Service Animals
What are they, what do they do, and why are they important?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals, also referred to as assistance animals, are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Miniature horses also fall under the definition of a service animal. Service animals are extensively trained to provide specific support to their handler and their disability. Service animals can task for deep pressure therapy, diabetic alert, allergy alert, opening doors, pulling wheelchairs, picking up items, and so much more! They can be trained to the specific needs of their handler. They are important because they provide greater independence and support to their handler's everyday life. Although they are dogs, they are considered to be medical devices as they provide an extensive medical service.
Service animals are essential to their handler's everyday life, and outside disruption can prevent them from effectively doing their job, putting their handler at risk. It's important to respect the space and boundaries of service dog teams (service dog + handler) in all settings. It starts with recognizing how we interact with disabled people and service dog teams. To start, we should address the person and not their dog. You should never approach a service animal unless you have asked and received permission from their handler to do so. This includes keeping personal pets away from service animals; not distracting them by trying to get their attention with gestures, sounds, or food; or trying to guide/steer them.