How to Register a Dog as a Service Animal in Florida

Registering your service animal is a personal choice and not required by law in the United States. In 2009, Florida Statute 413.08 explained the freedom of a handler not to register or provide special identification for service animals. According to the Americans with Disability Act, public facilities have no right to refuse entrance to the disabled handler and the service handler. Public facilities may, however, ask what ways the dog is trained to help the handler in order to prove the dog is a service animal. The inconvenience of explaining oneself is one of the reasons many private organizations offer service animal registration. Registration services provide, at a minimum, a laminated identification tag to present if questioned.

Things You'll Need

  • Name of dog trainer
  • Details of disability
  • Photo of animal
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain a doctor's medical diagnosis and symptoms of the handler's disability.

    • 2

      Gather information regarding the animal's breed, size and any special markings on the dog. Take a clear photograph of the dog--from the shoulders up--to be used for the identification tag.

    • 3

      List the tasks the dog performs that aid the handler in coping with the disability, such as navigating around obstacles, locating objects and destinations on command, retrieving items dropped, alerting the handler to sounds, helping the handler into a wheelchair, or even nose nudging 9-1-1 if needed.

    • 4

      Get the name and address of the dog's trainer. Registries deem it acceptable for the handler to also be the trainer.

    • 5

      Select an organization to register the dog. There are many organizations that provide service animal registration in Florida, such as The United States Service Dog Registry, United Service Animal Registry, National Service Animal Registry and Service Animal Registry of America. These organizations provide services by mail, internet or in person. Provide the organization with the information you gathered and the dog's photograph. In addition, you might be required to pay a fee for the registration as well.