Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals

Use the blue quick links below to jump to the answer to one of the following questions.

How can I get a service dog/animal?
How can I get my service dog/animal certified/registered?
How much does a service dog cost?
Can I train my own dog to be a service animal?
I was denied access with my service dog/animal. What can I do?
How can I get my service dog/animal allowed in housing?
I want to get a service dog/animal for my child. Is this possible?
How does a dog/animal qualify to become a psychiatric service dog/animal?
Can my service dog/animal ride in the airplane cabin with me? What is required?
How can I identify if an animal is a service animal and not just a pet?
Where can I get a vest for my service animal?

How can I get a service animal/dog?

There are a variety of ways you can go about getting a service animal. Some organizations raise, train and place service animals, while others solely train the animal for you or assist you in training the animal yourself. Our directory of Service Animal Trainers and Training Programs is a great place to start your research. This directory is not a complete list of every service dog trainer or training program, nor is it a guarantee of quality. The entry for each trainer or program includes information of what kind of dogs they train (e.g., guide, hearing, mobility, etc.) and what services they offer (e.g., train for multiple disabilities, train own animal, train handler, test and provide ID, etc.).

We also suggest you read our section on Service Animal Consumer Considerations. You must be an educated consumer when looking for a service dog.

How can I get my service animal/dog certified/registered?

The ADA does not require service animals to be "certified". This type of assessment and identification is not a legal requirement under the ADA and other federal non-discrimination laws, but is preferred by some handlers. Some service dog trainers and programs evaluate the dogs they train and provide the handlers with some type of identification card.

Some trainers will test dogs they have not trained and provide the owner with identification cards. Refer to our directory of Service Animal Trainers and Training Programs and look for those that provide the service "Test and Provide ID."

Note: Delta Society’s directory of service animal trainers and training programs is not a complete list of every service dog trainer or training program, nor is it a guarantee of quality. Some areas provide a special license for service dogs. The animal licensing department in your state or county should be able to tell you the requirements for getting a special service dog tag.

How much does a service animal cost?

Trainer and acquisition fees may range from no cost to thousands of dollars. Each service animal trainer or training program sets their own fees. Some people choose to look for sponsorship for their service animal from local organizations such as businesses, churches, and civic groups. By helping sponsor a service animal, local organizations give back to their community, much like sponsoring a youth sports team. The Assistance Dog United Campaign (ADUC) raises funds in support of the assistance dog community. ADUC accepts voucher applications for new assistance dog partnerships. Vouchers are issued once a year and the decision of to whom to give the vouchers is based on disability and financial needs. Contact ADUC at 800-284-3647 or info@assistancedogunitedcampaign.org .

Can I train my own dog to be a service animal?

One of the big challenges for people training service dogs is getting the dog adequately trained for public access. Not all dogs have the temperament to handle the stress of working in public. Remember that you must meet the ADA definition of having a "disability" and, to be considered a service dog, your dog must be trained to perform tasks directly related to your disability.

The Minimum Standards for Service Dogs documents the recommended characteristics and minimum set of skills required of all service dogs. The Minimum Standards also address the health and safety of the public, handler, and dog.

Refer to our directory of Service Animal Trainers and Training Programs and look under Services Provided for "Train Handler." These trainers and programs will help you train your own dog to be a service dog, if it is appropriate. Trainers and programs that do not list this service will not train your own dog.

Teamwork, A Dog Training Manual for People with Physical Disabilities, Book One: Basic Obedience and Teamwork II, A Dog Training Manual for People with Physical Disabilities (Service Exercises) (both available from Dogwise.com) are books written for people with disabilities to teach them to train their own dog to perform service dog mobility skills. Teamwork, Book One teaches basic commands such as down, down stay, wait, and leave it. Teamwork II goes into skills such as retrieve, under, brace, light pull, and others. You may also contact Dogwise.com at (800) 776-2662.

Assistance Dogs International has developed a Public Access Test that reflects what they feel a service dog team should know to be safe in public.

I was denied access with my service dog/animal. What can I do?

The following is a list of places where you can get help:

Access to public places with a service dog and other rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
Department of Justice at (800) 514-0301; TTY (800) 514-0383; www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Housing with a Service Animal:
Department of Housing and Urban Development at (202) 708-1112; TTY (202) 708-1455; www.hud.gov
Traveling with a Service Animal:
Department of Transportation at (202) 366-4000; www.dot.gov
Bringing your Service Animal to Work:
Job Accommodation Network, a free service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the Department of Labor, at (800) 526-7234; janweb.icdi.wvu.edu
Assistance Dogs International's Guide to Assistance Dog Laws (2005) Santa Rosa, CA
Assistance Dogs International; 144 pages; visit www.adionline.org
State laws that apply to people with service dogs:
Contact your State Attorney General's office and request that they direct you to the appropriate state agency.

How can I get my service dog/animal allowed in housing?

Landlords, tenants and owners in multifamily housing, housing management associations and realtors often have questions about service animals in housing that traditionally has had no-pet policies. In many areas, despite federal and some state laws that protect people with disabilities to have service animals in housing, confusion about rights and obligations persist. This can lead to discrimination.

The Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act is the law that most often helps to provide the guidance necessary to answer the questions that arise about service animals in housing. This article is not legal advice, but is informal technical assistance to help answer some of the most frequently asked housing questions. Advice about individual circumstances and about the legal interpretation of the Fair Housing Act can be obtained from the local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. How the Fair Housing Act Protects Individuals with Disabilities with Regard to Service Animals.

I want to get a service dog/animal for my child. Is this possible?

Some service dog trainers will train a service dog for children under 18 year old. Trainers usually will train a dog for a child based on a certain age or the maturity of the child. Delta Society’s directory of Service Animal Trainers and Training Programswill indicate under Services provided if a trainer will consider placing a service dog with a child.

How does an dog/animal qualify to become a psychiatric service animal?

The Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, (ADA), defines service animal as: "any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." The ADA defines a disability as: "a mental or physical condition which substantially limits a major life activity such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working."

To be considered a service animal, the animalsmust be trained to perform tasks directly related to the person's disability. “Comforting" or "giving love", although clinically proven to be beneficial for people, would not be acknowledged as a trained "task" by the Department of Justice, which enforces the ADA. Examples of trained tasks performed by psychiatric service dogs can be found at www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html.

Can my service dog/animal ride in the airplane cabin with me? What is required?

Service dogs are allowed to ride in the airplane cabin with their handler. For more information contact the Department of Transportation at (202) 366-4000; www.dot.gov.

How can I identify if an animal is a service animal and not just a pet?

The simple answer is to ask the handler, “Is this a service dog?” You may also ask what tasks the dog has been trained to do for the handler. A service dog can be any breed or size.

There is no Federal requirement that the dog wear any special gear or identification. Also, there is no requirement that the handler carry any certification papers showing that the dog has been trained as a service dog. You may not ask the person about the nature or extent of his or her disability.

For more information, read Service Animal Basics

Where can I get a vest for my service animal?

Download our directory of Service Animal Product Suppliers. Product suppliers help people with service dogs obtain necessary equipment and supplies. Please contact the supplier directly for prices and other information.