ADA FAQ |

Many people, (including some business owners and employees who should know better) are ignorant of the laws regarding Service Dogs which were put into place to protect those who choose to utilize the Services of a trained dog to mitigate a disability.

For the most part though, it seems business owners are becoming better acquainted with the laws and are quite accommodating and even friendly toward me and my Service Dog, and for that I am grateful. Even so, I am still occasionally asked to show for ID for my Service Dog, but what I show them instead is the handout (provided for that purpose) by the Department of Justice with certain pertinent points highlighted (although in case of confrontations I also used to carry a letter from my doctor explaining why I require a Service Dog, but it certainly isn’t required and I don’t do that anymore).

Remember, the only thing necessary is your word that the dog is trained to mitigate your disability. However, PLEASE, make sure that s/he is fully capable of doing so before you say that s/he is. People must take us at our word, and in this, as in any other area of our lives, we should be trustworthy.

If anyone won’t take your word about the laws, there is an ADA Information Line to call, (800-514-0301) where somebody is available during normal business hours (Eastern Time) to set a business owner straight about your rights.

You can also carry an official paper from the Department of Justice called “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA”. You can either go to their website (ada.gov) to get a copy though it is a little tricky to find) or I can send you one. (There is a form at the end of this article.)

So don’t let anyone tell you that you “must” have documentation to show. “Service Dog IDs” and other “papers” mean nothing (as is plainly stated in number 17 of the handout from the Department of Justice mentioned above). If you feel the need to carry a paper for your Service Dog, carry this one!