Should a service animal wear identifying gear?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

There is no requirement under the law for an assistance animal to wear any identifying gear such as vests, harnesses, tags, or other gear.

These are not legally required, and probably never will be, in order to allow disabled people to move freely in public without stigma or feeling labeled. However, even though not required, gear is sometimes desired by an owner in situations where it will short-cut conversations or help prevent misunderstandings in public spaces.

For example, if a dog is wearing a shirt which states “Medical Alert Service Animal,” then the disabled owner/handler might avoid having to explain his or her animal’s status when visiting public spaces such as restaurants.

Although gear can shortcut uncomfortable conversations with landlords, employers, airlines, and business owners, it does not give the animal its status.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Are assistance animals allowed in residential housings?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

If you are wondering whether an assistance animal can live with you, know that there are two types of assistance animals which a landlord, property manager, or hotel must allow to reside with its owner/handler in any residential housing.

They are…

1. Service Animals
2. Emotional Support Animals

Notice that Therapy Animals are not included in this list. Therapy Animals have no right for housing accommodations by landlords and hotels. The animal would be treated as an ordinary pet when it comes to housing, and a landlord or hotel can impose whatever restrictions it has in place for pets.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Is an individual allowed to have multiple assistance animals such as two service animals?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

There is no specific regulation or law that limits a disabled owner to a certain number of Assistance Animals. Because there is no direct guidance, it is likely that an owner would have to show a reasonable need for the number of animals in question.

For example, if a disabled owner/handler has diabetes and mobility issues, and keeps two Service Animals because one animal is trained to detect a drop in blood sugar, and the other is trained to provide physical support and stability, and to fetch objects and open doors, then it would probably be deemed reasonable to have both animals.

However, if a tenant keeps two Emotional Support Animals to assist with combating suicidal tendencies and severe depression, then the landlord could have a viable argument against allowing both animals unless there was a reasonable justification for needing both animals.

The landlord could argue that one animal alone would provide the needed support. A physician’s note would likely need to specifically recommend the multiple animals.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Service animals can assist people with psychiatric conditions

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

When provided training, service animals can help individuals suffering from psychiatric conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Training will allow these animals to detect the onset of their disorder.

To detect the onset of the condition, the service animal’s task/s are the following:

Pulling on the individual’s clothing.
Reminding the individual to take medicine.
Providing safety checks or room searches for individuals suffering from PTSD.
Interrupting self-mutilation.
Removing disoriented individuals from dangerous situations.

Remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not apply to a service animal while that animal is still in training.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Senate might approve service animal bill to establish clear rules

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Here’s what’s happening nowadays: More and more people are using fake service animals for their own benefit. This incidence is negatively affecting people with real disabilities who happen to have service animals as well.

To address this situation, a bill has been created to create a misdemeanor offense for people using fake service animals. According to Representative James Byrd from House District 44, if someone is caught using a fake service animal, the animal won’t be allowed into public facilities and that the owner should be charged extra by hotels.

Not only does House Bill 114 prevent the misuse of service animals, it also upholds the right of disabled people by providing clear rules for disabled individuals who need them. The bill also states that establishments that do not accept real service animals would be fined. Moreover, people who would injure any service animal would spend half a year in prison, be fined, and are required to pay for a new service animal and its training.

Service animal owners are only allowed to define their service animals and the task/s they perform to business owners who ask about these animals. If business owners are suspicious about the answers of the animal owners, they are allowed to contact law enforcement about the matter.

Article source: Kcwy13.com

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Emotional support dog changes the life of college senior

Posted on March 5, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Stefanie DeSimone is a college senior of PSU who has suffered from anxiety and depression since she was 15 years old. Because she had a tough time handling senior year with all the “crazy” schedule and less structured routine, she realized that she needed the company of an emotional support animal.

DeSimone quotes, “I looked for a really long time. It all aligned for me, but I think I maybe went through ten dogs before I finally found the one I knew could work best with me. I wasn’t just looking for a dog to have a companion; I was looking for a dog to help me function. I was looking for an animal that I knew was going to help me in everyday life and help keep me on a routine.”

DeSimone knew that the process of finding a dog would not be an easy task. She understood that an emotional support animal wasn’t just a pet, but also a friend who could offer emotional comfort especially in times of difficulty. After doing a lot of research, she decided to have German Shephard Poodle mix. She named her support animal “Flo.”

The final process of having Flo approved in the school campus was presenting a letter from DeSimone’s therapist which stated her need for the animal. She was ready to handle the responsibilities of having an ESA in the campus. According to her, the benefits of having Flo by her side outweighed the costs.

Article source: The Clock Online

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Hastings Public Schools recognize the importance of service and therapy animals

Posted on February 26, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Photo courtesy: Hastings Tribune

Service animals and therapy animals are increasingly being used in the district. The Hastings Board of Education has approved policies for these animals and recognize that therapy animals are beneficial to students who have problems with anxiety, self-esteem, and behavior.

Superintendent Craig Kautz mentions the difference between therapy animals and service animals. He quotes, “Therapy animals are there to help with the emotion of the environment while service dogs perform jobs for individuals.”

Students from Hastings Middle School who are having coping difficulties are currently using therapy dogs to calm them down. These therapy dogs visit these students during Fridays. When it comes to service dogs, Krautz said that the school board has an obligation to make these animals an essential part of the educational program.

The policy on therapy dogs might be implemented after a month while the service animal policy must be implemented right away since much of it has already been established.

Article source: Hastings Tribune

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Who should train the service animal and what are the tasks to be performed by that animal?

Posted on February 26, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

Service animals must be trained to perform a specific task for the benefit of its disabled owner/handler. This training may be done by either a certified professional trainer, a non-certified professional trainer, a friend, a family member, or the person with the disability.

The tasks could include the following or similar tasks:

Navigation for the blind
Hearing assistance for the hearing impaired
Rescue work for owners and handlers whose condition may cause emergency conditions which may require fetching help
Pulling a wheelchair
Assisting with mobility by giving physical support
Fetching dropped items
Preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors
Reminding the individual to take medicine
Providing safety checks or room searches for persons with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Interrupting self-mutilation
Removing disoriented individuals from dangerous situations
Assisting during medical incapacitation, such as during a seizure
Alerting the individual as to a medical issue, such as an oncoming seizure, blood
sugar drop, or other medical condition onset
Alerting individuals to the presence of allergens
Other similar or related tasks

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

Does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) apply to a service animal while that animal is still in training?

Posted on February 26, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

The answer is NO.

If you would like to take a service-animal-in-training out to public spaces, the ADA does not give you that legal right and it is up to local state, county or city laws or the individual business owner, employer, or landlord to grant you access rights for that animal that is still in training. But as soon as that animal has learned at least one trained task, then it may qualify as a service animal even while its training continues and additional tasks are learned.

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

The community should fully understand the roles of service dogs

Posted on February 26, 2017 by SARC Editorial Staff

People with service animals should only be asked two questions in public:

Is that a service dog for a disability?
What task does this dog do for you?

Jerry Lyda, an event organizer, has mentioned that businesses should be aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He also adds that people should understand and respect the rights of disabled people who rely on service dogs.

Peter Way is a volunteer who owns a service animal. He gets out of bed everyday feeling motivated because of his service animal. He mentioned that one time a hotel allowed service dogs but still asked for certification and paperwork as proof.

Several businesses are now joining the movement in support for service animals. Farmhaus Burgers was among the companies that joined. Farmhaus manager said, “I think it’s really exciting that we have a sign that says ‘Service dogs welcome. No pets.’ It makes it understandable that there are people who need a specific animal for certain therapeutic reasons.”

Article source: Wjbf.com

Are you an owner of an assistance animal?

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS

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