Service, Assistance, and Emotional Support Animals

"Service animals," "assistance animals," and "emotional support animals" are not the same. The federal laws regarding these animals only apply to people with physical or mental disabilities. The types of animals that must be permitted to accompany their disabled owners depend on where the owners want to take them - a place open to the public, transportation (airplane, Uber, bus, ship, etc.,) the workplace, housing, or the classroom.     

This course will cover the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act.  The program will include a discussion of the types of disabilities that qualify; the species and breeds of animals that must be permitted; where they must be allowed to go; whether they must be trained to perform a specific task; whether they must be registered, certified or wear a vest; the penalties and remedies for violations of the law; penalties for fraudulently misrepresenting that an animal is a service animal; and animal behavior requirements once an animal is allowed on the premises.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the types of disabilities that qualify a person to have an animal with them
2. Break down the differences between service, assistance, and emotional support animals and where each must be allowed to go
3. Identify the rights and obligations of disabled people with animals as well as the rights and obligations of businesses and places that must allow the animals 
4. Recognize the remedies and penalties when there are violations of the statutes and regulations
5. Examine state statutes that mirror or are stronger than the federal statutes