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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>January 21, 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=headline><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman Bold Italic"'>Service Animals<br>vs. Emotional Support Animals<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=byline><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman Bold Italic"'>by Maggie Redden<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Can you bring a llama to the store with you? Can you take a monkey, cat, or horse to work? Can pigs fly? While bringing these animals into public places may seem far-fetched, it isn’t. On November 26, 2014, a woman and her “emotional support” pig, were booted off an airline after the pig became restless; howling and defecating in the aisle. This is a rare occurrence. What has become commonplace is that the definition of service animals and emotional/therapy animals is being interchanged and misinterpreted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As stated on the ADA National Network website, “A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability” (<a href="https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet">https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet</a>). Service animals such as guide dogs and dogs trained to assist individuals with hearing or psychiatric issues are protected under Title II of the ADA. In some cases, miniature horses are approved service animals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.1pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A person with a service animal cannot be asked about their disability. The only questions that can be asked are: Is the animal required because of a disability, and what work or task has the animal been trained to perform? This is where the waters get murky because a public accommodation or facility also cannot ask for proof that the animal has been trained or is licensed. This leaves the door open for emotional support, therapy, and regular pets to pass as service animals, even though they are not protected under the ADA.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.25pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>While entities may request documentation for emotional support animals, a quick Google search reveals that obtaining such paperwork is quite easy. The National Service Animal Registry (NSAR) provides information on how to get a pet classified as an emotional support animal. For just $65 your pet can be added to the registry and you get two ID cards, leash clips, and a registry certificate, complete with an embossed seal. No worries if your psychiatrist doesn’t want to write a letter confirming your disability – that can be obtained online for a fee as well (<a href="http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut">http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut</a>). Is this practice lawful?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.25pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act defines a “service animal” as “any animal that is individually trained or able to provide assistance to a qualified person with a disability; or any animal shown by documentation to be necessary for the emotional well-being of a passenger (<a href="http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut">http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut</a>).” The pig’s owner called the airline ahead of time to make sure that she obtained all approvals necessary, because she knew traveling with an emotional support pig was out of the ordinary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:12.25pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There is no doubt that the pig misbehaved and dismissing pig and owner was within the airlines right. But beyond that, was the owner truly at fault? Distinguishing between a service animal, which is trained to perform specific functions and an emotional support animal, which only requires medical documentation but no specific training, can be difficult and requires tact. Existing laws pertaining to service animals and emotional support animals are vague and open to interpretation. Where does the line get drawn? Does the line need to be re-defined and who is going to make that call? These are all questions that impact those individuals with disabilities who have a legitimate need for a service animal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:16.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>