Service Animal FAQ & Emotional Support Animal FAQ

Defining Service Animals

Defining Service Animals Service animals, commonly dogs and sometimes miniature horses, undergo specialized training to perform essential tasks that aid individuals with physical or severe psychiatric disabilities. These animals may go by various names, such as assistance animals, assist animals, support animals, or helper animals, depending on the country and their specific functions. Qualifying for

Qualifying for a Service Dog

To be eligible for a service dog legally, a person must have a physical impairment or a severe psychiatric condition that significantly limits their ability to carry out at least one major life activity without assistance. There are no restrictions concerning the types of impairments or disabilities that qualify.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Air Carrier Access Act, and Fair Housing Act, emotional support animals (ESAs) do not need any specific training. They should be manageable in public and controlled by their disabled handler. The mere presence of the ESA is what ameliorates the negative symptoms associated with the person’s emotional or psychological disability.

Understanding Physical Impairment

A physical impairment encompasses various medical disorders, conditions, disfigurements, or losses affecting any of the body systems, including neurological, musculoskeletal, sensory organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, immune, circulatory, hemic, lymphatic, skin, and endocrine.

Examples of Physical Impairments

Conditions such as AIDS and its symptoms, alcoholism, asthma, blindness or other visual impairments, cancer, cerebral palsy, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, hearing or speech impairments, heart disease, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, orthopedic impairments, paralysis, complications from pregnancy, thyroid gland disorders, tuberculosis, and loss of body parts are considered impairments.

Exclusions from Impairments

Certain temporary, non-chronic impairments with brief duration and minimal or no lasting effects typically do not qualify as disabilities. Additionally, environmental conditions and alternative lifestyles are not covered. Individuals engaged in current illegal drug use, including both unlawful drugs like cocaine and the misuse of prescription drugs, are not regarded as individuals with disabilities.

Examples of Non-Impairments

The common cold or flu, a sprained joint, minor and non-chronic gastrointestinal disorders, a fully expected recovery from a broken bone, compulsive gambling, pregnancy, old age, lack of education, poor judgment, bisexuality, or homosexuality are not considered impairments.

Major Life Activities

Major life activities encompass a range of functions, such as self-care (bathing, dressing, shaving, meal preparation, and using the restroom), performing manual tasks, eating, sleeping, standing, walking, lifting, reaching, bending, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, interacting with others, and working.

Expanded Definition of Major Life Activities

With the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act, major life activities now also include the operation of any major bodily function, encompassing functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive (procreation) functions.

Major life activities do NOT include the following

• Caring for others
• Driving
• Ability to have a relationship
• Grocery shopping

Regarding the need for a doctor’s letter to qualify for a service dog, it is not mandatory to possess such a letter stating disability and the requirement for a trained service dog. However, if someone challenges the claim of disability, proof of the disability would be necessary at that point. When in public, it is essential to be prepared to confirm the disability and provide credible verbal evidence of the tasks your service dog is trained to perform.