ADA Question of the Month

QUESTION: 
What counts as a service animal?

ANSWER:
Only dogs, and in specific instances, miniature horses qualify as a service animal.

To determine if an animal is a service animal, you may ask two questions:

• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

You may not ask these questions if the need for the service animal is obvious. Examples include when a dog is guiding an individual who is blind or is pulling a person’s wheelchair. In addition:

• You may not ask about the nature or extent of an individual’s disability
• You may not require proof that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a service animal
• You may not require the animal to wear an identifying vest or tag
• You may not ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the task or work training that distinguishes a service animal from other animals.

Some service animals may be professionally trained; others may have been trained by their owners. However, the task that the service animal is trained to do must be directly related to the owner’s disability.

Comfort and emotional support animals are not covered under the ADA.

For additional information contact Dana Gover, MPA, ADAC, Training & Technical Assistance Consultation

Northwest ADA Center-Idaho Email: dananwadacenteridaho@gmail.com ADA TA Hotline: voice and text 208-841-9422