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1. The Rights of Businesses – Part 1
Most people are aware that service dogsmustbe permittedtoaccompanytheirdisabledhandlers
intonon-petfriendlybusinesses.Unfortunately,manybusinessownersare notaware that theytoo
have rightsconcerning service dogs,andwhetherornotthose service dogsare legallyallowedtobe
intheirbusiness.There ismuchmisinformationandfearsurroundingthe rightsof service dog
handlers,andthus,businessowners.Thisarticle hopestoclearupsome of these misconceptions,
and to educate businessesontheirrights,outlinedinthe AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA).
“…there has beenaninflux of petownersdressinguptheirpetsinvestsandbringingtheminpublic
by claimingtheyare a service dog.”
What isa service dog?
The AmericanswithDisabilitiesActdefinesaService Animal as:
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“A dog that hasbeenhouse brokenandindividuallytrainedtodoworkor performtasksfor an
individualwithadisability.The task(s)performedbythe dogmustbe directlyrelatedtothe person’s
disability.”
Contraryto popularmisconception,aservice dogcan be any breed,orcombinationof breeds,of any
dog.This couldbe your standardLabrador Retriever,oritcouldbe a Terriermix.Breedsare not
discountedbasedonsize,breedspecificlegislation,orpublicopinion.IpersonallyworkanAmerican
Bulldog/EnglishPointermix namedCow.Youcannotdetermine whetherornota dogis a service dog
justby lookingattheirappearance.
Cowmugs forthe camera

2. You alsocannot determineaservice dogbythe gear theyare wearing.The ADA permitsdisabled
handlerstoworktheirservice doginwhatevergeartheysochoose;thisincludesworkingthe dog
completelyfree of anyidentifyinggear. Some handlerschoose todresstheirdogsina singularvest
or cape withpatchesidentifyingthe dog,andpossiblyaskingthe publicnottopetor distract the
dog.Some handlersrequire more intricate geartoaccommodate theirdisability,suchasa guide
harness,ora mobilityharness.Some handlersuse asimple bandanna,aleashwrapstating“service
dog,”or nogear at all.
What if I don’tthinka dog isa service dog?
Thisis a fairquestion.Unfortunately,asanybusinessownerwilltell you,therehasbeenaninflux of
petownersdressinguptheirpetsinvestsandbringingtheminpublicbyclaimingtheyare aservice
dog.Most businessesleave itatthat,despite the dog’smisbehavior,outof fearor beingsuedor
vilifiedbythe mediafordiscrimination.
As a businessowneroremployee,youhave quite afew rightsinthissituation.First,perthe ADA,
youare allowedtoasktwo questionsof anyservice doghandler:
“(1) isthe dog a service animal requiredbecause of adisability,and(2) whatwork or task has the
dog beentrainedtoperform.Staff cannotaskaboutthe person’sdisability,require medical
documentation,require aspecial identificationcardortrainingdocumentationforthe dog,orask
that the dog demonstrate itsabilitytoperform the workor task.”
What do theymeanby“task”? A task isconsideredanytrainedbehaviorthatmitigatesthe handler’s
disability.Forexample,thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,mobilityandbalance assistance,medical
alert(cardiacalert,diabeticalert,seizurealert,bloodpressure alert,etc.),guiding,alertingtheir
Deaf handlertosounds,pullingwheelchairs,pickingupdroppeditems,performinggroundingtasks
for psychiatricdisorders,medicationreminders,seizure response,blockingthe individualfroma
crowd,removingthe dissociatedhandlerfromthe publicspace,alertingapersonwithPTSDthat a
strangeris comingupbehindthem,andmore.
PumpkinBalancingLevel:Expert.This,unfortunately,isnotconsideredatask.
What isNOT meantby “task,”includes,butisnotlimitedto,emotional support,comfort,protection,
intimidation,oranyotherbenefitsunrelatedtodisability.While servicedogsmayprovide comfort
by theirmere presence,thisisnotconsideredataskunderthe ADA.If the animal isnottrainedto do
anythingelse butprovide comfortoremotionalsupport,thentheyare nota service animal,evenif
theirownerisdisabled.More importantly,service dogsMAYNOT be usedforprotectionor
intimidation.Service dogsmayintimidate peoplebytheirverypresence,butthisisnotconsidereda
task,and is highlyfrowneduponbythe Departmentof Justice andotherhandlers.Service dogs
shouldnothave a highprotectiondrive,andshouldnotautomaticallyprotecttheirhandlerunless
genuine harmisbefallingthem.Aftersuchanevent,service dogsshouldbe reevaluatedbya
qualifiedbehavioristtoconfirmthattheyare still fitto workaroundthe public.
What aboutdocumentationorcertificationthatthe dogisindeedaservice animal?Thiswillcome as
a surprise tomost people,butthere isnosuchthingas a certificationorregistrationforservice dogs.
As a result,there isnotlegal identificationor“paper”forservice animals,andaskingforone will
onlygetyou a longlecture bythe handler,asobbinghandlerinthe middle of apanicattack, or a call

3. to the Departmentof Justice orthe police.Inmy personal experience,the people whocarryand
offeridentificationfortheirdogsare typicallypetownerswhohave paid $75 to “register”theirpet
on a scam website inreturnfora vest,identificationcard,andpaperworkstatingthatthe dog isa
service dog.Thisdoesnotrequire anytrainingorproof that the personisdisabledandthe dogis
trained.It’ssimplyascam that needstobe made illegal andprosecuted.Of course,thisdoesnot
include paperworkfromspecificprogramsthatsome handlerscarryas an extraprecaution,orthe
fake identificationthatsome legitimate handlerscarryand use as a last resortif askedforit by an
uninformedmanager,asthe handler’sdisabilitypreventsthemfromeducatingthe often-belligerent
employee.
How can I tell if a dogis a service dog?
Despite the lackof uniformityandidentificationamongstservicedogsandtheirhandlers,there are a
fewgoodwaysto tell if a dog isreallya service dog.The mostimportant,andsurestsignof a dog’s
legitimacyandtrainingisbehavior.Behavioralwaysshows,whetheritbe the behaviorof the dogor
the handler.
Cowthinksthat if he staresdeeplyintomysoul andmakesgooglyeyes—alsoknownaschecking
in—I’ll givehimfood.He’susuallyright.
A service dogwill have theirbasicobedience downpat.Theywill notbe incessantlysniffing
merchandise,solicitingattentionorbarkingatpassersby,takingproductsoff shelves,orleavingtheir
handlertoexplore ontheirown.While some handlersdocarrytheirsmall service dogsintheirarms
or in a sling,businessesdonothave to allow dogsinshoppingcartsor baskets,andservice dogs
shouldneverbe onthe business’furniture unlesstheirtaskdemandsit,suchasperformingdeep
pressure therapyonthe lapof the handler.However,evenduringthistask,the dogshouldnotbe
usingthisopportunitytosniff foodonthe table of a restaurantor merchandise onhighershelves.
The dog shouldbe focusedontheirhandler,notonthe benefitsof beinghigherthanthe floor.
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