We all know our dogs are special, and they provide us with unconditional love that doesn’t waver—they are there for us in the good times and the bad. You see the ads online that say, “Get your dog service certificate in 24 hours!” and you may think, yes, I want to take my dog with me on trips, and all I need to do is order a vest off Amazon. We’ve all also seen the way this emotional support pet concept has gotten a bit unconventional, with emotional support peacocks and even an emotional support donkey that recently flew with their owner. Is this getting out of hand? Not necessarily but, before you consider getting your dog or pet qualified, you should know what the differences and requirements are between a Service Dog, Therapy Pet, and an Emotional Support Pet.
The most important thing is to have your pet be seen regularly by a veterinarian to discuss the lifestyle changes and what vaccinations and preventive care is needed if you will be taking your pet out to more places.
Understanding the Difference Between Service Dog, Therapy Pet, and Emotional Support Pet.
Service Dog
If you feel that your dog would be a good candidate for service or therapy, you will first take them to be evaluated by a professional. Not every dog will be a candidate and knowing the requirements and commitment needed are just as important as the training needed for your pet. These pet candidates will be placed in situations that many animals won’t encounter and their reactions need to be predictable, meaning they act in a way that you would expect and want them to. If your pet shows any type of aggression towards people, they shouldn’t be considered for Service or Therapy.
The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that a Service Dog is a dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. These dogs can accompany the handler anywhere, even if they have a “no pet” policy. Service Dogs will perform tasks like being a seeing-eye dog for the visually impaired, pick up dropped objects, open doors, physically support someone with mobility issues, and be a medical alert, like identifying if a diabetic’s glucose is dangerously high, or notifying the person if they are about to have a seizure, or an irregular heartbeat. Dogs that qualify for service have to be very focused on their handler.
Training can take many months and will continue throughout their service life. Their handler will also require training on how to identify cues and give the proper commands. If you feel that your dog would be a good candidate for service, you will first take them to be evaluated by a professional to ensure that they have the natural ability to do what is required of them. Under no circumstance should you ever identify your dog as a service dog when it has not completed training or is able to adhere to the ADA requirements of a Service Dog. This is unethical and can put people and other service pets at risk.
To find out more about these requirements please visit ADA.gov.
Therapy Pet/Team
You may not have a disability, but you’ve observed that your dog is calm, tolerates people and kids of all ages, isn’t afraid of loud noises and is very obedient. Your dog may be a great candidate as a Therapy Pet. You and your dog will be able to volunteer to go to facilities where pets may not be allowed, such as nursing homes, children’s hospitals, libraries, and schools—places that know the benefits that animals can provide for people’s mental and physical health.
You will need to contact the facility you would like to volunteer at and see what their requirements are. Most will need proof of vaccinations, negative fecal test, and proof of flea and tick prevention. They will also want to see that you and your dog have completed and passed a training program like AKC’s Canine Good Citizen.
You can find more information at AKC.org.
Emotional Support Pet
Maybe your dog, cat, or iguana can’t perform a task for you, but you still need them for comfort. These are Emotional Support Animals and are also protected under ADA laws, like Service Dogs, but may not be allowed into public places where they have a “no pet” policy. You would be required to check with your state or local government to find out about these laws. If your pet is aggressive towards people they should not be taken into public places without safeguards in place. A certified animal behaviorist (https://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/applied-behavior-caab-directory.php or https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709) can work with you to determine what is best for you and your pet.
Even if your pet does have aggression or undesirable behaviors, they still can qualify as your Emotional Support Pet. You will be allowed to keep your pet with you in your home, or if you are traveling they can accompany you if you will be away overnight. It is best to contact these places before to know their policies and what documentation is required. Most will want to have proof of a current rabies vaccine, a letter from your doctor stating that you have a medical need for emotional support that this animal provides. You’ll also have to include a description of this pet, ie: canine, female, white with black spots, approximately 40lbs, named Lulu.
Is Identification needed for a Service Dog, Therapy Pet, and Emotional Support Pet?
These animals are not required to have anything visible to identify them as a Service, Therapy, or Emotional Support pet, but it does make it easier for people to identify them and not mistake them for a regular pet.
It does help if a Service Dog has a vest on that indicates that they are a Service or Medical Alert dog. This will also let people know not to approach the pet for cuddles, or to go get help if they are approached by the dog without the handler. Other means of identification are collars, leashes, or even special tags.
If a dog doesn’t have identification on them and the facility doesn’t allow pets, the staff can ask only two specific questions: (1) Is the dog a Service Animal required because of a disability? (2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
They are not allowed to ask what disability the person has, documentation for the dog, or for the dog to demonstrate the training or task.
Is there Any Liability When You Have a Service Dog, Therapy Pet, and Emotional Support Pet?
The handler is the one responsible for that animal. This is another reason why training and being aware of how the animal will act in different situations are so crucial. Most facilities that welcome Therapy Pets will require the pet to have animal liability insurance in the case that the pet causes damages to property or injures a person. It doesn’t cover the pet in the case that they get sick or injured—that is pet medical insurance and is always a good idea to have.
All care for the animal is the obligation of the handler or pet owner. They will be responsible to ensure the pet’s needs are taken care of, including feeding, toileting, grooming, and veterinary care. There are some resources that do help with expenses of pet care and can be found by contacting the local Animal Services Department or Humane Society.
If you want to ensure your pet is healthy enough to become a support, service, or therapy pet, or if you have any other questions, please give us a call to make an appointment.