![]() ![]() On the other hand, ESAs are not protected by the ADA. Under the ADA, service dogs are allowed access to virtually any public space: “State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go.” Service dogs must also be under control. This would help the person prevent the attack or lesson the intensity of the attack. In the case of someone with panic disorder, the dog must reliably alert (alert = react) to symptoms of an oncoming panic attack. The dog must reliably carry out the tasks it is specifically trained to do. In order to be a service dog, the dog must be trained for at least one task that directly mitigates their handler’s disability. If a person went into a panic attack, and the ESA instinctively licked that person’s face to comfort them, the animal would still not be a service dog. An ESA provides comfort to the person simply by existing. Most importantly: ESAs are not trained to do specific tasks. In contrast, ESAs are not necessarily just dogs. *Miniature horses are permitted to assist a person with a disability, but they are regulated under separate provisions under the ADA. If a person has a panic attack, the dog will actively climb on top of their handler to apply pressure and calm them down. Examples of this would be: If a person has trouble seeing, then the dog will guide them. The key is that the animal must be a dog (miniature horses can also be service animals*), and the dog must be trained to carry out specific actions directly related to the person’s disability. Here is the definition of a service dog straight from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): “Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” ![]() ![]() You may ask: Is there even a difference? Aren’t the terms interchangeable?Īnd the answer is that there is a huge difference! One of the most misunderstood concepts is the difference between an emotional support animal (ESA) versus a service dog. ![]()
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