Lending a Helping Paw
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. Check out some fun facts on these very special canine companions.
There are around 500,000 working service dogs in the U.S.
Service dogs are working animals. They are not considered pets. The animals should be viewed as an extension of their handlers.
The ADA does not require service dogs to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.
September is designated as National Service Dog Month.
According to the American Kennel Club, the most common breeds trained as guide dogs are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers & German Shepherds.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) requires airline to allow service dogs to stay with their handlers in the cabin of an aircraft at no additional cost.
Dogs and miniature horses are the only service animals recognized by the ADA.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 allows service dogs to live in housing that has a “no-pets” rule.
