Service Dog Vest

People often ask me how to register or certify your service dog, the answer is "You Do not". Companies seeking to register or certify your animal without training are simply taking advantage of people with disabilities to make a dollar. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) came into force which provides disabled people with service animals legal protection to be accompanied by the animal in public places.

Understanding the ADA

So lets first define what a service animal is, according to the ADA, an animal is considered a service animal "if it has been" individually trained to work or perform tasks on behalf of a person with a disability. "As you can see, the word is not certified or registered by law. In fact, whatever the U.S. government does not register, certify, license or approve a service animal .

The ADA Catch 22

Because the definition of disability is so broad that it would be impossible for the government to create any kind of control criteria other than the vague definition above. In addition, since many people with disabilities live on fixed incomes requiring professional animal training would be an additional financial burden that many disabled people can not afford. Unlike a person with a disability license plate or ID, there is no official identity and service dogs without some form of identity are often seen as pets. The ADA also states that a disabled person is not required to provide proof of their disability. That is what the law says, but the reality is that your pet is identified with a service dog service ID, jacket, cap or bandana to help identify the dog as a working partner and not an animal company.

Registration Scam

It was not long after the ADA came into effect that companies have begun to appear offering to register or certify your animal. Now please understand that we are not talking about trainers that teach dogs to perform tasks for people with disabilities. What we are talking about companies that use official sounding names that in exchange for your money certify or register your dog. In exchange, they often provide you with a registration number, certificate, patch and maybe a cheap laminated tag. Some companies shamelessly not charge less than $ 250 for "registration".

So what is the owner of a service dog to do?

First, make sure you meet the definition of a disabled person and that your dog is specially trained to perform tasks related to your disability. Trying to get your pet as a service animal is a federal offense and comes with severe penalties. Apart from these two conditions in the ADA you must not do anything. If you feel identifying your service dog will make your life easier than buying a tag photo quality service dog vest with patches or a cape.