Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. There is no ADA requirement that the owner carry any certification papers showing that the animal is a service animal. When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff/Faculty may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
Service animals are not pets, they are working animals. When a service dog is working, you should not engage with it in any way. You should ask the owner if petting or talking with the animal is permitted—even if it seems to be at rest. You may not always be aware when an animal is working. A good practice would be to ask the owner. The owner may tell you that the dog is on duty or in harness. This means that the dog is still working and should not be petted. Similarly, you should also ask if you can pet a support animal as this animal provides comfort for its owner that you may inadvertently disturb.
You should not take a photograph of the animal without permission from its owner. Likewise, please do not do anything to bring unwanted attention to the service team (pointing, saying “Look, a dog!”). This is considered rude and can make the owner uncomfortable.
Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility. Please contact Disability Services for more information.
A service animal’s professional behavior and good grooming are necessary for it to be protected under the ADA. A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove their service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control and the Owner does not take effective action to control it, (2) the animal is a direct threat to the safety of others, (3) the dog is not housebroken or (4) wanders away from its owner. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff and/or faculty must offer the person with the disability the option to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence.
Yes and no. Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises. Support animals are only allowed in the owner’s residential unit.
No, the animal is the sole responsibility of the owner. Faculty/Staff are not required to provide care or food for a service animal. Most service animals are on a strict schedule of food and water and do not eat “People Food.”
No. Individuals with disabilities who use service/support animals cannot be isolated from other students, treated less favorably than other students, or charged fees that are not charged to other students without animals. However, if the animal causes damage, the owner of the animal is responsible for any and all damages.
Title II and III of the ADA does not cover “service animals in training” but California allows animals in training in public places for training purposes by licensed trainers and owner-trainers. Please note a service animal in training is versed in basic socialization, house training, basic obedience training and training roughly equivalent to the American Kennel Club’s Good Canine Citizen test.
For more information on Service Animals, visit: https://www.ada.gov/