Public Access: 101

Public Access 101: Who has it? What is it? What defines it?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs, Therapy Dogs and their access rights under the law. Public Access allows a Service Dog (SD) to accompany his/her partner anywhere s/he must go or live as long as the SD is under control and behaving appropriately. No vest or ID is required. I usually wear both. Here is my ID.

. Here is Dash in his vest.

To qualify for a service dog, a person must have a disability or medical condition that affects one or more areas of life functioning and is verified by a medical doctor. The dog should be trained and the training documented to mitigate the specific disability by performing task work.

An Emotional Support Dog (ESA) DOES NOT have public access rights under the law. It does have protected housing rights under the ADA. An ESA is not required to be trained although some may train their dogs.

A Therapy Dog does not have public access rights or housing rights under the law. Although I am trained, certified and insured, I must be invited into a building by the owner or staff for a theraputic purpose. I may go only to areas where I am told to go. I may enter only at specific times. I am a guest- I may not come and go freely as a service dog team with public access could. When I work as a Therapy Dog I wear my Bandana.

I wear my Therapy Dog badge.

It is important to understand that I have to change roles and change gear and badges. Yes, it takes time but it is the legal thing to do as a dual certified dog! One of Mom’s “pet” peeves is people who misrepresent dogs as service dogs when they are not! So we take the extra time to change my gear and tags and to always educate people about my various roles!
It is not that complicated, is it?

Woofs and wags,
Bella