Service Dogs
Guide dogs, signal dogs, and service dogs can be of enormous help to people with disabilities. They help with day-to-day tasks, increase mobility and independence, and serve as social ice-breakers with new acquaintances.
The law recognizes the value of trained service dogs by guaranteeing them access to public places and requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for their owners.
Psychiatric service dogs are allowed in most public places, while emotional support animals are not.
Under federal law, airlines must allow people with disabilities to bring their assistance animals on planes. But airlines are now allowed to restrict service animals to dogs and to treat emotional support animals like pets.
An increasing number of people have been falsely claiming that their pets are service animals so that they can take them to public places.
Many California employers need to allow service dogs and emotional support animals in the workplace unless it would create an undue hardship.
Florida law and federal law prohibit discrimination against people with service dogs, and provide protections to people with other types of assistance animals.
Illinois and federal law protect the right to have service dogs in public places and may cover other service animals in housing.
New York and federal law requires service dogs, but not emotional support animals, to be allowed in public places. Housing rules are different.
Ohio has two laws that allow assistance animals in public accommodations and housing.
Texas law and federal law protect your right to have service dogs in public places and housing.
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