With the recent passing of our beloved Lucy, and having many conversations about her being a therapy dog, it got me thinking. What is a therapy dog? What is the difference between a therapy dog and an emotional support animal? This blog took a deep dive into this topic.
When it comes to animals providing support and assistance to humans, there are three main categories that often get confused: therapy dogs, emotional support animals, and service dogs. Each of these categories serves a different purpose and has specific training and certification requirements. In this blog, we will explore the differences between these three types of support animals, their history, training necessary, certification, and current trends.
Therapy Dogs:
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and support to individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. These dogs are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and do not have the same rights and privileges as service dogs. Therapy dogs must undergo specific training to ensure they are well-behaved and can handle various environments and situations. They must also be certified by a recognized therapy dog organization, such as Therapy Dogs International or the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. These organizations oversee the certification process and ensure that therapy dogs meet certain standards of behavior and training. That training usually consists of
- Good behavior: Therapy dogs must have a friendly and calm temperament, be well-behaved, and not show any signs of aggression.
- Obedience training: Therapy dogs should have basic obedience training and be able to follow commands such as sit, stay, and come.
- Health and vaccinations: Therapy dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccinations and be in good health. They may also need to undergo a health screening to ensure they are fit for therapy work.
- Socialization: Therapy dogs should be comfortable around a variety of people, including strangers, children, and individuals with disabilities.
- Certification: Some organizations require therapy dogs to be certified or registered through a specific therapy dog program. This may involve passing a test or evaluation to demonstrate their suitability for therapy work.
It is important to note that requirements may vary depending on the organization or facility where the therapy dog will be working. There are no specific limits to breeds for therapy dogs, as any breed can potentially be trained to be a therapy dog. However, certain breeds may be better suited for this role based on their temperament, personality, and behavior. Some breeds that are commonly used as therapy dogs include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, and Beagles. It is important to consider the individual dog's temperament and training when selecting a breed for therapy work.
Emotional Support Animals:
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort and companionship to individuals with emotional or psychological disabilities. Unlike service dogs, ESAs do not require specific training to perform tasks or assist with disabilities. Instead, they provide emotional support simply by being present. ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, which allow individuals with disabilities to have their emotional support animals with them in housing and on flights. However, ESAs are not granted the same public access rights as service dogs and are not allowed in all public places.
Emotional support dogs can be identified by having a letter from a licensed mental health professional stating that the dog is prescribed for emotional support. This letter is typically required for housing and travel accommodations. Additionally, emotional support dogs may wear a vest or tag indicating their role, although this is not required by law. It's important to note that emotional support dogs do not have the same rights as service dogs and are not allowed in all public places. There are no specific limits on breeds for ESAs. Any breed of animal can potentially serve as an ESA as long as they provide emotional support to their owner and help alleviate symptoms of a mental or emotional disability. However, some housing providers or airlines may have restrictions on certain breeds due to safety concerns or other reasons. It is important to check with the specific housing provider or airline regarding their policies on ESA breeds.
Service Dogs:
Service dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. These tasks can include guiding individuals who are blind or visually impaired, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving items, and providing medical alerts for conditions such as seizures or diabetes. Service dogs are protected under the ADA and have the right to accompany their handlers in all public places. Service dogs must undergo extensive training to perform their tasks reliably and must be certified by a recognized service dog organization.
Service dogs undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. The training typically includes obedience training, socialization, and task-specific training based on the individual's needs. Service dogs can be trained to perform tasks such as guiding individuals with visual impairments, alerting individuals with hearing impairments to sounds, retrieving items, providing stability for individuals with mobility issues, and alerting to medical conditions such as seizures or low blood sugar.
The regulation of training for service dogs varies depending on the country or region. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not have specific requirements for training service dogs. However, service dog organizations such as Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) have their own standards and guidelines for training service dogs. his training typically includes obedience training, task-specific training based on the individual's needs, socialization, public access training, and specialized skills training. The training is tailored to the specific needs of the individual and their disability, and may include tasks such as guiding, alerting, mobility assistance, and more. Additionally, IAADP provides resources and support for handlers to continue training and maintain the skills of their service dogs.
Additionally, individual states may have their own laws and regulations regarding service dog training.In Delaware there are laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities who use service dogs. The Delaware Equal Accommodations Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) both protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service dogs in public places. These laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities who use service dogs and require businesses and public entities to allow service dogs to accompany their owners in all areas open to the public.
Interestingly there are laws in Delaware regarding ESAs and therapy dogs. In Delaware, ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act, which allows individuals with disabilities to have an ESA in their housing unit even if there is a "no pets" policy in place. However, ESAs are not granted the same public access rights as service animals.
Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are not protected under federal law like service animals are. However, therapy dogs may be allowed in certain public places with permission from the establishment or organization. It is important to check with specific locations or organizations to see if therapy dogs are allowed on their premises.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend of individuals misrepresenting their pets as service animals or emotional support animals in order to gain access to public places or housing. This has led to increased scrutiny and regulation of emotional support animals and service animals. Some states have passed laws making it a crime to misrepresent a pet as a service animal, and airlines have implemented stricter policies for traveling with emotional support animals. Misrepresenting an ESA, therapy dog, or service dog can have serious consequences, including:
- Legal repercussions: Misrepresenting a pet as an ESA, therapy dog, or service dog is illegal in many places and can result in fines or other legal consequences.
- Harm to legitimate service animals: Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog can create confusion and potentially harm legitimate service animals who are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities.
- Damage to the reputation of legitimate service animals: Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog can perpetuate misconceptions and stereotypes about service animals, leading to discrimination and challenges for individuals who rely on them for assistance.
- Disruption of public spaces: Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog can lead to disruptive behavior in public spaces, causing discomfort or inconvenience to others.
- Undermining the rights of individuals with disabilities: Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog can undermine the rights of individuals with disabilities who rely on these animals for assistance, potentially leading to increased barriers and discrimination.
There are laws in Delaware that prohibit misrepresenting an emotional support animal (ESA), therapy dog, or service dog. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is illegal to misrepresent a pet as a service animal in order to gain access to places where pets are not typically allowed. Violating these laws can result in fines and other penalties. In general, fines can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, and may be accompanied by other penalties such as probation, community service, license suspension, or imprisonment. It is important to only claim your pet as an ESA, therapy dog, or service dog if they have been properly trained and certified for that role.
In conclusion, therapy dogs, emotional support animals, and service dogs each serve a unique purpose and have specific training and certification requirements. It is important to understand the differences between these types of support animals and to respect the rights and privileges granted to individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs for assistance. By educating ourselves and others about these distinctions, we can ensure that support animals are used appropriately and effectively to improve the lives of individuals in need.
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