Service dogs are an essential part of many individuals’ lives. These dogs are specially trained to provide support and assistance with particular tasks that a disabled individual may be unable to accomplish themselves. Most people acquire a dog that has already been trained to provide the assistance they require. However, some individuals who already have a dog may choose to have that dog trained as a service dog. If you’re in this situation, you’re likely wondering what such training can cost. Keep reading to learn more.
The Cost of Training
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to put a specific sticker price on what it will cost you to take your dog from a pet to a service animal. There are so many different factors that will influence your dog’s training and impact the total cost. A professional dog trainer may charge $150 or even $250 per hour for a private training session, so it will largely depend on how much time it takes for your dog to be fully trained. You may also be able to find service dog training for free in some places to help offset these costs. However, you can expect to spend several thousand dollars on properly training your dog to provide the service you need.
What Tasks Do You Need Done?
One of the major factors that will impact the total cost of your dog’s training is the exact task or tasks your dog needs to perform to assist you with your disability. For example, it will take a dog a lot more time to learn how to properly guide a blind person on the street than it will take them to learn to alert a hearing-impaired owner to someone at the door. The more complex the task, the longer it will take for the dog to learn, and the higher the cost of training will be.
How Obedient Is Your Dog?
Another major factor impacting how long it will take to train your dog-and therefore, how much it will cost to train them-is how obedient your dog is. If your dog is largely untrained in any way, they’ll need to learn basic obedience before they even begin their service training. On the other hand, a dog that is well trained and very obedient already is going to be able to learn the tasks they need to perform much more quickly.
Additionally, some dogs will simply pick up on training much more quickly than others. On average, a dog with previous obedience training can take between four and six months to be trained for just one service task. However, it can take up to two years for your dog to be fully trained to perform their necessary tasks in public, where there are bound to be things to distract them from their job.
How Much Training Can You Provide?
The final major factor impacting the cost of training your dog will be your ability to spend time working with your dog on their training. If you’re unable to help your dog work on learning their task on a daily basis, the entirety of your dog’s training will fall on the trainer and it will take much longer for your dog to learn the task. However, if you or someone else in your household can devote some time every day to practice and work with your dog, they will be able to learn their service task much more quickly.
Training your current canine companion to be a service dog allows you to receive the assistance you need from a service animal without needing to purchase another dog. If you’re hoping to train your dog as a service dog, look for service dog training in your area and begin your dog’s training as soon as possible. Once your dog is trained, National Service Animal Registry can help you register them and purchase a service dog vest for them.
Understanding the Difference Between Service Animals and ESAs
Imagine walking into a crowded airport with your companion animal by your side. You’re calm and collected because you know your furry friend offers you the support you need. But as questions from strangers start pouring in—“Is that a service dog?” or “What’s the difference between an ESA and a service animal?”—you realize the world isn’t as informed about these distinctions as it should be.
This guide aims to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the differences between Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Service Animals. By the end of this article, you’ll not only understand their distinct roles but also their legal protections, training requirements, and how they serve individuals with disabilities.
What Are Service Animals?
Service animals are specially trained animals—usually dogs—that assist individuals with disabilities by performing specific tasks. These tasks are directly related to the person’s disability, such as guiding the visually impaired, alerting those who are deaf, or providing stability to those with mobility challenges.
Key Characteristics of Service Animals:
Training: Rigorous, task-specific training is essential. Can be completed by the handler. No “official” training is required by a “certified” trainer.
Legal Protections: Covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to go out in public with their handler. Covered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to live with you in your home with NO pet fees. Covered under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to travel with you with NO pet fees.
Behavior: Must exhibit impeccable behavior in public settings.
Species: Limited to dogs and, in some cases, miniature horses.
Examples of Tasks Service Animals Perform:
Guiding a person with visual impairments.
Detecting blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes.
Interrupting self-harming behaviors in individuals with PTSD.
Legal Framework:
Under the ADA, service animals are not considered pets. Businesses can only 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?
What Are Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)?
Emotional Support Animals provide comfort and emotional relief to individuals with mental health conditions or emotional disorders. Unlike service animals, they do not require specialized training to perform specific tasks.
Key Characteristics of ESAs:
Purpose: Offer emotional support to alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions.
Legal Protections: Covered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to live with you in your home with NO pet fees).
Training: No specialized training is required.
Species: Can be any animal that provides comfort.
Benefits of ESAs:
Alleviate anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Provide a sense of purpose and routine.
Legal Framework:
The FHA allows individuals with ESAs to live in housing that may otherwise prohibit pets. However, ESAs are not granted public access rights like service animals.
ESA dog snuggled in handlers lap
Key Differences Between Service Animals and ESAs
Feature
Service Animals
Emotional Support Animals
Training
Task-specific training required
No training required
Legal Protections
ADA, FHA, ACAA
FHA
Public Access Rights
Full access under the ADA
No public access rights
Species
Dogs and miniature horses
Any animal
Practical Tips for Acquiring a Service Animal or ESA
Steps to Obtain a Service Animal:
Assess Your Needs: Determine if a service animal is necessary for your specific disability.
Find a Reputable Organization/Breeder: You can purchase almost any dog and train them yourself. You can purchase a dog and have them trained by a service dog trainer. Or, you can seek a reputable non-profit service dog training organization that may be able to pair you with a dog.
Understand Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with ADA protections (going out in public), the FHA (your housing rights), and the ACAA (your air travel rights).
1. Can my dog be both an ESA and a service animal? Yes, a dog may be both; however, a service animal has more rights than an ESA so if your dog is qualified as a service dog, it doesn’t make much sense to also identify them as an ESA as they have more rights than the ESA designation.
2. Do I need to register my ESA? No, it’s not required by law; however, it can often increase the chances that your ESA will be accommodated while out in public with helpful identification.
3. Can service animals be denied entry anywhere? Service animals are allowed in most public spaces, but exceptions include areas where their presence would compromise safety or hygiene, such as certain hospital zones.
4. Are ESAs allowed on airplanes? As of 2021, airlines are no longer required to accommodate ESAs under the ACAA for free. A handler may still be accommodated with their ESA provided they follow the airlines’ pet policies. However, service animals are still permitted for free.
5. How can I spot a fake service animal? It’s almost impossible to spot a fake service dog because as long as the handler has a disability and the animal has been trained to perform a task related to the individual’s disability, it is a service dog. However, while working the dog should be well-behaved and focused while working. This doesn’t mean they cannot be happy while out in public, but they should not be distracted by sounds and activities around them, they should not excessively bark (unless it’s their assigned task to alert others and/or their handler), and should not poop or pee in an establishment.
Conclusion
Understanding the differences between service animals and emotional support animals is the first step in making informed decisions. If you’re ready to take the next step, explore our comprehensive guide to obtaining an ESA letter or connect with a licensed therapist today. Share this article with others who may benefit from learning more about this critical topic.
Service dogs offer a lot of support to their owners. These special pups are there to provide guidance and emotional assistance to those who suffer from physical disabilities or severe psychiatric challenges. You’ve probably noticed service dogs wearing a vest when they’re out in public with their owners. While some believe that these vests are required by law, they’re actually not mandatory. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), states that service animals aren’t required by law to wear them in order to avoid acts of discrimination. Any discrimination towards disabled individuals should never be tolerated. It’s clear why these service animals aren’t required to wear these vests at all times. However, there are certain benefits to displaying the service dog vest when out in public settings. Here are a few reasons why it’s important for service dogs to wear their vests when they’re out hitting the town.
Shows They Have a Right to Be There
The public is becoming more aware of the benefits of service animals. Many business owners have become more “dog-friendly” or show their support for service dogs through signs on windows or entrances. However, others aren’t as thrilled to have animals entering their store, restaurant, or bank. Service animals wearing a noticeable vest aren’t normally hassled by business owners or other patrons. When the general public sees your service dog wearing a vest, they know that they have a right to be there. Even though it’s not required by law, it’s nice to show the public that this is a dog with a purpose. Both the service dog and their owner have the same rights as any person.
A Visible Form of Trust
Most people are quite surprised when they realize all of the different ways a service dog can help their owners. They can predict and prevent anxiety attacks, assist with seizures, and even keep track of a diabetic’s blood sugar. When a dog acts as a form of protection and assistance at this level, it’s important for the public to trust the animal. In the case of an emergency, if a service dog is not wearing a vest, the public may not be able to recognize that the animal is trying to help in certain circumstances. The service dog vest can act as a visible form of trust between the dog, the owner, and the community.
Avoid Dangerous Distractions
A service dog wearing a vest lets the community know they are trained and prepared to act in the event of an emergency. A service dog wearing a vest also signals to the public that they aren’t there to play. Dogs are loveable and engaging animals. It’s very common for people passing by to want to pet or play with your dog. It’s socially acceptable in most situations. However, a service dog shouldn’t be distracted or played with when they’re out with their owners. When they’re wearing their service dog vest, the public knows that this dog is working and needs to stay focused. If you have a service dog that could benefit from having a vest on in public, you should contact the National Service Animal Registry for more information on purchasing the right vest for your dog. Check out their service dog vest selection online today!
Service dogs keep those with physical handicaps safe and make it easier for individuals living with disabilities to have fulfilling, independent lives. To make sure your service dog isn’t turned away from a public place, it’s important to go through the service dog registration process. If you haven’t registered your four-legged companion yet, check out these tips for a smooth process.
Understand What Type of Support Your Dog Provides
While many people think of service dogs as providing assistance to people who have physical disabilities, they also offer support for people struggling with emotional challenges and personal traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder. When you register a service dog, you need to know the difference between a traditional service dog, an emotional support dog, and a therapy dog. Each of these classifications affords different privileges.
Service Dogs
These dogs are trained, certified, and recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Pups certified in the service dog registry under this classification have the most freedoms and can’t be turned away from public places. Your service pup gives you the following rights:
Fly with you at no extra charge
Enter restaurant establishments in the dining area
Landlords can’t charge additional rent or fees or turn you away from their building because you have a service pup
Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
These animals don’t undergo the same training as a service dog because their primary function is to provide comfort and support. It isn’t required to register an ESA. However, filling out paperwork with an organization like the National Service Animal Registry gives you documentation to support your claim that your dog is an emotional support animal. This documentation makes it easier to avoid the limitations placed on travel and living.
No professional training requirements are needed to register your emotional support dog. You will need a doctor’s note that proves the dog is beneficial for your treatment. Emotional support pups are great for people living with bipolar, anxiety, panic attacks, and other qualifying disorders.
Therapy Dogs
These dogs are used in classrooms, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers and have grown in popularity. They work with a handler and are used to help people overcome emotional and physical disabilities. Unlike ESA dogs and service dogs, these pups don’t have special legal permissions and can be denied entry into buildings and other public spaces.
Have Your Documents Ready
Once you’ve determined the category your support dog falls into, have your paperwork in order. When you have all your papers, you avoid delays and other obstacles.
Ask Questions
The best service dog registry groups welcome your questions. They offer many resources and additional training opportunities for their registrants. These groups want you and your support dog to feel welcome and comfortable anywhere you go.
To learn more about registering your dog, visit the National Service Animal Registry at Register Your Animal, and select from one of the 3 options: register your service dog, register your ESA, or register your therapy animal. Follow the step-by-step instructions to get your dog registered as quickly as possible.
The number of people with anxiety has significantly increased in the United States, and each person copes with and treats their anxiety differently. If you’re searching for ways to help you with your anxiety, you might want to consider getting an ESA letter for your pet and registering them for emotional support animal certification. How can an ESA letter help with your anxiety? Keep reading to find out.
Official ESA Status for Your Pet
The primary purpose of an ESA letter is to give your pet official ESA status. This lets people know that your animal companion is more than a pet, and having an ESA gives you certain privileges, such as traveling with your ESA without paying pet fares and living with your ESA in any housing without paying pet fees. This allows you to keep the comforting presence of your pet at your side more often, helping you to manage your anxiety more consistently.
Reduce Worry about Pushback
Unfortunately, there’s still a certain stigma about emotional support animals. Many people view them as frivolous and unnecessary and may even think that you’re just claiming your pet is an emotional support animal to avoid additional fees or for the sake of convenience. For people with anxiety, the fear of encountering this pushback (especially when traveling with their ESA) can actually worsen their symptoms of anxiety.
Having an official letter with you can reduce these worries because you know that you have official evidence from a certified medical professional of your ESA’s importance in helping with your medical condition. When you’re able to produce an ESA letter from your doctor and an official certificate of your animal’s status, you won’t receive pushback, and you can continue on your way without additional anxiety about someone trying to separate you and your ESA.
Avoid Separation Anxiety
If you rely on your pet to help calm your feelings of anxiety, being separated from them can be very stressful. When traveling with a pet, you aren’t guaranteed that your pet will be in the cabin with you. They may be placed under the plane, and if they are with you, you likely will have to keep them in a carrier. This separation can cause a lot of stress for those already dealing with anxiety.
When you have an ESA letter, your pet is allowed to stay with you at all times. You no longer have to deal with prolonged feelings of separation anxiety if you and your pet aren’t permitted to be together while traveling; your pet will instead be considered an essential medical treatment for you, and you’ll be allowed to hold them in your lap when traveling.
Reduce Financial Stresses
Money can be a point of worry for anyone, but for those with serious anxiety, financial stress can significantly increase already existing symptoms. A large and sudden expense can cause someone who is managing their anxiety to experience a panic attack, for example. And this is precisely the kind of thing that happens when trying to travel with or live with an animal that is not an ESA. Airlines, apartments, and other entities frequently charge fees if you want to have an animal with you – if they allow it at all – and these expenses can put a lot of strain on you if your finances are already tight.
An ESA letter and certification require one-time fees that you can easily plan for. Then, you no longer have to worry about paying pet fare on airlines or pet fees for housing. This takes some strain off your finances, potentially removing a trigger for your anxiety.
If you want to register your pet as an ESA, contact the National Service Animal Registry. We can provide you with more information, help you with registration, and even help you find an emotional support animal vest for your newly minted ESA companion.
Service animals are becoming a more common sight in society. Many people benefit from service animals for both practical and therapeutic reasons. For those who suffer from a range of debilitating conditions, service animals can help restore quality of life and provide peace of mind to those who use them. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the rights of those who use service animals, and as a result of federal regulations, service animals are more accepted now than ever before.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still myths, misconceptions, and inaccuracies present when it comes to service animals, the regulations that govern their usage, and the people who benefit from their service. Whether you have a service dog who performs specific tasks for you or an Emotional Support Dog (ESA dog) whose presence helps to mitigate the effects of psychological or emotional issues, you may encounter some of the following myths as you navigate the world with a service animal. Read on to learn more about some of the most common misconceptions pertaining to emotional support animal myths and discover the best ways to debunk them.
Myth 1: All Service Animals Are the Same
While it may be convenient to lump all service animals into one category, they actually fall into three distinct categories that are determined by the type of service they provide to their owners. Service dogs are canines that receive special training to perform tasks that their owners may not be able to complete themselves due to a specific disability.
Emotional support animals (ESA) aren’t trained to perform tasks but are instrumental in helping those who suffer from emotional and psychological conditions function in society. While not considered service dogs, ESAs can be legitimized with a letter from a licensed health care provider and ESA registration. Therapy dogs represent yet another class of service animal. They are similar to ESAs in the function they fulfill. However, instead of being assigned to a single owner, they are often used in group settings so that their benefits can be enjoyed by many people rather than a single owner.
Myth 2: Anyone Can Get an ESA
While it may be true that anyone can have a pet that brings emotional support and psychological benefits, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog or other animal qualifies as an ESA. For a pet to truly be formally considered as an ESA, a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or licensed mental health social worker must determine that an ESA will benefit you. Once the determination is made, the care provider issues a letter to legitimize your ESA. Those letters must be renewed each year to remain valid.
Myth 3: Only Service Dog Owners are Protected from Discrimination
Numerous pieces of legislation protect the rights of those who must use ESAs from being barred from public transportation, housing opportunities, and public facilities. For example, the Fair Housing Act protects the rights of tenants to keep their ESAs even when the landlord has an explicit ‘No Pets’ policy. Not only that, there is no charge for keeping the ESA. Landlords may however request to see documentation like an ESA letter for housing that proves the tenant’s need for an ESA. This protects the landlord from being duped and tenants from being discriminated against.
Housing is likewise protected for those with ESAs by the Fair Housing Act, as landlords can’t discriminate against those with emotional support dogs and can’t charge additional fees for the animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of disability and are required to make reasonable accommodations for the disabled. Those clauses extend to those who use ESAs, and employers can’t use emotional support animals as a reason to discriminate against job candidates or employees. However, hotels and restaurants aren’t required to grant access to those with emotional support dogs, though they are required to do so with service dogs.
Myth 4: ESA Dog Rules Vary by State
Service dog and ESA rules aren’t set at the state level but are instead governed by federal law. While there may be state regulations in place that augment or enhance access for those who use service animals and ESAs, the core rights of those who use both categories of animals are protected at the federal level by legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carriers Access Act.
If you think you could benefit from the use of a service animal or ESA, consider these myths when making an informed decision. To learn more about misconceptions surrounding service animals, visit the National Service Animal Registry.
Myth 5: Only Dogs Can be ESAs
Various domesticated animals, in addition to dogs, can qualify as emotional support animals. For example, ESAs can be cats, rabbits, ferrets, pigs, birds, and even miniature horses. An ESA should be well-mannered and not cause a nuisance to others. If your emotional support animal is a dog, it can be of any breed and size. However, this isn’t applicable to service animals since the ADA recognizes only dogs as service animals. It is important to note that an ESA is not considered a pet since it is essentially doing a job of providing you relief from your emotional disability through companionship.
Myth 6: All Emotional Support Animals are Service Animals
This is one of the common Emotional Support Animal myths. Emotional Support Animals are not service dogs. A service dog is specifically trained to perform certain tasks related to the disability of its handler. For example, a service dog can fetch medication and water, respond to seizures, pull a wheelchair, create a barrier between its handler and other people, interrupt self-harm, get help, act as a guide dog for the visually impaired, alert its handler, switch on lights, etc. But an ESA does not receive any formal training of this sort. The job of an ESA is to provide comfort and companionship to a person who is suffering from an emotional or psychiatric disability.
Myth 7: Anyone Can Get an ESA or a Service Animal
Typically, anyone who owns a pet draws emotional support and companionship from them. However, this does not make the pet an emotional support animal or service dog. To get an ESA or a service dog, you need intervention from a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP). An LMHP will first evaluate your mental health to determine whether you need one. Not everyone with a disability will need an ESA or a service dog. The responsibility of caring for an animal may become overbearing for some people. If your LMHP feels that your treatment can be augmented with an ESA and if you already own a pet, they will also verify whether the animal can provide emotional support and psychological benefits in times of need. If everything checks out, you will be issued a legitimate ESA letter.
Myth 8: Airline Carriers Have to Allow You to Fly with Your ESA in the Cabin
Previously, both ESAs and service dogs were covered under the Air Carrier Access Act which meant handlers could fly with them in the cabin without charge. Many people started taking advantage of the system and brought along poorly trained animals with them which caused a lot of inconvenience for fellow passengers. So in 2021, the rules were changed to exclude ESAs who now have to travel in a carrier with or without an ESA letter. Only service dogs who are trained to perform tasks related to physical, psychiatric, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities can travel in the cabin. Since this rule has come into effect recently, there has been a lot of speculation over it, which is why it has become a common emotional support animal myth.
Myth 9: You Can Take Your ESA or Service Animal Anywhere
Although you can stay with your ESA or service animal in an accommodation that does not allow pets, the same may not be applicable to all public places or business facilities. For example, non-pet-friendly grocery stores, restaurants, etc. may not allow your ESA. However, this is not always the case with service animals. A service animal can accompany you to movie theatres, restaurants, schools, museums, etc. Covered entities are required to modify their policies to accommodate a service animal. That being said, businesses hold the right to exclude the animals from their premises if their presence jeopardizes the safety of others. For example, if a service animal is not housebroken or is out of control, businesses may ask the handler to remove it from the facility. Hospitals may not allow such animals in the operating room, etc.
Myth 10: You Cannot Get a Legitimate ESA Letter Online
While being a common emotional support animal myth, it cannot be any further from the truth. The basis of this myth is the rising number of fraudulent companies that scam people with fake ESA letters. This is why it is important to be cautious. One of the ways to identify the legitimacy of an ESA letter is through the intervention of an LMHP.
National Service Animal Registry provides a platform to order legitimate ESA letters. Once the order is placed, you will need to answer a set of questions. Based on your answers and your zip code, an LMHP will be assigned to you who will diagnose your condition and determine whether an ESA is necessary. If approved, an ESA letter will be provided to you on the official letterhead of the LMHP. Get your ESA letter today.
If you think you could benefit from the use of a service animal or ESA, consider these myths when making an informed decision. To learn more about misconceptions surrounding service animals, visit the National Service Animal Registry.
While dogs don’t require any task-specific training to register as an ESA, they’re expected to be well-behaved in public. So, if your dog needs a little extra training before they can be treated as an ESA in public areas, then it’s time to get started. But first, you’ll need the right leash. Here are a few tips for choosing the best service dog leash for training your dog.
What Kind of Training Are You Doing?
The exact type of leash you need is going to depend on the exact type of training your dog needs. Do they need to learn to walk without pulling? Do they need to work on staying close to you when you’re out on a walk? Do they need to work on obeying commands when there are distractions around? Different types of leashes will work best for different types of training, so keep this question in mind as you continue reading and as you shop for service dog leashes and collars.
Long Leashes
A long leash can be over 30 feet long and isn’t generally used for everyday walks. Instead, it’s a training tool that allows your pup to work on obeying commands when they’re in an uncontrolled environment.
For example, if your dog needs to work on coming to you when you call, even when there are other dogs around, you might take them to the park and clip on the long lead. You are then able to put distance between yourself and your pet as you work on their obedience, but you can still retain control with the long lead if they decide to try to chase down another dog that’s passing by. This can make it more likely that your dog will obey your commands, even if they’re not restrained or in a contained, controlled setting.
Short Leashes
Short leashes give you increased control over your dog during walks. They’re usually about 4 feet long or shorter, and can be used for everyday walks. Most often, they’re used by people who walk their dogs in larger urban areas, as these leashes keep your dog close to your side and out of the way of any pedestrian or vehicle traffic nearby.
Short leashes are also great for training a service dog to stay close to your side while walking or to obey the “heel” command. Many individuals with service dogs also use short leashes on everyday walks while utilizing a service dog harness.
Slip Leads
Last but not least, slip leads combine both the collar and the leash into one slipover piece. They’re an excellent tool for training a dog not to pull against the leash when on walks. They’re also valuable for training a service dog to focus their attention on you instead of on the things around them. A slip lead is positioned behind the dog’s ears and under the chin and applies gentle correction to redirect your dog’s attention.
The goal of a slip lead isn’t to use it as your go-to walking leash, but to retrain your dog for proper leash behavior. Hopefully, after using the slip lead for a while and focusing some time on retraining your pet, you will no longer need to use the slip lead and can graduate them to a standard leash for everyday walks.
If you’re looking for a service dog leash to provide your dog with some extra training, check out our online store for high-quality leashes and collars.
If you have ever seen an emotional support animal or service dog, they have likely been wearing a vest that states their status as a working animal. Service dog or emotional support animal vests are not required by law, but they can be beneficial to have. Read on to learn more about emotional support dog and service dog vests, how to measure your dog for one, and what to consider when purchasing one.
Are Vests Required for Emotional Support Dogs or Service Animals?
The law does not require emotional support dogs to wear vests. However, they are very helpful to have, and most experts recommend them. Vests make your dog easily recognizable as an emotional support animal or service animal. This can cut down on a lot of confusion and stress when you are entering public locations or traveling with your dog. Without a clear marker of your dog’s status, you may be met with resistance when trying to make your way through the world with your dog. With an ESA or service dog vest, however, everyone will be able to tell that your dog is an emotional support animal or service dog and should not be treated as an average pet.
Measuring Your Dog
Before you start searching for emotional support dog vests, you will need to measure your dog. This is to ensure that you get the right size vest for your dog. If the vest is too large, your dog will be able to slip right out of it. If it’s too small, it could dig into your dog’s body and hurt them. To measure your pup, you will need a flexible measuring tape. Wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of his or her rib cage. Usually, vests are adjustable and can be worn by dogs in a range of sizes. Use their measurement and the sizing chart provided by the manufacturer to see what size is best for your dog.
Material
Vests for emotional support animals or service dogs are available in a range of different fabrics. Different materials are better suited for different climates. For service dogs in hot and humid areas, a mesh vest is ideal. For other areas, vests made of cotton and other breathable materials are the best choice. Try to avoid synthetic materials as they may be uncomfortable for your dog.
Mesh Vests: This type is ideal for ESAs in warm climates.
Lightweight Cotton Vests: This is a standard vest that is suitable for all temperatures. Some of them come with pockets and ID tag holders.
Padded Vests: These vests are heavier and better for being outdoors in the cold weather. They will often have handles on them to provide more control.
Backpack Vests: If you need to carry a lot of things, consider getting a backpack vest for your dog. This style has pockets designed for this purpose.
Patches
The vest must also have the right patches on it so your dog can easily be identified when out in public. The patch should denote your dog as an emotional support animal or service dog. This way, people will not perceive your dog as a pet but rather a working dog, and they will be less likely to try to pet them. You may also want to put something on the vest that says “Do Not Pet” or “Working Dog.” Some people may not know what an ESA is and may try to pet your dog anyway; with an additional sign, they will know not to distract your dog.
Reach out to us at the National Service Animal Registry to learn more about buying a vest for your service animal.
Everyone wants to have an animal companion. After all, there’s a certain romance in the idea of being accompanied by a dog anywhere you go. And it seems that many people today are lured by the ease of just calling Fido a service dog and letting the dream of that constant companion come true. Once a service dog, they can take their beloved pet to the movie theatres, to restaurants and to malls.
Very appealing, right?
Perhaps on the surface. But there’s a reason real service dogs exist and it’s not for the luxury of having pet companion everywhere. By faking a service dog, you create unfortunate—albeit unseen, in many cases—consequences for both those who actually have service dogs, due to a need, and for businesses who try to comply.
Think about it:
Would you pretend to be handicapped to get the best parking? Would you pretend to be a veteran to get discounts? Pretending to have a service dog is no less morally dubious, and yet it seems people are ready to excuse themselves in this particular instance—perhaps because it has become so commonplace that the ethics are easier to ignore. Or perhaps a sense of entitlement develops where pets are concerned.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand that faking a service dog has a negative impact on the community.
What is a service animal?
Service animals are dogs (and in some cases, miniature horses) trained to perform major life tasks to assist people with physical or severe psychiatric impairments or disabilities.
Note that they have special training—not just to help the person whom they work for in essential tasks, but to behave in a certain way in public in order to be unobtrusive. For example: no barking, no begging, and most definitely no growling or other form of aggression towards others. They also know to tuck themselves out of the way under a table or between their human’s legs to create little to know disturbance to others. These are working animals.
Where can service dogs go?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public must in general allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.
This of course is the appeal of pretending to have service dog—they are allowed nearly everywhere, so long as they don’t create a potential hazard (such as in an operating room). However, you should remember that you’re not just pretending that your dog is a service dog. You’re pretending that you are a person in need of a service dog.
Who needs a service dog?
For a person to legally qualify to have a service dog, he/she must have a physical impairment (or severe psychiatric impairment) that substantially limits his/her ability to perform at least one major life activity without assistance. There are no limitations with respect to the kinds of impairments and disabilities this applies to.
So, in other words, if you pretend your dog is a service dog, you are also pretending that you have a physical or psychiatric impairment.
How faking a service dog undermines the people who really need them
Every time an untrained dog passing as a service makes a mistake in public—such as jumping up on people, growling, etc.—it creates a bad impression of service dogs. This might not seem terribly consequential if you’re only faking your service dog and don’t really have a need. But for those who really are dependent on their service dog, the bad rap they are getting from all the fake “service dogs” creates extra stress.
For example, if a restaurant had a bad experience with a phony service dog in the past, they may be less than welcoming to an individual with a well-trained, professional service dog. It can be incredibly frustrating for those with real service dogs to have to explain again and again that their service dog is actually trained to provide assistance in every day life and will not cause disruption.
Even more horrifying are the cases in which fake service dogs have attacked and wounded—or in some cases even killed—real, highly trained service dogs, something that is horrible for many reasons, not least of which is that the impaired person is now without their necessary support. Faking a service dog puts both the reputation and the lives of real service dogs in jeopardy.
Faking a service dog can also stress out the greater community.
Why faking a service dog hurts the community
A person with a service dog is not required by law to carry documentation. Furthermore, business owners can only ask two questions of anyone who has a service dog: “Is it a service animal?” and “What is it trained to do?”
Any other question, such as inquiries into the particulars of an individual’s disability, for example, is strictly prohibited.
And herein lies the apparent ease of faking a service dog: Because you are not required to carry documentation and business owners don’t want to risk a lawsuit by asking too many questions, they often let the dog enter, even if the veracity of the dog’s status seems questionable.
The problem is that faking a service dog not only undermines people with real disabilities, it also creates a tough situation for businesses. For example, imagine a restaurant that has to deal with people faking service dogs that are untrained for this sort of social setting. These dogs might bark, whimper, whine, beg, or even relieve themselves in that space, annoying other customers and even driving them away, thus putting business owners in an unfair bind.
This is part of the reason that a widespread flagrance of the law has now led to the laws being more strictly enforced.
New enforcements on service dog laws
In the last 3 years, many states across the country have signed legislation to enforce punishment of people falsely claiming a service dog. Punishment in most cases includes a fine and a misdemeanor charge. The hope is that the new laws will discourage such rampant abuse of the service dog title. A real service dog has a serious job to do.
While these laws will hopefully help to mitigate the negative impression fake service dogs give to the world, those with real service dogs may want to consider getting their animals registered to avoid confrontation and hassle.
Why register your service dog?
Registration is not federally mandated or compulsory, but voluntary. While it may seem that registering is unfair, it can really make your daily life easier. Registering your service dog not only legitimizes your dog (making him/her look official) but eliminates nearly all the hassles and confrontation you’ll encounter without it
That’s the reason National Service Animal Registry exists: To make life easier and less problematic for the disabled! Several members of the NSAR staff group are disabled and attest to how much easier it has been to take their animals in public after they were registered and attired appropriately.
Emotional support animals are a great help to their owners; their job is to provide comfort to their owners and make living with a mental health condition easier. These pets are prescribed by a licensed mental health professional and, usually, have been added to an ESA registration list. Thanks to federal laws, people are not allowed to deny you housing or prevent you from flying with an ESA. But can you bring your pet with you to other public places, such as restaurants? Keep reading to learn more.
Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in Restaurants?
The simple answer is that it depends. Unlike service dogs who are allowed to go anywhere with their owner, ESAs are only allowed to go into stores and restaurants that have pet-friendly policies. Service dogs have been trained to perform a specific task to help those with physical and mental disabilities. They are also protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), whereas emotional support animals are not.
But this doesn’t mean that you can’t bring your ESA with you when you go out to eat. Stores and restaurants set their own policies on whether or not to allow animals into their establishments. Do some research to find a pet-friendly restaurant before you go out. Call ahead and ask about their policy on emotional service animals. Additionally, some states have their own laws and regulations about bringing ESAs to public locations. Check your local laws to see if you are prohibited from bringing a support animal to a restaurant.
Being Considerate in Public Spaces
If you are allowed to bring your ESA into a restaurant, it’s crucial that you are both considerate of the restaurant owners and other guests. It is thoughtful to call in advance to ask about their policies, but also to let them know when you plan to go out to eat. This will let them make any necessary arrangements before you arrive, so both you and the other guests will be comfortable.
Additionally, you should train your pet to behave in public when they are around other people and exciting stimuli-like plates of food. Since ESAs aren’t required to undergo any special training, it’s up to you to teach your pet to be well-behaved. A trained pet has a better chance of being allowed in a restaurant over a badly behaved one. It also helps to visibly identify your dog as an ESA by putting a vest or collar on it and have the proper registration and documentation with you to validate your claim.
Getting the Right Documentation
Though they may not ask for proof outright, it is often helpful to carry your ESA’s documentation with you while in public. With this information, you can further validate your claim that your emotional support animal should be allowed to accompany you into the restaurant. Be sure to have an official letter from your licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist, as well as any registration documents. This will make it easier to gain access to restaurants, stores, hotels, and other public places when you’re with your ESA.
To learn more about emotional support dog certification and how to bring your ESA with you in public, visit the National Service Animal Registry.
FAQs About Emotional Support Dogs & Other Animals in Restaurants
When Are Emotional Support Animals Allowed in Restaurants?
Compared to service dogs, Emotional Support Animals have very few legal rights when it comes to taking them out in public places. For example, a restaurant is not legally required to allow an emotional support animal if they have a ‘No Pets’ policy. But a service dog, on the other hand, is allowed everywhere. The only instance when an emotional support dog can be allowed in a restaurant is when you have an official letter from your therapist mentioning that the ESA is a part of your treatment for anxiety, depression, panic attack, or any other psychological or emotional disorder. Naturally, confrontations are commonplace in restaurants and other public places when your ESA accompanies you. The good news is you can avoid such situations by ordering an ESA letter and a registration kit from us. We provide these kits for your companion cat, dog, bird, miniature horse, rabbit, ferret, etc. These will serve as the necessary documentation that you can produce to the restaurant owner when they ask you about your four (or two)-legged companion.
Can a Restaurant Ask for Proof of Service Dog?
Yes. When you walk into a restaurant with your service dog, the owner can ask you the following two questions in accordance with ADA laws:
Is the service dog trained to aid a disability?
What tasks can the service dog perform?
According to the ADA, a restaurant has to make necessary modifications to allow a service dog in the establishment. Some restaurants abuse these laws and ask unnecessary questions which causes a lot of harassment for handlers. Keep in mind that a restaurant staff or owner cannot ask the following questions:
Are you disabled?
What is your disability?
What is your identification?
Where was your dog trained?
A restaurant owner also cannot ask you to make the dog demonstrate its tasks. If you feel that a restaurant is being discriminatory, you can report the incident to the ADA. This will result in a hefty fine for the owner.
However, the rules are different for an emotional support animal. It is not a compulsion for a restaurant to allow an ESA. They may ask to see a letter from your therapist exclusively stating that the ESA has been prescribed for the treatment of your disability.
Do Restaurants Still Have to Allow Service Animals If they Have a “No Pets” Policy?
A service animal is not a pet. According to the rules stipulated by the ADA, a service dog must be allowed to accompany the handler to all areas of the facility where all customers are allowed to go. A person with a service animal should be treated the same way as any other customer. This means that restaurants with a ‘No Pets’ policy will need to make an exception for service animals.
But are ESA dogs allowed in restaurants with a ‘No pet’ policy? Yes. But if you do not have the right documentation, the decision will be at the restaurant’s discretion.
Should Service Animals and Emotional Support Dogs be Allowed to Eat at Restaurant Tables?
While your service animal or ESA can be allowed to accompany you to a restaurant, they are not permitted to eat off the table. Restaurant seating, food, and drinks are usually for customers only.
It’s important to realize that neither an ESA nor a service dog is a pet. They are employed to do a job that they have received training for, which is why we need to maintain stricter regulations with them than we would with a regular pet. That being said, eating from the table is unsafe for dogs because it can cause severe digestive problems since human food is not meant for them. It can also lead to negative behavioral problems.
What Can I Do If an ESA or a Service Animal Bothers Another Customer?
An ESA or a service dog is the sole responsibility of its handler. When it is exhibiting disruptive behavior in a restaurant like growling and barking at other customers or being aggressive to them, staff can ask the handler to bring the animal under control. If the animal continues to be disruptive, the handler can be asked to remove the animal from the facility. That being said, the handler should be given the option to continue enjoying their food without the animal or return to the restaurant without it.
The ESA or the service dog can return to the restaurant unless they are being disruptive again. However, extreme situations like biting or attacking staff or customers can warrant a permanent or temporary ban for the animal.
Can Restaurants Charge a Maintenance or Cleaning Fee for Service Animals?
No. As per the ADA rules, you cannot be charged a maintenance or cleaning fee or a surcharge for bringing your emotional support dog in a restaurant. However, a restaurant can charge a fee if the service animal or the ESA causes damage to the restaurant’s property. This will only be applicable if the same policy applies to other non-disabled customers. It is important to know your rights when you bring a service dog or an emotional support animal with you to any public place. This will prevent unnecessary hassles for you and your companion.
Know the Difference Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is neither a regular pet nor a service animal. A service dog not only provides companionship but can also perform necessary tasks like preventing panic attacks, bringing medicine and water, pulling a wheelchair, calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. While a service dog, which is covered under the ADA, can be taken anywhere – in restaurants, stores, public transportation, etc., a regular pet cannot. This answers the common question of whether service dogs are allowed in restaurants. But are ESAs allowed in restaurants? The case of an ESA falls somewhere between a service animal and a regular pet. An ESA is a legal designation and serves as a companion animal for their owner. While dogs are recognized as service animals primarily, an ESA can be a dog, a cat, a bird, or even a miniature horse. An animal can only be considered an Emotional Support Animal if it has been prescribed by a licensed therapist for a patient diagnosed with psychological or emotional disabilities like anxiety, depression, etc. This means an ESA can only be allowed in a restaurant when you have a prescription from your health professional denoting the animal is a part of your treatment.
WHICH SERVICE "TYPE" SHOULD I SELECT?
Guide: This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if you experience vision problems and your dog is trained to guide you in public settings.
Hearing Alert: This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if your dog is trained to alert you to sounds that you are unable to hear or identify, such as alarm clocks, doorbells, telephones, automobile sounds, and other important sounds you have trouble identifying.
In Training: If your dog is being trained to become a service dog, but isn't quite ready to qualify for registration, "In Training" is the service type you should select. Although service dogs that are in training have no federally protected rights, many public places allow you access with your service dog in training.
Medical Assist: This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if your dog is trained to assist you when experiencing a physical situation in which you can't perform a major life task for yourself (retrieve items, open doors, turn on lights, etc.).
Mobility: This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if your dog is trained or able to provide stability and support for substantial balance or walking problems because of a physical disability.
PSA (Psychiatric Service Animal): This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if your psychiatric or emotional disability substantially limits your ability to perform a major life task and your dog is trained to perform or help perform the task for you. A letter from a licensed therapist or psychiatrist that clearly indicates this is required.
Seizure Alert: This type is regarded as a "working service dog". Choose this type if your dog is trained or able to either predict a seizure or to get assistance from another person at the onset of a seizure.
SERVICE DOG VS. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that, by its very presence, mitigates the emotional or psychological symptoms associated with a handler's condition or disorder. The animal does NOT need to be trained to perform a disability-specific task. All domesticated animals (dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, hedgehogs, rodents, mini-pigs, etc.) may serve as an ESA. The only legal protections an Emotional Support Animal has are 1) to fly with their emotionally or psychologically disabled handler in the cabin of an aircraft and 2) to qualify for no-pet housing. No other public or private entity (motels, restaurants, stores, etc.) is required to allow your ESA to accompany you and in all other instances, your ESA has no more rights than a pet.
You'll also need to be prepared to present a letter to airlines and property managers from a licensed mental health professional stating that you are emotionally disabled and that he/she prescribes for you an emotional support animal.
If you do not have a letter of prescription and are unable to get one, we recommend that you consider Chilhowee Psychological Services. This agency offers legitimate psychometric testing, assessment, diagnosis, AND a letter of prescription from a licensed mental health professional. Click here to view their website.
A final note: Some animals are innately able to predict the onset of a physical or psychiatric event or crisis, effectively enabling the handler to prevent or minimize the event. This is an ability that usually cannot be trained - some animals are simply born with the ability to sense the onset of the event. These types of animals, although not otherwise task-trained, are considered "working" service animals.
VIP Pass
Normally, emailed PDF copies are processed and sent the afternoon an order is shipped. It usually takes 2 - 4 business days to process and complete an order once we've received the image of your animal, although that can fluctuate, depending on the number of registrations we've received.
VIP Pass is an optional service that places your order ahead of all other orders in front of you (we usually have between 80 - 140 orders to process each weekday). So, your registration kit will ship either the day you order it (if the order is placed before 10:00 AM mountain time) or the very next business day GUARANTEED! Of course, you'll need to make sure you upload or email us an image of your animal immediately!
VIP Pass is not overnight or next day delivery. To have your order delivered "overnight", please contact our office to order and pay for Next Day Delivery. (1-866-737-3930 or info@nsarco.com).
