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A Service Dog's Tale" University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Diversity Committee |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Service Dogs 1. What is a disability? As defined in the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Not all disabilities are visible. 2. How can I tell if an animal is really a service dog, not just a pet? Some, but not all, service dogs wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers. If you are not certain whether an animal is a service dog, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service dog required because of a disability. 3. What if a service dog barks or growls at other people, or otherwise acts disruptively? In rare circumstances, a service dog may be excluded by a place of public accommodation when that animal's presence or behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or causes a fundamental alteration in the nature of goods and services provided. 4. What if other people complain about a service dog being present? Explain that the ADA protects the right of a person with a disability to be accompanied by a service dog in public places. 5. Where do the dogs come from that are trained as service dogs? Some dogs come from breeders while others are rescued from shelters. The sources for these dogs are just as diverse as the breeds used. 6. What breeds of dogs are trained as service dogs? The breed of the dog is not as important as the dog's ability to learn. However, some breeds are more commonly trained as service dogs than others. These include golden retrievers, German shepherds, and Labradors. |