verbal assurances of an individual with a disability using the animal;
• Looking for physical indicators such as the presence of a harness or tags;
• Requiring documentation for psychiatric support animals and emotional support animals; and
• Observing the behavior of animals.

Most airlines have specific documentation requirements for Emotional Support Animals and Psychiatric Service Animals. Generally, a letter from your health professional is required. Always check with your airline in advance. For additional information see the ACAA.

No, even if your lease has a “no-pets” policy, if you require the the use of a support animal your landlord must accommodate you and allow you and your support dog to stay.