We can sometimes underestimate how important animals are to our lives. If you've ever seen a service animal at work, however, you may witness how useful animals can be. Even an untrained animal can be a companion, a protector, and a friend, but service animals do all that and more. In many cases, a service animal can literally save your life.
Back to topTypes of Service Animals
There are a few different varieties of service animals. The most well-known is a guide animal or, as it's better known, the seeing eye dog. They are trained specifically to guide the blind and vision-impaired.
There are hearing animals, who work with the deaf and hard of hearing. Another form of guide animal, hearing animals alert their owners to any noises, good or bad, that they should be aware of, from a car crash to a ringing phone.
There are many other types of service animals. People confined to wheelchairs, for example, find that a service animal can reach things that they can’t. Also, if you experience seizures, a service dog can be trained to assist you. Dogs can often predict seizures, can call for help if one occurs, physically blocking you from hurting yourself, and more.
Service animals don’t always need to be active, they can be appreciated as comfort animals. If you've ever been to a rest home, for example, you may have noticed a few resident cats roaming around. they're simply a different kind of service animal. Cats and dogs alike are great mood-boosters.
The fact is that service animals can be a boon to any number of different types of people with different challenges. Therapy animals are useful for any number of issues, from post-traumatic stress disorder to antisocial behavior to autism. There are hundreds of different conditions that can be helped with a service animal, although the choice of whether or not to get one is often a personal one.
Back to topService Animal Varieties
When you think of service animals, you probably think of dogs, and there's a good reason for that; the majority of service animals are dogs. Dogs have been helping us out, in one way or another, for the last fifteen thousand years, so there shouldn't be any surprise that they're still doing it today.
Service animals aren't limited to dogs, however. We've already discussed therapy cats and the great effect they can have on mood. And although more rare, there are also helper monkeys. Helper monkeys are a type of highly-trained service animal trained specifically to help people with mobility issues. With their high intelligence and dexterity, a helper monkey can perform a wide variety of services. They can prepare food, turn switches, fetch medicines, and much more.
And while they're a much rarer sight, there are also therapy horses. As you might imagine, a full-size horse isn't the easiest animal to get in and out of a building, so miniature horses are often used. A mini horse is about the size of a dog, and just about as cute. Service horses can be used to guide the blind just like a dog and, due to their larger size and strength, a miniature horse can also pull wheelchairs, and have better eyesight than dogs.
Back to topService Animal Laws
So, what is the legal status of service animals? The short answer is that, as far as property laws and restrictions go, a service animal is not treated like normal animals. As the ADA puts it, a business may ban pets from entering, but a service animal is no pet.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, commonly known as the ADA, it is illegal for any business to discriminate against individuals based on their disability. An individual with a service animal has the legal right to enter any business with their animal, regardless of the business' policy on animals.
If an individual with a service animal enters a business, they are entitled to certain rights under the ADA. They cannot, based on their disability or the presence of the service animal, be segregated, turned away, or charged any kind of fee.
There are, however, a few exceptions. If the service animal isn't provoked but is acting in a violent, destructive, or otherwise aggressive manner, you can still get kicked out. Much like a badly behaving customer, a service dog, and thus their owner, can be removed if they're acting in a dangerous manner.
Also, if the inclusion of the service animal would disrupt business in some huge way—like a service dog that is continuously barking during a movie, for example—they may be excluded. But these cases are fairly rare; if trained right, a service animal will be the best-behaved customer in the place. These rights don’t extend to private property, however.
Back to topIdentifying Service Animals
So how do you identify a service animal? Usually, it's pretty easy. They typically have harnesses or other equipment not seen on normal dogs, and will often have some kind of identification. However, according to the Department of Justice, a service animal doesn't require any of these identifiers.
And while most states do have a certification process for service animals, service animal owners are not required to carry those papers on them. In short, if you have a service animal, you are not required to carry around paperwork proving it, and business owners are legally barred from insisting on seeing certification.
Back to top
Blog comments
In reply to Hi Erica, by Bryan
Diabetes dogs are trained to
Diabetes dogs are trained to sense changes in blood glucose levels both high and low. They can also remind you to take medications.
In reply to Diabetes dogs are trained to by Kia (not verified)
Hi Kia,
Hi Kia,
Thank you for sharing!
Hi, I'm in tx and I&#039
Hi, I'm in tx and I'm on Ssi/ssdi and can not work and in desperate need of a service dog but can't afford 10,000 for one does anyone have any info or websites or numbers that can help me get a service dog. And does medicaid pay for one if so which one will or who do I call about that?
In reply to Hi, I'm in tx and I' by ashley (not verified)
Hi Ashley,
Hi Ashley,
You may want to contact the office in your state that administers Medicaid benefits, they may be able to help you find a service animal.
I have been on disability for
I have been on disability for about 8 years and I have a year old shepherd/Husky mix that I want to get trained as a service dog. She is extremely smart and could do a great deal of things for me both at home and out in the world. I've checked into the cost and it will be about $4000 for the training and registration. I think it's a little more because she isn't a puppy maybe? Of course, being on SSD, I definitely do not have the money and no way to get it. We live in Ft. Lauderdale, FL - do you know of any aid I can get here?
In reply to I have been on disability for by Valerie Gitt (not verified)
HI Valerie,
HI Valerie,
You may need to contact the office in Florida that handles service dog registration, they may have some resources for you regarding service dog training.
I live in corpus Christi
I live in corpus Christi Texas and I'm on SSI and disability.. I have sent a letter from my neruologest to Medicaid,my neruologest stated in the letter that I would benefit from having a service animal due to having seziurs,but haven't had much luck getting one... Could someone please send me in the right direction. I've been having about four seziurs a day lately... I'm at a loss. Thank you Trish Young
In reply to I live in corpus Christi by Trish (not verified)
Hi Trish,
Hi Trish,
You may want to contact the office in Texas that administers Medicaid benefits, they may be able to help you find a service animal.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I live in At and an amputee.
I live in At and an amputee. Whether in my wc or my prosthetic leg I tend to fall a lot. Will medicare help.pay for a service dog? Thank you
In reply to I live in At and an amputee. by Teresa Caraway (not verified)
Hi Teresa,
Hi Teresa,
You may want to contact the office in your state that administers Medicare, they may be able to give you more information about your state's coverage of service animals.
can you get a monkey for
can you get a monkey for depression and anxiety?
In reply to can you get a monkey for by lark (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
I really could not say as laws about owning an exotic animal vary by state.
Hi Im currently living in
Hi Im currently living in Denver and I'm low income. Are there any places or resources that help to register a dog as a emotional support animal free? I suffer with ptsd bad anxiety bipolar disorder and severe mood swings. My dog helps keep me grounded especially since I was just diagnosed with lupus a few months ago.
In reply to Hi Im currently living in by Kimberly (not verified)
Hi Kimberly,
Hi Kimberly,
You can register your dog as a support dog with the National Service Animal Registry.
Best Wishes,
Eric
hi I'm Dakota I am
hi I'm Dakota I am wondering if texas SSI would cover the cost of a service dog, I am physically disabled and have bad balance I have been falling out of bed more and my shower I have given myself two concussions in the past six months if someone can help please contact me with my email
In reply to hi I'm Dakota I am by Dakota Frazier (not verified)
Hi Dakota,
Hi Dakota,
You may want to contact the office in your state that administers medicaid, they would know about the specific coverage you have in Texas.
My daughter is disabled and
My daughter is disabled and her doctors feel she could benefit for a service dog . Who can we email or call in state Wisconsin
In reply to My daughter is disabled and by Mary Doering (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
There are various resources online where one can apply for a service dog in Wisconsin.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Hello I have a handicap
Hello I have a handicap brother who is now 30 years old and my parents are in their late 60 still caring for him. Never don't get much rest during the night because they are constantly worried that my brother will have a seizure or get hurt during the day due to getting a seizure and them not being near by. They are getting too old and need rest. Where can I apply for an organization that will offer a service dog for free as they are on a fixed income. I live in CA please help..
In reply to Hello I have a handicap by Jess (not verified)
Hi Jess,
Hi Jess,
I am very sorry to hear that. Fortunately there are a lot of resources available online where someone can apply for a service dog in California.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My grandson was bit in the
My grandson was bit in the face by a dog and had 7 surgeries on his face I would like to know how he could get a service dog he's not afraid of animals it's people because the hospital we first went to kept standing with the IV eight times so now he's free to people because of this
In reply to My grandson was bit in the by Inez (not verified)
Hi Inez,
Hi Inez,
I am so sorry to hear that. There are many resources for service dogs online that would be much more better suited to accurately answer that question.
Hi I just wanted to ask you
Hi I just wanted to ask you if applying for disability means that you would also benefit from a service dog (I suffer from pretty debilitating migraines). I'm a student who's going to go back to school in the spring (after six months off) and just wanted to have in mind when I go to my college's disability office. Thank you.
In reply to Hi I just wanted to ask you by Christin Grant (not verified)
Hi Christin,
Hi Christin,
Applying for disability benefits does not really have any bearing on the use of a service dog.
I live in Missouri and wanted
I live in Missouri and wanted to know if there are ways of getting a service dog on a very limited budget? I am on disability and have limited funds.
In reply to I live in Missouri and wanted by Mariellen Roberts (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Social Security unfortunately does not cover service dogs. There are a lot of resources available online where someone can apply for a service dog in Missouri.
I have recently been deemed
I have recently been deemed disabled and i am very interested in acquiring a service dog, i live in Virginia beach and i have no idea of where to start to look for a Companion.
In reply to I have recently been deemed by Lucretia (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Sadly, Social Security does not cover service animals. There are great resources online for them though.
Does Florida Medicaid pay for
Does Florida Medicaid pay for Diabetic service dogs? I already have a dog I would like to train.
In reply to Does Florida Medicaid pay for by Madison Helms (not verified)
Hi Madison,
Hi Madison,
I really can't accurately answer that question. That would be better suited for the medicare office. Best of luck.
Hi how do I find out if idaho
Hi how do I find out if idaho does I need one for my seiziours
In reply to Hi how do I find out if idaho by Joyanna Tietje (not verified)
Hi Joyanna,
Hi Joyanna,
I really can't say for sure. http://www.idaho.gov/ could be a good start though.
Hello. I am permanently and
Hello. I am permanently and severely disabled, and had an extremely well behaved animal that was my companion animal in every way, except for legally. I was beginning to research how to have her certified as an official companion animal, but she passed away suddenly, about two years ago. I took her to the vet one day, and she was diagnosed with a "slight sickness". I was given medication for her, and the next day, she collapsed while be let outside. Despite rushing her to an emergency vet, they claimed there was nothing they could do to save her. She was so intelligent and well behaved, I do not believe I could possibly manage to get another animal on my own, and luck out as much as I did with her. I've been disabled for approximately 10 years now, and she was about 7 years old, when she passed away. I had adopted her as a puppy from a family member's farm. Basically, she chose me. While looking at the puppies, she came over and laid beside me, as if she were waiting for me to finish looking at the puppies that would go on to be someone else's animals. She was amazing. With one exception, she basically house broke herself, and despite her love of dropped crumbs and food, she would back slowly away from me, should I accidentally drop any medication, which was always a huge fear of mine, that she would rush in and eat some medication I was prescribed, and it would harm her. She was the most intelligent and loyal animal I have ever had the honor of meeting. I have only recently been able to cope with the loss enough to consider getting another animal, but I am worried that, unless I can find an animal that can live up to her impressive history, I would never be able to develop the bond that she and I shared. How would I go about finding a qualified and capable animal in my area (I live in central Arkansas)? Thank you.
In reply to Hello. I am permanently and by Steve (not verified)
Hi Steve,
Hi Steve,
I am sorry to hear about dog, that's hard. Unfortunately I do not any services to recommend as that is not something we usually handle. Maybe talk to your family member that you got your last dog at? Good luck!
I have a 5 yr old child that
I have a 5 yr old child that was diagnosed with autism and has anxiety real bad due to changes with custody. My ex refuses the child’s animals any and all of them says he can’t have them at his trailer says it’s in his lease which it is not. I talked to his landlord on Friday or yesterday he said he didn’t care as long as the dog was kept up in the house and left with the child I stopped by the following day and talked with him and my ex and his live in gf had talked with him already and he was very RUDE and said NO the dog can’t be over there and I even reminded him I had a letter from my sons psychiatrist that stated he needed a support animal for his distress and he still refused the child animal. Is there any hope for me on this what are my choices in the case and we live in Alabama
In reply to I have a 5 yr old child that by Samantha (not verified)
Hey Samantha,
Hey Samantha,
There may be resources in Alabama who could be able to hep you with that. However, your health insurance will not be able to cover the service dog.
I have MS, among other things
I have MS, among other things (COPD is one). I get $770 a month from SSI. That will not pay for a service dog. I live at 9,000 ft in the Rocky Mountains and am alone most of the day. I have fallen a few times. I use a walker when I really need to, but I try to walk on my own as they told me in inpatient rehab. How do I apply for a service dog that is both assistant and protector (because I live in a very isolated area), preferably a German Shepherd, through Medicaid in Colorado?
In reply to I have MS, among other things by Katrina (not verified)
Hi Katrina,
Hi Katrina,
I would recommend speaking with a representative from Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program).
My husband is 68 and disabled
My husband is 68 and disabled. Can I talk on the phone to anybody. He is a100% disabled Viet Nam vet and retired for longevity. Thank you. Kathi Fink, 208-691-0055. He had another stroke 9/6/19.
In reply to My husband is 68 and disabled by Kathi Fink (not verified)
Hi Kathi,
Hi Kathi,
We are not associated with the SSA, but if you would like to give them a call, their number is 1-800-772-1213. They should be able to go over the details of your case.
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