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What Is a Service Dog?
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According to the ADA, a service dog is "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability." This could be a dog helping a wheelchair-bound individual, a blind person, or a sick and/or elderly person. Service dogs are highly trained animals and are often identified by the special collars or harnesses they wear.
Americans with Disabilities Act
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The Americans with Disabilities Act was originally passed in 1990. It essentially prevents discrimination on the basis of disability.
The Act and Service Dogs
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The act allows for service dogs to accompany their handlers to work and in public and privately-owned places, such as restaurants.
Important Information
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Consult the ADA website, www.ada.gov, if you are unsure of whether or not you should allow a service dog into an establishment you own.
Some counties, for instance, have ordinances that say you only have to allow guide dogs (those aiding the blind) into your place of business. This, however, violates the ADA, which says you have to allow every type of service dog to go wherever general customers are allowed.
Resources
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If you have questions about service dogs and the ADA that cannot be answered on the ADA's website, call the U.S. Department of Justice's ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).
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Service Dogs & the American Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides for the use of service dogs in public and private workplaces. If you have a service dog, make sure you know the law and your rights. If you own a business, you also need to be aware of the ADA and how it affects you.