Types of Service Dogs: Understanding the Differences Between Service, Therapy, and Emotional Support Animals

Evolution of Service Dog Roles

Years ago, the term “service dog” covered it all. People with disabilities had specially trained dogs assisting them with everyday activities, enabling them to live more independently. For example, a blind person’s vision assistance dog would help them safely navigate the streets. These were the original types of service dogs.

Recently, though, more designations have emerged to meet the needs of conditions that may not always be physical but can be just as debilitating: types of service dogs, therapy animals, and emotional support animals.
In the United States, specific laws apply to service animals but not to therapy animals or emotional support animals. In this article, we’ll look at the important differences between the types of service dogs:

• Service dogs
• Therapy dogs
• Emotional support animals (ESAs)

Ready? Keep reading to learn more about the different types of service dogs and their unique roles.

Different Types of Service Dogs: Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs and ESAs

Service Animals

According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” This definition includes various types of service dogs.

Key Points:

• Species Limitation: The animal must be a dog. Currently, no other animal can be given the designation of “service,” except for miniature horses in special cases, which are a rare exception among the types of service dogs.
• Exclusions: Emotional support dogs and therapy dogs are not considered among the types of service dogs.
• Task Specificity: Tasks performed by the dog must be tailored to assist the person’s disability, differentiating these types of service dogs from others.
• Training Requirement: A service dog must receive specialized training tailored to assist with disabilities, making them one of the specialized types of service dogs.

Types of service dogs are not limited to simply being vision assistance dogs or dogs who assist people with physical disabilities. For example:

• SSigDOGs (Sensory Signal Dogs): Trained to help people with autism.
• Seizure Response Dogs: Trained to alert, protect, and get help for their humans at the onset of a seizure.

Both of the above are considered service dogs and are covered under the ADA.

Training and Behavior:

• Service dogs (and miniature horses) receive intensive training before they are assigned to a permanent handler.
• These animals are taught how to assist their handler with the handler’s particular disability and how to behave in public.
• Service dogs will not run amok or attack. They remain quietly ready to assist their handler, regardless of the environment.

Behavioral Standards:

• If a service dog is behaving inappropriately, both the dog and the handler may be asked to leave by representatives of any establishment visited.

The Issue of Fake Service Dogs

As we revealed in a blistering special report in 2012, it’s increasingly common for everyday pets to be illegally posed as service dogs. Some pet parents use this as a way to get free tickets on trains and airplanes, and access to hotels and restaurants that don’t allow pets.

This is a serious problem. Service dogs are not showpieces; they are working animals. Falsifying a service dog’s qualifications is a criminal offense in many states.

Moreover, there is no real “US Service and Support Animal Registry Database” or “National Service Animal Registry” — these are just gimmicks to get you to pay for fake service dog certification.

Interacting With a Service Dog

As we’ve established, service dogs cannot be denied entry to an establishment. However, an employee is allowed to ask the handler two questions:

1. Is that a service dog?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Employees may not ask about a person’s specific disability or for documentation. These are the only questions allowed by law.

Important Points:

• Respect Boundaries: Never interfere with a service animal performing its duties. You could inadvertently cause serious injury to their

Therapy Animals

Therapy animals, unlike service animals, are not protected under the ADA. This means they are not allowed to go anywhere that animals are typically forbidden to enter, such as restaurants, on aircraft, and in grocery stores.

Key Points:

• No Specialized Training Required: Therapy animals do not need specialized training like service dogs.
• Any Animal Type: They can be any type of animal intended to bring comfort to people.
• Work Environments: Therapy animals are usually trained to work in environments where they will interact with many different people, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are similar to therapy dogs in that they don’t need specialized training and can be any type of animal: mammal, reptile, aquatic — you name it. Yes, your ESA can even be a peacock.

Key Differences:

• Individual Focus: ESAs are usually trained for and used by one specific person, whereas therapy animals interact with many people.
• Comfort and Anxiety Relief: These animals bring comfort to their handlers and lessen anxiety.

ESAs are not covered under the ADA but have certain protections under a 2009 document released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT):

“There can be some circumstances in which a passenger may legitimately travel with an emotional support animal. However, we have added safeguards to reduce the likelihood of abuse. The final rule limits use of emotional support animals to persons with a diagnosed mental or emotional disorder, and the rule permits carriers to insist on recent documentation from a licensed mental health professional to support the passenger’s desire to travel with such an animal. In order to permit the assessment of the passenger’s documentation, the rule permits carriers to require 48 hours’ advance notice of a passenger’s wish to travel with an emotional support animal. Of course, like any service animal that a passenger wishes to bring into the cabin, an emotional support animal must be trained to behave properly in a public setting.”

ESAs have a key protection that therapy animals don’t have: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), ESAs are granted exceptions when it comes to housing:

“The Fair Housing Act requires that housing providers, including condominium and homeowners associations, grant reasonable accommodations to rules, policies, or practices when such accommodations are necessary to afford a person with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing. This includes waiving ‘no pet’ rules to allow emotional support animals.”

The homeowner or landlord should not charge an extra fee for an ESA. However, landlords do have some protections. They can charge a security deposit and hold you accountable for any damages your animal causes to the home. They can also ask for documentation to verify your disability. For more information, visit this guide for apartment dogs.

This woman travels with her emotional support peacock:

Airlines Are Cracking Down on ESAs

With air travel costs high, it’s tempting for people to try to nab a free flight for their pet. Here are some key points:

• Documentation: A visit to a local physician or mental health professional can yield the required documentation.
• Fake Vests: Purchasing a fake service vest online can allow pets to fly for free.
• Travel Convenience: Pets can travel with their owners rather than in the cargo hold.

Consequences:

• Increased Costs: While some people benefit, this practice increases costs for everyone.
• Impact on Legitimate ESAs: Properly trained, well-behaved ESAs and their owners suffer due to system abuse.
• Potential for Stricter Rules: Legitimate ESA owners might face more hurdles if the abuse doesn’t stop.

When ESA Fraud Goes Wrong

According to The New York Times, from 2016 to 2018, reports of “in-flight animal incidents” rose 84%, including attacks, threatening behavior, and incidents of animals urinating or defecating in the cabin.

Example Incident:

• In 2017, a man was severely bitten by another passenger’s emotional support dog.
• The dog, seated on his handler’s lap, attacked the neighboring passenger without provocation, causing serious injuries.
• The handler had provided the airline with appropriate documentation, but the dog was clearly not trained for public settings as required by the DOT’s 2009 guidance.

The Real Victims

The actual victims of ESA misbehavior on flights are not just the legitimate human sufferers but also the animals.

Key Points:

• Stress on Animals: Flying is extremely stressful for animals who don’t understand the process. They become frightened, anxious, and stressed.
• Lack of Training: Animals need to be trained to cope with this stress, but many people overlook this.
• Tragic Incidents: In one case, a college student flushed her “emotional support” hamster down the toilet to board her flight.

Airlines Are Revising Their ESA Policies

Recently, major airlines have been revising their ESA and animal in-flight policies.

Changes and Requirements:

• Prompted by outrageous claims, such as the woman who tried to fly with her emotional support peacock, airlines and the DOT are making tough decisions.
• Both Delta and United Airlines announced in 2018 that they now require stricter documentation for all animal travel, including vaccination records, veterinary statements, and signed statements regarding the animal’s behavior.

The Solution:

• Training and Support: Proper training and support for ESAs are crucial. Facilities and regulations for training ESAs should be created, allowing them to fall under the same ADA umbrella as service animals.
• Enforcement: Stronger crackdowns on those who abuse the system are needed. Several states have laws making it illegal to label an untrained dog a service dog, and these laws must be enforced.

In the meantime, passengers are left dealing with the consequences of system abuse, including potential encounters with aggressive or poorly behaved animals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)