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What IS a Service Animal?

A topic that is often misunderstood is the definition and role of a service dog, particularly when terms like Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and psychiatric service dogs are introduced. The terminology can become quite confusing, especially when trying to navigate the differences between these various types of animals. While many people use these terms interchangeably, it’s important to recognize that there are significant legal distinctions between them. This post aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the differences between service dogs, psychiatric service dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and therapy dogs. Understanding these differences is crucial, as the laws governing each type of animal vary greatly, and these distinctions can have important implications for both the animals and their handlers.

Let’s begin by addressing therapy animals, including dogs. A therapy dog is specially trained to assist people in various settings. These dogs often visit schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, and are certified by therapy animal organizations after completing specific training and testing. They may even visit in groups with other dogs. Therapy animals can be a variety of species, such as rabbits, cats, pigs, and more. Legally, therapy animals are considered pets and can only access areas that typically don’t allow animals with prior permission or agreement.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs), in contrast to service animals, do not require any specialized training, but they are specifically linked to a psychiatric disability. While service animals are trained to perform specific tasks to assist their handler, ESAs provide emotional support and comfort to help manage the handler’s mental health challenges. They are not trained in any particular way to perform tasks but are recognized for their ability to offer companionship and emotional relief. ESAs can belong to almost any species, giving individuals a wider range of options for support animals.

However, it’s important to note that ESAs do not have the same public access rights as service animals. For example, ESAs do not have the legal right to accompany their handler into public spaces, such as grocery stores or restaurants. The one major exception to this rule is air travel, where ESAs are currently allowed to accompany their handler in the cabin of the plane, though rules can vary by airline.

On the other hand, ESAs do have protections when it comes to housing. Individuals with ESAs are legally entitled to live with their animal, even in housing that typically has a no-pet policy. This means that landlords are required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with emotional support animals, ensuring they are not excluded from housing opportunities based on their disability or need for an ESA.

In South Africa, service animals are exclusively dogs. These service dogs have the legal right to public access, with very few restrictions, and are granted the ability to live with their disabled owners, even if the housing they reside in typically does not permit animals. Unlike regular pets, service dogs undergo extensive and rigorous training, often spanning hundreds or even thousands of hours. This training is specialized to help them assist one individual partner with their unique needs, and the dogs are seen as vital medical tools for their owners. Because of this, service dogs are granted special access rights and are allowed to accompany their owners just about anywhere, similar to how individuals who use wheelchairs are permitted to go almost anywhere with their mobility devices. The legal framework around service dogs in South Africa underscores their significance, recognizing them as not just animals, but as indispensable aids that enhance the independence and well-being of people with disabilities.

Psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) are often confused with emotional support animals (ESAs), as both require their handlers to have a psychiatric disability. Despite this similarity, there are significant differences between the two. PSDs, like all service dogs, undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks that assist their handler in managing their disability. They are legally recognized and protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which grants them access to public places, such as restaurants, stores, and transportation systems.

The main point of confusion arises with regard to air travel, as current regulations in the United States treat PSDs the same as ESAs. This has led to misunderstandings, as ESAs do not undergo the same level of specialized training that PSDs do, and they do not have the same legal rights. While PSDs are classified as service dogs and are afforded all the rights and protections that come with that designation, ESAs are not legally considered service animals and do not have the same privileges, such as public access or entry into places where animals are typically restricted.

In every other aspect, the distinction between a PSD and an ESA is clear: a PSD is a highly trained service dog, while an ESA provides emotional support without the intensive training required of a service animal. Therefore, despite their shared connection to mental health support, a PSD and an ESA are fundamentally different when it comes to legal rights and responsibilities.

A quick summary of the differences:

  • Therapy animals help others and are trained
  • Emotional support animals help one disabled individual and are not trained
  • Service dogs (including PSDs) help one disabled individual and are highly-trained

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