Man’s Actual Best Friend: Service Dogs
Author: Tatianna Zambrano, UF Doctoral Student
Date: August 2022
Dogs provide us, humans, with many blessings such as companionship, fitness, and lots of snuggles. Back in the 1920s, service dogs were considered almost exclusively for individuals with physical impairments such as auditory or visual. Now, a hundred years later, our world is open to service dogs not only for physical needs but also for mental health. If you are considering whether a service dog is right for you or a loved one, we have provided below some facts about service animals to decide if a service dog is right for you and what are the first steps.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil law that strives to protect the rights of any individual with a physical and/or mental impairment. The ADA defines a service dog as “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” Many people first hear “service dogs” and think of guide dogs for visual impairment, mobility dogs, or medical service dogs. However, psychiatric service dogs are also available to help individuals with mental impairments such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and many other behavioral disorders in children and adults. For example, a service dog trained for an individual with panic attacks can be trained to sense when a panic attack is about to occur and can perform necessary tasks to prevent the attack from happening.
Does breed matter? The short answer is yes. The long answer is it is important to consider what specific actions you will need the dog to perform and then pick a breed accordingly. For example, if you need a dog who can turn on and off light switches, then it is important to select a breed with an appropriate height for the task. Service dogs can range in size, breed, and weight. When considering if a service dog is right for you, it is crucial to consult with your mental health specialist to decide what tasks would be most beneficial for yourself or your loved one.
Where Can I Find a Service Dog?
Do you think a service dog is right for you? If so, there are many training programs available to help you find the best dog for your needs. Programs are located throughout the U.S, and in addition to training for specific actions, programs also train the dogs for basic skills such as house training, settling quietly, and remaining calm in public. They also involve the individual with mental needs in parts of the training to ensure that the relationship works. While professional training programs provide top-notch service, they can also cost a high dime. These programs can quickly exceed $25,000.
If you are in need of a service animal at a lower cost, there are options! Some organizations provide service dogs at no cost or with financial aid for individuals with financial needs. Additionally, you can train your own service dog! The ADA also covers service dogs who have been trained to be calm in unfamiliar settings, be alert, have a willingness to please, be able to learn and retain information, be capable of being socialized to different settings, and be reliable in performing repetitive tasks. The American Kennel Club program provides guidelines and benchmarks to assist with training your own service dog.
What Is NOT Considered a Service Dog?
It is imperative that you and mental health practitioners understand what does not qualify as a service dog under the ADA so that you do not accidentally commit a federal crime. An emotional support animal (ESA) is not considered a service dog as they do not receive proper training for the specific needs of its individual. ESAs are intended to solely bring comfort to the individual. There are many fraudulent websites that offer ESA certifications, but you should steer clear if you are wanting a service dog protected under the ADA.
Additionally, just because a dog is wearing a “service vest” does not mean it is a trained service dog. Therapy dogs are also not necessarily service dogs. Therapy dogs are trained in comforting multiple individuals and are not trained in specific actions for a certain individual. These can be popularly found in hospitals, airports, and assisted living centers. Vests, ID tags, or specific harnesses are not required by the ADA for service dogs. To verify that your dog is a service dog, staff are allowed only two questions:
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform
Rights Provided Under ADA
Hotels cannot charge additional fees for guests with service animals nor restrict guests to specific “pet-friendly” rooms
Service animals are allowed to accompany their owner in any environment (airlines have their own requirements that must also be complied with)
The owner is responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal. If the owner is temporarily not able to care for the service animal, then arrangements can be made for a family member or friend to provide such services.
Individuals may own multiple service animals; however, in some environments, there might only be enough room for one at a time
Service animals must be allowed in hospital patient rooms and any public space the patient may go to. Service animals are generally allowed in ambulances unless there is no space to perform necessary medical services and accommodate the dog.
Service animals are subject to state/local dog licensing and registration requirements
Mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA
You can visit the ADA’s website for more information about the rights of service dogs.
Summary
Consult with mental health specialists to decide if a service dog is right for your specific needs and what actions would be most appropriate to ensure you receive the best mental health practices.
Inquire about Autism Spectrum Assessment, OCD Assessment, and Anxiety Disorders Assessment, among others, to determine whether this is necessary to receive a service dog.
Consider the funding options/breeds available for acquiring a service dog from a certified trainer or the steps necessary for training your own service dog
Make sure to review the rights and responsibilities of the owner(s) and the dog(s)
When in doubt, consult with the ADA website and/or contact mental health specialists
If you are seeking out a mental health specialist for testing or treatments, contact the FLOAAT Center today!
