Between Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Therapy Dogs
[6-20-2024 ~ Rebekah Baheerathen] Understanding the differences is sometimes difficult but important. While service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs all help humans, they serve different functions and have distinct roles. These titles aren’t just limited to dogs; for instance, you can have an emotional support hedgehog. The distinctions between these categories can be quite confusing, so let’s break down the main differences to help you understand each one better.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are any animal that provides emotional and mental support to an individual with a psychiatric or mental disability.
- Function: Offers comfort and companionship to the owner.
- Legal Status: Not considered service animals or pets under U.S. law.
- Rights: Allowed in residential settings under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) rules.
- Authorization: A licensed mental health professional determines the need for an ESA.
Service animals are typically dogs that assist individuals with disabilities, including those with psychiatric problems.
- Function: Trained to perform specific tasks to help individuals with their disabilities.
- Legal Status: Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), allowing them in most public spaces.
- Types: Service animals include, but are not limited to, guide dogs, hearing dogs, and psychiatric service dogs. Psychiatric service dogs assist individuals with conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. You may qualify for a psychiatric service dog if your condition impairs your ability to perform major life tasks, such as breathing or speaking, and there is a documented record of this.
- Authorization: Requires a recommendation from a mental health professional. Organizations like Healing Companions can assist in the process of obtaining one.
Therapy animals assist professionals in therapeutic settings and they are not always dogs.
- Function: Provide comfort and support in various settings such as hospitals, schools, and therapy sessions.
- Legal Status: Not considered service dogs and not trained to perform specific tasks. They do not have the same public access rights as service animals.
- Certification: Must be certified and registered with an organization. Personal pets cannot be used as therapy dogs without proper certification.
While these three categories of animals may seem confusing at first, understanding their unique roles and legal statuses can help clarify their differences. This article only outlines a few characteristics of each category. If you have any more questions or would like a more detailed and personalized consultation, contact Jane Miller (email: jmiller@oberlin.net) or visit https://healing-companions.org/contact-us/
References
American Kennel Club. What is a therapy dog? https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/what-is-a-therapy-dog/#:~:text=Therapy%20dogs%20are%20dogs%20who,the%20lives%20of%20other%20people.
Karetnick, J. (2021, June 25). How to train a therapy dog. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-train-a-therapy-dog/
Schoenfeld-Tacher, R., Hellyer, P., Cheung, L., & Kogan, L. (2017). Public perceptions of service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060642
UMass Chan Medical School. Emotional support animals: The basics. https://www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/resources/emotional-support-animals-101/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2020, January 28). Assessing a person’s request to have an animal as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/HUDAsstAnimalNC1-28-2020.pdf
Wisch, R. F. (2015). FAQs on emotional support animals. Animal Legal & Historical Center. Michigan State University. https://www.animallaw.info/article/faqs-emotional-support-animals
U.S. Department of Justice. (2015, July 20). Frequently asked questions about service animals and the ADA. https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/#top
