Service Animals

Types of Service Animals

• Miniature Horses
• Capuchin Monkeys
• Cats
• Birds
• Rabbits
• Pigs
• Ferrets
• Dogs!

Service Dogs

Dogs make the best and one of the only animals recognized by the ADA as service animals. The only other is miniature horses. There are a few things that a service animal must have to be considered a legitimate service animal. These include:

1. Individually Trained: Service dogs undergo specialized training to perform tasks tailored to the specific needs of their handler.
2. Task-Based: The tasks a service dog performs are directly related to the handler's disability, such as guiding, alerting, or retrieving items.
3. Disability-Related: The individual using the service dog must have a recognized disability under legal definitions like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
4. Legal recognition: Under the ADA, service dogs are given public access rights, allowing them to accompany their handler into places where pets are not normally allowed.
5. Not the same as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Unlike ESAs, service dogs must perform specific tasks related to a disability.

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