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Americans with Disabilities Act
ADA Business BRIEF: Service Animals
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
ADA Business BRIEF: Service Animals
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are
blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other
special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to
bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all
businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical
offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.
blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other
special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to
bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all
businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical
offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.
Businesses that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to enter with their service animal.
Businesses may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to
perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability.
People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be charged extra fees, isolated from other
patrons, or treated less favorably than other patrons. However, if a business such as a hotel
normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may be charged
for damage caused by his or her service animal.
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless:
(1) the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it (for
example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie) or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the
health or safety of others.
Businesses may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to
perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability.
People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be charged extra fees, isolated from other
patrons, or treated less favorably than other patrons. However, if a business such as a hotel
normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may be charged
for damage caused by his or her service animal.
A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless:
(1) the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it (for
example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie) or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the
health or safety of others.
In these cases, the business should give the person with the disability the option to obtain goods
and services without having the animal on the premises. Businesses that sell or prepare food
must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on
the premises.
A business is not required to provide care or food for a service animal or provide a special
location for it to relieve itself. Allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for
denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.
Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties.
Service animals are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.
and services without having the animal on the premises. Businesses that sell or prepare food
must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on
the premises.
A business is not required to provide care or food for a service animal or provide a special
location for it to relieve itself. Allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for
denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.
Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties.
Service animals are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.
What to do when you meet an Assistance Dog
The role of the Assistance Dog is to assist the handler in a variety of ways. It is primarily a medical assistance aid and should be treated
as such.
When wanting to pet the Assistance Dog, always ask the handler first for permission. If the handler agrees, always talk to or/or pet the
dog in a quiet and calm manner.
1. Do not pet, make noises, or call to the Assistance Dog.
If the dog is wearing its harness/vest/backpacks, this means it is working and should never be patted, or distracted by having its name
called, be given excessive eye contact, noises made at it, or made the center of attention. These may all cause the dog to take its
concentration off the job and put the handler’s safety at risk.
2. Do not feed the dog.
The Assistance Dog is fed a balanced diet by its handler. Other people should never feed the Assistance Dog. It may then learn to be on
the lookout for tidbits, which will distract the dog and place the handler’s safety at risk. It may also lead to obesity and health problems,
possibly causing the dog’s working life to be shortened.
3. Talk to the handler, and not just to the dog!
Remember to talk to the Assistance Dog handler and not only to the dog. It is very frustrating for the Assistance Dog handler when people
constantly talk to the dog and not to the handler. The Assistance Dog handler has been trained in the most appropriate techniques for
working or correcting the dog. Please only provide assistance if requested by the Assistance Dog handler.
If there are any further queries regarding how to behave towards a Assistance dog please do not hesitate to discuss it with the Assistance
dog handler.
The role of the Assistance Dog is to assist the handler in a variety of ways. It is primarily a medical assistance aid and should be treated
as such.
When wanting to pet the Assistance Dog, always ask the handler first for permission. If the handler agrees, always talk to or/or pet the
dog in a quiet and calm manner.
1. Do not pet, make noises, or call to the Assistance Dog.
If the dog is wearing its harness/vest/backpacks, this means it is working and should never be patted, or distracted by having its name
called, be given excessive eye contact, noises made at it, or made the center of attention. These may all cause the dog to take its
concentration off the job and put the handler’s safety at risk.
2. Do not feed the dog.
The Assistance Dog is fed a balanced diet by its handler. Other people should never feed the Assistance Dog. It may then learn to be on
the lookout for tidbits, which will distract the dog and place the handler’s safety at risk. It may also lead to obesity and health problems,
possibly causing the dog’s working life to be shortened.
3. Talk to the handler, and not just to the dog!
Remember to talk to the Assistance Dog handler and not only to the dog. It is very frustrating for the Assistance Dog handler when people
constantly talk to the dog and not to the handler. The Assistance Dog handler has been trained in the most appropriate techniques for
working or correcting the dog. Please only provide assistance if requested by the Assistance Dog handler.
If there are any further queries regarding how to behave towards a Assistance dog please do not hesitate to discuss it with the Assistance
dog handler.
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