"What is a Service Dog?"
A
service dog
is an assistance animal who is trained to assist its
disabled handler. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
mandates that establishments that serves the public -
whether
publicly or privately owned - must allow disabled people to bring
their service animals into the business premises.
They must permit the service animals to accompany its handler
wherever he goes. If the customer is allowed into an area, the
same right must afforded to the
service dog. These areas
include restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxicabs,
airplanes, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities
ADA recognizes that people have different forms of disabilities
and they need to rely on their Service Dog to assist them to
perform tasks that they cannot do by themselves. Even if
an
establishment has a 'no pets' policy, they owner can not
prohibit your service dog from entering, because a service dog
is not a
pet.
You should have however have some identification with you or on
your dog to prove that your dog is a
service dog while you are in public. You can obtain this
OFFICIAL identification kit from National Service Dog
Registry.
The ADA (American with Disabilities Act) states that disabled people with their service animals
have the right to access all public facilities. There should
be no discrimination against the disabled people or their
service animals. Even if the State or the local laws prohibit
animals on the premise, the Federal Law from the ADA takes
precedence.
Public establishments cannot
restrict disabled guests or their service animals to places
where able bodied guests are allowed.
However the establishments can reject a
service dog from its premise, if it is aggressive,
disruptive or threatens the safety of other people. Examples of
such behaviors are excessive or prolonged barking.
Establishments can also charge its handlers for any damage
caused by their service dog.
"How Do I
Get
My
Service Dog
Certified?"
How do you know if a dog is qualified to be a service dog and is
able to assist you especially in public? Simply review the below
criterion and if you dog can perform most of the tasks the
he/she is legally qualified as a Service Dog.
"Here Is Your
Official
Service Dog Training Checklist:
#1. Your dog must obey your command instantly. 'Sit' and 'Stay'
must be a one time command that your dog can obey immediately.
Even if you drop the leash, the dog should stop and wait for you to regain
control.
#2. It should not be distracted by its surroundings whether it is
noise, traffic, vehicles, other animals or other people.
#3. Your dog should walk beside you at all times. It should not
run away from you and leave you unattended.
#4. When you exit from a vehicle, your dog should exit with
you.
#5. Your dog should not be distracted by people. Although it
is naturally for people to pet your dog, your dog should not
seek such attention.
#6. In the restaurant, your dog should sit comfortably on the
floor beside you or under the table. It should not expect food
from the table or get startled by the movement of people in the
restaurant.
#7. When people pet your dog, it should look to you for
guidance. It should not display aggressive behavior.
The most important thing is that you need to have full control
over
your service dog at all times and the dog is fully obedient to all of your
commands.
To get your service dog
approved with the OFFICIAL Service Dog Identification Kit from
the National Service Dog
Registry, you simply affirm that your dog is properly trained, when you order your Kit.
With this OFFICIAL Service Dog Identification Kit from the National Service Dog
Registry, you will have all the documentation necessary, to clearly
identify your dog as an OFFICIAL Service Dog when
he/she
accompanies you wherever you go in
public places including restaurants, museums, airports and
airplanes, theaters, stores and parks.
Identification Kit will
avoid any unnecessary conflict or awkward situations when you enter public
places with your service dog.
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