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Service animal describes any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks
for the benefit of a person with a disability.
Service dog, adapted from the term service animal, is a species-specific term to generically
describe any dog in the role of service animal. While the term "service animal" is legally
defined, some organizations use the term "assistance animal" or "assistance dog."
The terminology used to label specific types of work dogs perform for people with
disabilities has not been standardized. For example, a dog trained to help a person walk
might be referred to by different sources as a "mobility dog", a "walker dog", or a "support
dog." In addition to the wide variety of terms used, many service dogs are cross-trained to
perform more than one category of work (such as guide and mobility for a person who is blind
and has severe arthritis) and labeling them by the work they do becomes cumbersome.
Many individuals choose to identify their service animal generically (as "service animals",
"service dogs", "service cats," etc.) because it identifies the roles of the animals without
disclosing the nature of the persons' disabilities, and it is consistent with the terminology
of the laws that protect them.
Service Animals:
Are animals legally defined (Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990) and are
trained to meet the disability-related needs of their handlers who have disabilities. Federal
laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service
animals in public places. Service animals are not considered "pets."
Therapy Animals:
These animals are not legally defined by federal law, but some states have laws defining
therapy animals. They provide people with contact to animals, but are not limited to working
with people who have disabilities. They are usually the personal pets of their handlers, and
work with their handlers to provide services to others. Federal laws have no provisions for
people to be accompanied by therapy animals in places of public accommodation that have "no
pets" policies. Therapy animals usually are not service animals.
Companion Animal:
These animals are not legally defined, but are accepted as another term for pet.
Social/Therapy Animals:
Likewise, these animals have no legal definition. They often are animals that
did not complete service animal or service dog training due to health, disposition,
trainability, or other factors, and are made available as pets for people who have
disabilities. These animals might or might not meet the definition of service animals.
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Service dogs that are trained to assist the individual needs of a person with a disability
can provide the amount of physical and/or psychological support necessary to help that
person lead a more functional and independent life. Click the links below for information.
