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If Emotional Support Animals Are Banned From Planes

Airlines are lobbying for stricter rules regarding emotional support animals on airplanes. In recent years, the number of people flying with an emotional support animal has ballooned and airlines feel frustrated by what they feel are people blatantly taking advantage of the system to fly their animal for free…and sometimes even endangering the passengers and crew with an untrained animal. But while there are undoubtedly fraudsters banking on a free ride for their pet, banning all emotional support animals will leave many travelers who genuinely need their emotional support animal vulnerable and unable to fly.

The proposed changes by the Transportation Department would allow only service animals in the main cabin of the airplane, while asking that emotional support animals be treated as pets. What exactly does that mean?

What’s the Difference Between A Service Animal, Emotional Support Animal, and A Pet?

Well, a service animal is a dog (and in some cases, a miniature horse) trained to perform major life tasks to assist people with physical or severe psychiatric impairments/disabilities.

An emotional support animal on the other hand is like a pet in that it does not need to be trained. It has, however, been prescribed by a licensed mental health professional, such as a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. The animal is part of the treatment program for this person and is meant to bring comfort and minimize the negative symptoms of the person’s emotional/psychological disability.

And we all know what a pet is.

But, how does the definition of your animals’ role translate into flying?

The Various Animals and Their Places Onboard a Plane

Right now, both a service animal and an emotional support animal are treated with special privileges onboard planes, while pets are treated with…a few less rights. For example, both a service animal and an emotional support animal is allowed to be both in the cabin of the plane and outside of a cage (such as on their person’s lap).

Neither a service animal nor an emotional support animal costs anything to travel with, while travelling with a pet incurs a fee.

To summarize, taking a pet on board involves the following:

  • Paying a fee (up to 125$ each direction)
  • Keeping the animal in a cage under the seat, size permitting, or
  • Flying the animal as cargo

Plenty of people do not want to pay the fee, but more troubling for many is flying an animal as cargo. For one thing, crates can be knocked about and treated like luggage, without consideration for the animal inside. Also, luggage can fall on the cage during turbulence. For another thing, changes in temperature and air pressure can be more pronounced in the cargo, and it’s very loud, with lots of strange smells. All of this compounds to mean that a ride in cargo is an overall distressing experience for any animal.

Of course, that is not even to mention the experience of the person flying without their emotional support animal. The problem is that a person who needs to be able to stroke their emotional support animal to stave off severe anxiety or PTSD, will be out of luck if this ruling goes through. Many will simply stop flying. Why do people feel so strongly about needing their emotional support animal on board the flight?

Why Do People Fly with Their Emotional Support Animals?

Some need to have their animal within range to stroke the entire duration of a flight to feel relaxed and at ease. Others are comforted just by being close to their animal. Emotional support animals can reduce stress, soothe anxiety and alleviate emotional traumas.

For some, flying itself is a trigger and can be stressful without their emotional support animal.

For others, while they are comfortable traveling and don’t really need to have their emotional support animal on the plane, they will need to have it on the other end of the flight. And for the reasons mentioned above, many people simply don’t want to put their ESA in cargo—especially considering their reliance on these animals.

So, if cargo is not a welcome or even acceptable option, but the emotional support animal is needed for insomnia or severe stress once at the destination, then what is to be done?

Conclusion

While it is true that exorbitant pet fees have likely been the prime motivation for some people making their pet into an emotional support animal, there are plenty of others who are motivated by a real emotional need. Hopefully, a solution is found that does not punish those who really need their emotional support animal and flying can continue to be a part of their lives.

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San Diego, CA: A Great Place to Visit with Your Service Dog

San Diego is often called “The Birthplace of California,” because of its historical importance as the first location visited by Europeans. Today, San Diego is the second largest city in California and an important part of commerce in the area.

Despite being a huge city, San Diego manages to be very dog friendly, and a wonderful place to bring your service dog or emotional support animal. Here are just a few great, dog-friendly places you can go with your furry friend.

Take your emotional support animal to a restaurant

If you own a service dog, you know that your dog must be admitted in all public locations. Emotional support animals however, do not get the same treatment. If you still want to visit a great restaurant and bring a dog who maybe doesn’t quite meet service dog standards with you, there are several dog friendly locations happy to serve you.

Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar

Not only will Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar let you bring your companion animal or pet to sit with you on the patio, they even have a dog friendly menu. Your dog can choose from a grilled hamburger patty, chicken breast or brown rice. Water is complimentary. You can visit at 1202 Camino Del Rio N San Diego, and experience their high quality service for yourself.

Slaters

Another restaurant that serves a dog menu, Slaters offers 50/50 burger patty, turkey patty, beef, bacon and chicken strips as options for your dog. They welcome all leashed dogs on their patio. For the owners, you can look forward to 50 different beers to choose from, as well as burgers and other comfort foods.

It’s a great place your dog will enjoy, whether he’s perusing the menu for a little off duty fun, or hard at work as your loyal service dog. You can find them at 2750 Dewey Rd #193 San Diego, California 92106

Stay at a dog friendly hotel

Service dogs are welcome at any hotel, but there are special perks to choosing a dog friendly one. When a hotel is prepared for dogs, they tend to have amenities such as green spaces for your dog to potty in, rooms on lower floors for easy access, and sometimes even goodie bags for your animal.

If you have a service dog or an emotional support dog you need to bring along with you, Porto Vista at 1835 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101 is a great choice. They are right across the street from a dog park, and are located near several dog friendly eateries as well as accepting dogs in their hotel. It’s a wonderful place to bring your dog, whether he’s a pet or a working dog.

Planning a move?

The Village Mission Valley has everything you need in order to enjoy apartment living with your service dog or emotional support dog. This includes amenities such as a private dog park, so you can relax with your dog and get to know your neighbors in a pleasant manner.

It also has plenty of amenities for you too, such as a fitness center and a pool. See for yourself at 6555 Ambrosia Drive San Diego, CA.

Visit a dog park

There are plenty of dog parks available in San Diego of all different sizes. If your service dog is hoping for a little off duty fun, or you want to give your emotional support animal a fun outing, visiting a dog park is the way to go.

There are lots of dog parks out there, but the Kearney Mesa Dog Park is a local favorite. It features golf course like, plush grass, drinking fountains for you and your dog, poop bags, benches, and other important amenities. It isn’t the largest dog park in San Diego, but it is definitely a favorite due to the relaxed nature of the park.

Take your dog to Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market

Unfortunately, most farmers’ markets in the Los Angeles area frown on dogs at open air markets, despite the fact that they are held outdoors. Although your service dog will always be an exception to the rule, if you don’t like people asking about your working dog, it can be awkward taking your dog to these areas. In these cases, we recommend your dog to wear a service dog vest, so other patrons know not to disrupt your dog at work.

This Saturday market is an exception to the rule in this area, and gladly welcomes polite, leashed dogs. Enjoy farm fresh eggs, amazing produce, and homemade goods at this beautiful market held every Saturday. Click here for durable, American-made, service leashes to take your dog to the market.

Need veterinary care?

It is vitally important that your service dog be kept in good condition, so he can keep taking care of you. 4Paw Animal hospital at 16625 Dove Canyon Road, Suite #106 has everything you need to keep your service dog in top physical condition. They are AAHA accredited, and can handle a wide range of problems including preventative care, surgery, and behavioral problems.

They can also handle your grooming needs, should your dog need maintenance of its coat and nails as well as general physical health.

Explore the tide pools

Cabrillo Tide Pools Trail is a half mile trail you and your service dog can complete in about an hour. The trail is the only part of the Cabrillo National Monument leashed dogs are permitted on, so be prepared for people to warn you that your dog is not permitted there. If you would rather not have the hassle, you may want to use equipment that identifies your dog as a service dog.

Dogs must be kept strictly on leash so be mindful of the rules while you are letting your dog explore the wonderful ecosystems present at the tidepools. You can visit the tidepool at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA, US, 92106.

San Diego is a wonderful place full of exciting, dog-friendly places you can take your dog to. Keep his tail wagging with these wonderful, dog-friendly locations that he’ll love.

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How To Say Goodbye

None of us want to think about what will happen when our service dog gets old or sick. We depend on them for so many things; perhaps most importantly, for companionship. We don’t want to imagine what our lives would be like without them, or that we might have to make a difficult decision when they reach the end of their life.

Naturally, we’d prefer for our service dogs to pass peacefully in their sleep, but more often than not there comes a point where we have to think about euthanasia. Having an animal in our lives is a privilege, and with that privilege comes responsibility. Making the decision to put our pets to sleep is often the kindest thing to do in the end.

The aim of this article is to provide you with all the information you need so you know what to expect when the time comes. Saying goodbye to your best friend is never going to be easy, but being well informed about the process will hopefully make the journey smoother for you and help you prepare for the decisions you will need to make.

How to know when the time is right

One of the hardest things about euthanasia is the fact that, ultimately, we have to make the final decision. This can be particularly difficult for older service dogs who have deteriorated gradually.

How do we decide when it’s the right time? What if we make the decision too early? How can we know that today is the right day? Are they so much worse than they were yesterday? How do we know how they will be tomorrow?

It’s very important to remember that you don’t have to make this decision on your own. Your vet, who is objective and less emotionally involved, will be able to advise you, so make sure you ask for their help and guidance. Ask as many questions as you need to in order to make the decision. You might also be able to get support and advice from friends and family, particularly if they have been through this too.

It might help you to come to terms with the decision if you look at photographs or videos of your when they were younger. If you see how much they have changed and are struggling now in comparison, it might make you realize that the time is right.

Assessing your service dog’s quality of life

In the end, making a decision about pet euthanasia often comes down to their quality of life. If you have had a close relationship with your service dog, you will not want them to suffer. You want them to die with dignity, free of pain. Your vet will be able to help you assess their quality of life. It might help for you to consider these questions.

  • Is your service dog suffering from chronic pain that can’t be controlled by medication?
  • Is he experiencing frequent vomiting? Is he continent?
  • Does he find it difficult to breathe?
  • Is he taking in enough water? Is he able to drink independently?
  • Is he eating voluntarily? Is he interested in food?
  • Is his coat healthy? Are all pressure spots and wounds clean?
  • Does he still want to do the things he has always enjoyed? Is he keen to go for a walk? Does he respond to his favorite people? Is he interested in his favorite toys?
  • Is he able to stand and walk on his own?

If you are responding negatively to many of these questions, it’s time to get your vet’s opinion about the right course of action for your animal.

How to prepare

Once the decision to go ahead with euthanasia is made, you may find it difficult to hand over all control to the vet. You might experience feelings of powerless, which can be hard to deal with. It might help if you focus on the parts you can control, such as where the procedure will take place and how you can make it as comfortable as you can for your dog or cat.

It might also help to make a plan for what will happen afterward. Organizing a memorial for our pets can help us process grief, just like it does when we organize a person’s funeral. It’s also a good idea to make these arrangements in advance to take the pressure off the period immediately after the procedure, when you might not be up to it.

Anticipate the fact that organizing payment following the procedure might not be easy for you emotionally, so ask your vet in advance how much it will cost and how you will pay. It might be possible to settle the bill beforehand, so you don’t have to think about it afterward.

What will happen

Although you may not feel like hearing all the details, getting as much information as you can from your vet about the options will help you make an informed decision on behalf of your beloved animal and to prepare yourself.

Sometimes, it’s possible for the vet to come to your home to carry out the procedure. If you think this would be easier for you, ask the vet if it’s an option. On the other hand, you may prefer to personally take your pet to the vet’s office or animal hospital and remain with him or her, while others choose to say goodbyes and not be present for the procedure. Remember, everyone copes differently, and there is no shame in leaving the final act to the vet.

The procedure

If you are planning to be present at the end, it’s a good idea to know what to expect so you are prepared. The procedure will vary according to the vet and the animal, so ask for it to be explained to you beforehand. Ask all the questions you need to; nothing is too trivial. This is will help you prepare.

Normally, pets are put to sleep by an overdose of anesthetic. In larger animals, such as dogs and cats, this is injected into a vein; in smaller animals, it is normally injected into the abdomen following sedation.

Vets sometimes sedate larger animals too but may opt not to do so, as this can make the animals sick. It can also make it harder for the vet to find a vein and carry out the procedure smoothly.

Remember, even if they are not sedated, all your service dog will feel is the prick of the needle. The whole thing will be over very quickly, as the anesthetic reaches the heart in seconds.

For smaller animals, the procedure is likely to take place on a table, and for larger ones it might be carried out on the floor. The vet will have to hold the animal in a certain way, so he/she is likely to tell you where you can stand (or sit) so your animal can hear your voice and feel your presence while giving your vet the room he/she needs.

Sometimes animals have a reaction after death that can be upsetting if you’re not expecting it. Some might gasp or make a noise; they might twitch or empty their bowels. Remember, your service dog and is unaware of this; it is it completely normal.

What happens next?

Don’t worry if you feel upset and cry or find it hard to control your emotions. Your vet will have performed this procedure many times and will have seen a wide range of reactions. You may surprise yourself by being calm, especially if you are well prepared. You might also feel some relief on behalf of your service dog, if they have been suffering. People react in very different ways, and each one is perfectly natural.

If the procedure takes place at the vet’s office, you will be given time afterward to say goodbye to your service dog. You will have decided beforehand if your vet is going to organize a cremation,,if you prefer to do this for yourself.

If your pet didn’t have an infectious disease, you can opt to take him or her home with you. If you wish the arrange a burial or cremation at a pet cemetery the international association of pet cemeteries and crematories will be able to direct you to one in your area. If you wish to bury him yourself or scatter his ashes, you’ll want to check with the local authority to see if there are any restrictions.

How to cope with grief following the loss of your beloved animal

No one who has had a strong bond with a pet will be surprised to hear that losing a beloved animal can be as difficult as losing a person you are close to. Some people feel quite isolated, lonely, and even depressed when they lose their service dog. It can be difficult to express your feelings, particularly if you think the people around you don’t understand.

If you have friends and family who have been through it, reach out to them for help. It helps to talk to someone who has been there, and it’s important that you don’t bottle up your grief. If you don’t have sympathetic people close to you, try to find a support network. Ask your doctor about local support and counseling. It’s important that you find someone you can talk to.

Sometimes the fact that you had to make the final decision can weigh heavily on you. You might experience feelings of guilt and self-doubt. Remember, you made the decision in consultation with your vet, and you were doing what was best for your service dog by relieving them of their pain and letting them pass with dignity.

Sometimes it helps to create a memorial for your pet. Some people have a portrait painted, or make a scrapbook of photos and memories. You might like to think about having a stone in your garden or planting a tree. Some people like to donate to an animal charity. If you’re struggling to come to terms with the passing of your pet, you may consider writing down your feelings in a journal. Sometimes expressing feelings on paper helps you to come to terms with them.

When is it time to get a new service dog?

Some of us need a service dog in order to be able to carry out the functions of our everyday life. If this is the case for you, however difficult it sounds, it’s a good idea to start making arrangements to find another animal to love – and don’t feel guilty about it. You will have great memories of your old friend, but that doesn’t stop you from making new memories, or new friends.

If your needs are not immediate, take your time and don’t put yourself under pressure to make a decision. Ultimately, you need to think about your quality of life and how much you benefit from having a service dog.

Final words

Saying goodbye to a service dog can be extremely difficult, particularly if we have to make the decision to put them to sleep. When they reach a point where they do not have a good quality of life and they are having more bad days than good, we need to take a step back and think about what is best for them.

The strong feelings you might experience in the period after they have gone are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, they are a testament to the special bond you shared with your pet.

Although you might be in pain now, know that you will recover. You have done the best thing for your service dog and you will always have those very special memories.

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Rules Differ for Service Animals Vs. Emotional Support Animals – Here’s How

Many people feel overwhelmed and confused about the rules governing service dogs and Emotional Support Animals.

This is worrying because it means people who are already living with disabilities sometimes are not taking advantage of all the privileges they are entitled to and that will make their lives easier.

Even worse, it also means that people get put off registering their pets in the first place and struggle on without their support needlessly.

If you find the rules confusing, know you are not alone. Read on for an outline of the law, and if you need any further help, advice, or support – contact us.

We’ve been helping people with service animals and Emotional Support Animals for over 25 years. It’s our job to keep up with changes in the law and find solutions to help our clients. We’d love to help you too!

What’s the Difference Between a Service Animal and an Emotional Support Animal?

Service Animals

A service animal is usually a dog (or sometimes a miniature horse) who is trained to carry out specific tasks for someone who is physically or psychiatrically impaired. Service animals are also known as assistance animals, assist animals, support animals, or helper animals depending on the tasks the animal is trained to carry out and the country.

In order to qualify for a service dog, you must have difficulty performing at least one major life activity without assistance. Although you don’t need a letter from a doctor to qualify for a service animal, if you are legally challenged you will have to provide documentation that provides proof of your disability.

For more information about who qualifies for a service dog and how to register, visit our Service Dog Registration Page here.

Emotional Support Animals

In contrast, an Emotional Support Animal doesn’t carry out specific tasks for their human companion, but they help people with emotional or mental health conditions stay calm in a situation that might otherwise be triggering for them.

In order to qualify for an Emotional Support Animal, they must have been prescribed by a licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist, which means they become part of your treatment plan. Although it’s not a legal requirement to register your Emotional Support Animal, doing so legitimizes your animal and means you have less trouble and less explaining to do when you need to take them into places where they are not usually allowed.

For more information about qualifying for and how to register an Emotional Support Animal visit our registration page here.

Housing Rights for People With Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals

According to The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, landlords and property managers are required to allow a service animal or Emotional Support Animal to live with their owner even in properties where pets are otherwise not allowed and they cannot charge you an additional fee.

This means if they have a “cats only” policy, and your service animal or Emotional Support Animal is a dog, they must allow them to live with you. They are also not allowed to discriminate about animals of a certain size or breed.

Click through for detailed information about the rules governing housing and service dogs or Emotional Support Animals.

Flying with Your Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal

According to the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines must allow you to fly with your service animal or Emotional Support Animal in the cabin with you and they may not charge you an extra fee.

If you have a service animal, you do not legally need to provide documentation, although you do need to be able to explain to airline staff which tasks your service dog assists you with. Although you’re not legally obliged to, airlines ask that your service animal wears identifying patches or a vest, a service leash, and an ID card from a creditable agency like the National Service Animal Registry.

For more information about flying with your service dog, read our guide.

The rules are slightly different for an Emotional Support Animal.

Although airlines must allow you to fly with your service animal in the cabin and must not charge you an extra fee, you do need to provide documentation. You must have a letter from a licensed therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist and some airlines will also require your therapist, or physician to fill in a form. We can help you get all the documentation you need, click here for more information.

Like with service dogs, owners of Emotional Support Animals are advised to get service patches, a vest, a service leash, and an ID card for their animal before they fly. Although you are not obliged to do this legally, it is a requirement for most airlines and will mean you encounter fewer problems when traveling with your Emotional Support Animal.

For detailed information about flying with your Emotional Support Animal, read our guide.

Taking Your Service Animal Or Emotional Support Animals Into Public Places

According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) people with service dogs must be allowed into places of public accommodation, which is pretty much any business open to the public except private clubs and places of worship.

This means you can take your service dog along to restaurants and bars, movie theaters and libraries, shops, schools, gyms and hospitals.

For more details about public places where you can legally take your service dog, please read our guide.

The rules are different for people with Emotional Support Animals. There is currently no legal requirement for places of public accommodation to allow you to bring along your ESA.

You may find, however, that having a fully registered ESA with an ID card and identifying patches, vest, and service leash means staff in public places are more likely to let your ESA accompany you.

Click here for more detailed information about your legal rights for your Emotional Support Animal.

Different Rules For Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals

The rules do vary slightly between service animals and ESAs, but remember, we’re always here to offer you help, support, and advice. If you need any further information about these or any other issues about service and Emotional Support Animals, please contact us.

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How to Register an Assistance Dog: An Informative Guide

register an assistance dog

It’s incredible how much easier life can be with your dog by your side! We’re lucky to be able to build such loving relationships with such amazing animals. Unfortunately, we can’t bring them everywhere we’d like to go. That’s why it’s important to take the proper steps to register your dog as an Assistance Dog (service or ESA) or a therapy dog if you feel your pup adds to your quality of life. Dogs can reduce our anxiety, help us physically get around, provide emotional support when we need it the most, or help others in hospitals and/or hospices. If your dog provides this kind of comfort, then you can follow these steps to register your dog as a service animal, emotional support animal, or therapy animal.

Types of Assistance Animals

First, it’s important to understand what type of assistance category your dog falls into. Each category provides a different kind of support and function to their owner/handler or to others. Each category offers different legal rights as well. Basically, there are three types of assistance animals. Service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals. Service dogs are trained to help with various disabilities and can assist their handlers in many different ways. Service dogs are allowed in all public places. An Emotional Support Dog is a dog that doesn’t need any kind of special training but does provide the care and comfort their owners need. A Therapy Dog is a special kind of pup that provides comfort to other people.

Where Can They Go?

When you register your dog, it’s important to understand where they can and cannot go in public. Service Dogs can go anywhere and everywhere. They’re actually considered to be medical devices that are essential to their handlers. They’re not exactly considered to be pets. Emotional Support Dogs can live with you even if you live in a place with no-pet housing rules. Emotional Support Dogs can also fly with you and sit right next to you on a plane. Airlines, housing, and other establishments cannot charge fees for Emotional Support Dogs. Therapy Dogs don’t necessarily have special access to public places. They must be invited in before they can enter a hospital, home, restaurant, or any other public space.

How to Register an Assistance Dog ?

Once you understand what kind of training your dog needs and what kind of assistance they provide, you can move forward to register an emotional support animal, therapy animal, or service animal. Registrations through the National Service Animal Registry are quick, easy, and very affordable. Simply click on the appropriate category for registration and follow their easy instructions. You’ll be given options to purchase different products to make sure your dog is good to go. For instance, you’ll receive certificates, ID cards and leash clips, and the option of receiving electronic copies of your registration documents. Depending on your dog’s type of registration and your assistance animal needs, you can choose what kind of registration kit you and your pup require. If you move around a lot and travel is a big part of your life, you may want to opt for the premium kits to keep you and your assistance dog protected. Check out their website today for more information!

Service Dog Regulations

Due to the nature of its job, you can take your service dog with you everywhere – from grocery shopping to dining and even seated beside you on flights. But they can also be kicked out of establishments and denied access permanently if they are not well-behaved. So, it’s important to keep the regulations in mind when you register an assistance dog to take with you everywhere you go.

Licensing & Vaccination

All service animals fall under the licensing and registration requirements stipulated by the local authorities for all dogs. The same also applies to vaccination. If you are wondering how to register a dog as an assistance dog, there are several ADA assistance dog registry companies that can help. We, at the National Service Animal Registry, also provide registration kits that can come in handy for you.

Leash Rules

A service dog must always be harnessed, tethered, or leashed in public places. The only two occasions that this rule is exempt are when the leash interferes with the service animal’s ability to perform its tasks and when the handler’s disability prevents the use of these devices.

Maintaining Control

The dog needs to be under the control of the handler at all times, leashed or not. This means the service dog should not be allowed to bark repeatedly in libraries, theaters, lecture halls, or any quiet place. Even in other public places, if a service dog growls at other customers or becomes aggressive, the staff and owner of the establishment reserve the right to deny access to the dog.

Prohibited in Pools

Public health rules prohibit dogs in swimming pools and the ADA does not override this rule. This means if your gym, fitness center, hotel, etc. have a swimming pool, your assistance dog will not be allowed in it even if you decide to take a swim. However, they are allowed on pool decks and all other areas where other guests (without dogs) are permitted to go.

Seating at a Table

Service dogs are not allowed to sit at a table at a restaurant. Seating, food, and drinks are for customer use only. Your assistance dog can accompany you to restaurants and sit at the foot of the table if it is well-behaved and is under your control at all times.

Exemptions

Religious establishments like churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, etc. are exempt from allowing service animals on their premises. However, different rules may apply to different states.

Is it Necessary to Register Your Service Dog?

No. It is not a legal necessity to register your service dog. But registering a service animal has a lot of benefits. Let’s take a look:

  • When you register your service dog or assistance animal with National Service Animal Registry, you get an entire kit containing a lifetime service dog registration, inclusion in the database of National Online Service Dogs, a certificate, a leash clip, etc.
  • This gives you enough documentation for your service dog to help avoid confrontations. Even though these documents are not mandatory to have and neither are you legally required to produce them, having them with you will prevent unnecessary hassles if a situation like that arises.
  • You also get a service dog vest in the registration kit provided by the National Service Animal Registry. This helps a great deal with identification when you take your assistance dog with you in public places like restaurants, stores, public transportation, etc.

You ideally do not require any identification to take your service dog with you anywhere. They have full access to government premises, businesses, and all establishments open to the public. Business owners or staff are, however, permitted to ask you two questions about your service dog:

  1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
  2. What tasks can the service animal perform?

Keep in mind that you are not liable to answer any other questions related to your assistance animal or your disability. No one should even pet the animal or cause unnecessary distractions for it. This is because your service animal needs to be alert at all times to be able to assist you in your time of need.

Do I Need a Doctor’s Note for My Service Dog?

A doctor’s note is not necessary for a service dog. It is only required for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). However, it is no uncommon situation where a business owner or staff gives you a hard time when a service dog accompanies you. Keep in mind that they may not know your rights. This is where a doctor’s note comes in handy. This can help you avoid situations where you may be given a flat-out refusal. 

A doctor’s note should contain the diagnosis of your disability by a licensed healthcare practitioner. It should also mention that an assistance dog has been prescribed as a part of your treatment plan. Remember that restaurants, housing, or any property with a ‘No Pets’ policy are required to make reasonable accommodations to their policies in accordance with the ADA for your service dog.

If you are still refused, you can seek help from the respective authorities to take action. For example, if you are refused housing, you can contact the Housing and Urban Development authority in your area. If your service dog is being refused in the cabin with you on the airplane, you can contact the manager or file a complaint. 

That being said, keep in mind that landlords and property owners cannot refuse housing on the grounds of having a dog – whether it is a service dog or an emotional support animal. You are also not liable to pay any extra fees, cleaning deposits, or surcharges for your service animal.
Chilhowee Psychological Services is one of the organizations that provide service dog letters by licensed healthcare professionals through a free pre-screening procedure. Find out more on their website.

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The Importance of Getting a Service Animal Registration Kit

Dogs are often called man’s best friend. They love unconditionally and they’re happy to tag along on car rides and walks around the neighborhood. For people with disabilities, dogs are more than a companion. When a dog is trained as a service dog, it means independence for a person who otherwise might need to rely on other people for help with daily living. In the United States, registering a service dog isn’t a legal requirement. However, when you register your dog, you help ensure your rights as a service dog owner are respected. If you decide to register your service dog, consider buying a registration kit. Learn more here about why these kits are important for service dog owners.

Documentation and Service Dog Status

Seeing a service dog at work is common today as a growing number of people use them for help with activities of daily living. It’s also common for restaurant staff, retail store management, and those in charge of other public establishments to question whether a person’s service dog is legitimate. When you purchase a registration kit, you’ll receive a certificate and an ID for your service dog. These two items provide proof of your dog’s status as a service dog. Keep both handy to show when you encounter people who don’t understand ADA laws for service dog owners. The documentation and identification you’ll receive make your service dog visibly official.

Registration Kits Help Reduce Discrimination

When you rent a home or apartment, of course, you’ll want your canine companion to live with you. Landlords and property managers don’t always know about protections offered to service animals and their owners. Sometimes they won’t rent to a person if they have a dog. If you have a disability or medical condition, you have a right to keep your service dog with you in your residence. The documentation in a service animal registration kit can be shown to prospective landlords. Since service dogs are not only medically necessary but protected by law, your documentation and pet ID cards should make discussions with prospective landlords easier.

Helps Your Service Dog Concentrate on Work

When people see you with your service dog, many want to pet or play with the animal. Their intentions are good, but they don’t realize how distracting they can be to your dog. Your safety and well-being depend on your dog remaining focused. One way you can help people not distract your dog is to use the patches in your kit. Patches are sewn on the dog’s service vest where people can easily see them. The patch identifies your dog as a registered service animal. You can also order patches that caution people not to pet your dog without your permission.

Keep Your Dog Safe During Emergencies

Registration kits for service animals help protect them. Imagine if you were in a situation where you needed to be evacuated. What would you do if you and your pet were separated? When your dog wears a vest with the patches included in the kit, emergency responders can be alerted to keep an eye out for your dog. They’ll understand the importance of your dog and your safety and will work hard to find your pet and put the two of you back together.

Whether you’re just starting out using a service dog or you’re a seasoned owner, consider buying a registration kit. It’s a logical step you can take to protect your right to have your service animal by your side when you go out in public. To see our selection of registration kits for service animals, contact us at the National Service Animal Registry today!

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Everything You Need to Know about Emotional Support Cats

If you’d like your emotional support animal to accompany you on planes or live with you in otherwise restrictive housing, ESA registration is key. With the appropriate documentation, your rights can be protected. Lacking these essential documents, you’ll have a much more difficult time and could be rejected outright. Emotional support animals can be tremendously helpful, especially if you deal with stress, anxiety, or depression. While ESA and service dogs get a lot of attention and are quite popular, emotional support cats make excellent companions as well. The process is easier than most people think.

Emotional Support Animals

If you have a mental illness and feel that an emotional support animal could be helpful, the first thing you should do is speak with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist. They can discuss the benefits with you, and they should be able to determine if an emotional support cat may be the right choice for you.

Your ESA cat doesn’t have to undergo any specialized or formal training course. This is a common misconception. The primary purpose of an emotional support animal is to give their owner comfort, companionship, and emotional support. An ESA cat could help reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, and could even help you get better sleep. To qualify as an ESA, your cat does have to be well behaved and toilet trained.

Registration

The registration process isn’t overly difficult or complicated. A licensed mental health professional, such as your therapist, can provide you with a prescription letter verifying your need for an emotional support animal. You may visit the National Service Animal Registry website to register your animal. After registration, you’ll receive an Animal ID Card. It should have a picture of your cat on it, as well as additional information. This includes information about your legal rights. It’s important that you keep track of these documents, so you have proof of registration. Airlines and landlords are well within their rights to request proof that your ESA cat is a registered service animal.

Legal Rights

Legally speaking, an ESA cat has several benefits compared to an unregistered animal. The Fair Housing Act allows emotional support cats to be considered as assistance animals. What does this mean for you? Your ESA cat can’t be discriminated against when it comes to housing. Apartments, condos, and other housing that would otherwise have size restrictions or not allow animals at all can’t prevent you from keeping and living with your ESA cat. Additionally, you shouldn’t have to pay a deposit for your ESA cat.

Thanks to the Air Carrier Access Act, your ESA cat can accompany you in the cabin. As you know, animals often have to fly separately. However, your registered animal should be allowed to stay with you in the cabin instead. Remember that almost all airlines require documentation to be provided before boarding. Be sure to have it ready to hand. The airline will need to verify it beforehand.

As you can see, registering your ESA cat shouldn’t be a big challenge. Yet, there are many great perks that come with registration. If you think you could use the assistance of an emotional support animal, be sure to speak with a mental health professional. Your therapist should be happy to help you determine if an ESA cat would be right for you. Contact National Service Animal Registry at (866) 737-3930 to learn more about emotional support animals and the many ways they could assist you.

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How to Properly Train Your Service Dog

A service dog can be a major asset to your life if you suffer from a disability. This could be anxiety, physical ailment, or emotional disability. While some people reach out to an organization to provide the animal, others would prefer to use their own dog. Many feel the process will be easier with their own dog as they already feel comfortable with them. For many people, hiring a professional to train your dog with you is the best way of making them a support animal. Others would rather attempt the training on their own. Here are some tips for properly training your dog to be a support animal.

Find Your Dog

If you don’t already have the dog you want to make your support animal, you will have to find one. It’s widely believed that the breed of the dog is an important factor. It’s actually the temperament that is most important rather than the breed. When choosing a dog to be trained as a support animal, you want one that is intelligent and trainable. For this reason, it’s best to choose a dog between six months and a year in age. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a dog that will approach you without hesitation and doesn’t show aggression, such as growling. A dog that desires contact with you is also good as this shows it’s more docile.

Basic Training

The first part of training a service dog is making sure that they understand basic commands and obedience. These basic commands, such as “sit” and “down,” are useful for any dog but are more important for service dogs. An important aspect of a service dog that separates them from others is their obedience. A service animal must have excellent obedience skills in order to help you. An important aspect of training is to ensure that they don’t get distracted by sniffing other animals or people. This training is often done by having someone walk up to you while the dog is looking at you. If the dog looks at the other person, they should look right back to you. This is because they need to know to pay attention to you and not become distracted. During these early stages of training, the dog is often rewarded with treats.

Special Skills

When training your dog to be a service animal, you’ll teach them specific skills. These skills will depend on your disability because those with different disabilities will need their service dog to perform different tasks. While dogs are smart and can learn many skills, they can only take in so much information in a short period of time. To avoid overwhelming your dog, the skills should be taught slowly, step by step. For example, if you’re teaching your dog to retrieve keys, you first need them to respond to the word “keys.” Then you need to teach them to pick the keys up and bring them to you. It’s best to teach these skills in five to ten minute intervals.

Living with a disability can be made easier with the assistance of a support dog. Properly training the dog is essential to ensuring that they are qualified to help you when needed.

Contact the National Service Animal Registry for more information on registering your dog as a support animal or receiving a service dog certification online.

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Tips to Qualify for an ESA Dog

Nearly one in four people in the United States experiences some kind of emotional or mental condition. Getting treatment for mental health conditions is not always easy. Sometimes, however, the solution may be found in your very own home. Emotional support animals can make a huge difference for so many people. But how do you qualify to get one? Keep reading to learn a few essential tips for getting an emotional support dog.

Obtain an Emotional Support Animal Letter

To qualify for an emotional support animal, you will need to obtain an ESA letter from a certified mental health professional. You can get one of the letters from your therapist, psychiatrist, licensed counselor, or any other mental health doctor. If you are interested in getting an ESA, talk to your doctor to first decide if it is the right choice for you. They will evaluate your needs and determine if you would benefit from having a support dog. Following their assessment, they will write a letter stating that you have an emotional or mental condition and testify that an ESA is vital to your overall wellbeing.

The letter should be written on the doctor’s official letterhead. It should also include the date, their signature, their medical license number, and the date and place where their license was first issued. The letter remains valid for a year. Your landlord or airline carrier will usually request that the ESA letter is updated every year, so be sure to set yourself a reminder to renew it.

Know the Conditions for Which an ESA May Be Suggested

Mental health professionals only approve emotional support dogs if they believe they will be helpful. According to the DSM, there are a few different types of conditions where an emotional support animal can be beneficial as a treatment method. Some of these include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • PTSD
  • Learning disabilities
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Mood disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Fear and phobias

Watch Out for Scams

Unfortunately, emotional support animal scams are all too common. Some websites promise to provide instant approval for an emotional support animal for a price. In the end, you wind up paying for documents that don’t mean anything. The only way to get approved for an ESA is by obtaining a letter from your mental health professional. If you come across a website that asks you to fill out an application or questionnaire, it’s likely a scam. There are also websites that claim to certify your pet. Emotional support registration is an excellent extra step to add to the process in order to further legitimize your emotional support pet. However, registration or certification does not mean anything without first getting approved by a doctor.

Don’t Lie to Your Therapist to Get an ESA

This goes without saying, but still, there are many people who take advantage of the emotional support pet system. ESAs are not traditional pets. By lying to obtain one, you are only hurting the real support pet owners who rely on their pets to make it through everyday life. Talk to a mental health professional to determine if getting an ESA is the right choice for you. If they conclude that it’s not, just adopt a traditional pet.

For more information about qualifying for an ESA or registering your pet, contact us at the National Service Animal Registry today.

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How can you make your dog a service animal?

First things first! According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), someone is considered disabled when he or she has “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.” If you qualify, then you may have a service dog to help you.

If you experience any of the following, you may qualify:

  • Limited physical mobility
  • Anxiety
  • Autism
  • Blindness
  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Diabetes
  • PTSD
  • Seizures

What Exactly Is a Service Dog?

A “Service Dog” means any dog that is trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The tasks performed must be directly related to the handler’s disability.

Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting a person who is blind or has poor vision with navigation and other tasks
  • Alerting a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds
  • Pulling a wheelchair
  • Assisting a person during a seizure
  • Alerting individuals to the presence of allergens
  • Retrieving items, such as medicine or the telephone
  • Providing physical support and assistance to individuals with mobility/balance issues
  • Helping persons with psychiatric issues by preventing or interrupting impulsive/destructive behaviors.

What Are Your Rights with a Service Dog?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), prohibits discrimination of disabled persons. That means you are entitled to be accompanied by your service dog anywhere a non-disabled person could go, even when pets are NOT allowed.

Flying with a Service Dog

If you are disabled and have a trained service dog, you have the right to be accompanied by your service dog in the cabin of an aircraft and not be charged a fee.

Qualify for No Pet (Including Limited Size/Species/Breed) Housing

The Fair Housing Amendments Act requires property managers and landlords to make a reasonable accommodation to permit a disabled person to have a service dog and not be charged a pet fee.

How Do You Make Your Dog Qualify as a Service Dog?

Since your dog must perform a task for you that you have great difficulty doing yourself, if your dog already knows how to do it and is obedience trained, you’re all set. Many people train or have someone help them their dog for the sometimes-simple tasks, necessary to qualify. Many dogs can perform tasks naturally, and it takes just a bit extra to add a task to what they already know to do. Register your pet as a service animal.

Is a Physician’s Prescription Necessary?

It isn’t necessary to have a letter from a doctor that states you are disabled, but if someone legally challenges you, proof of the disability will be necessary. When in public, you should be prepared to confirm you are disabled and provide credible verbal evidence of what your service dog is trained to do.