Service animals are individually trained to perform tasks and do work that mitigate their handlers’ disabilities. Service animals are much more than highly trained companions. Working as part of a team with their human partners, service animals help them attain the safety and independence from which their handlers’ disabilities would otherwise limit them.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places, like businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, etc. Additional acts of law, like the DOT’s Air Carrier Access Act, DOJ/HUD Fair Housing Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act protect the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals under a wide variety of circumstances under which the ADA may not be applicable.
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There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the animal is a service animal. All animals must follow local animal