Pet care guide
Service dogs, in plain language
This guide explains the basics of US service dog rules. It is general information, not legal advice. Check current rules with the agency or business involved.
What makes a dog a service dog
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples include guiding a person who is blind, alerting to a seizure or low blood sugar, reminding a person to take medication, or interrupting a panic attack. The task must be directly related to the person's disability. Providing comfort just by being there is not a trained task.
The two questions a business may ask
When it is not obvious what the dog does, staff may ask only:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
They may not ask about the person's disability, ask for medical papers, ask for an ID card or certificate, or ask the dog to demonstrate its task. A business may ask that the dog be removed if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, or if it is not housebroken. Service dogs must be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless that interferes with the task or the handler's disability.
Service dog, emotional support animal or therapy dog?
- Service dog: trained to perform tasks for one person with a disability. Allowed in most public places under the ADA, and on US flights under Department of Transportation rules.
- Emotional support animal (ESA): provides comfort by being present, with no task training required. Not covered by the ADA for public places, and US airlines no longer have to accept ESAs as service animals. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers generally must make reasonable accommodation for an ESA, and may ask for reliable documentation, such as a letter from a licensed professional who knows the person.
- Therapy dog: visits hospitals, schools or care homes with its owner to comfort many people. It has no special public access rights.
There is no official US registry
The US government does not certify or register service dogs, and the ADA does not require an ID card, vest or certificate. Websites selling “official registration” or “certification” are not government programs, and those papers do not give a dog any rights. Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog is against the law in many states, including Florida (Fla. Stat. § 413.08). Oruqo does not sell or link to service dog certificates, registrations or ID cards. Training is what matters.
Training and testing
Handlers may train their own dog or work with a trainer or program. Many use the AKC Canine Good Citizen test and a public access test checklist to measure progress. In the Oruqo app, turn on “Service dog” in your pet's profile to keep a training log, track hours and tasks, and work through a public access checklist.
Flying with a service dog
US airlines may require the Department of Transportation (DOT) Service Animal Air Transportation Form, which covers the dog's health, behavior and training. For flights of 8 hours or more they may also require the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation form. Airlines may ask for the forms up to 48 hours before the flight when booked in advance. Get the forms from the DOT, then keep the signed copies with your pet's records in Oruqo.
Official sources
ADA service animal requirements · DOT service animals · HUD assistance animals