No horses? What about service dogs?

Sisters Rodeo Grounds, Sisters Oregon

This sign reminded me of those "No Dogs" signs you often see in front of entrances to many businesses. I have had people ask me, "Does that mean your dog too?".  So let me dedicate this blog to what rights under the law that Cherelle has as a service dog and what makes a dog a service animal.

First Question. What is a service dog? According to Federal Law:

*"The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government."

A note here. In 2010 the Federal Government tightened the definition of service animal to be defined as a dog only with special exceptions for miniature horses used to guide those who are blind.

The answer to the second half of the question explains what defines a service dog and makes that animal different from a companion dog also known as your pet.

*"Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. This is the type of service animal with which most people are familiar. But there are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include:

_ Alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds.

_ Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with mobility impairments.

_ Assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance.

A service animal is not a pet."

*www.ada.gov/gasrvc.htm  For a more detailed explanation go to www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Cherelle was trained by Dogs for the Deaf to alert me to sounds in my environment. Specifically for me those sounds are: smoke and Co2 alarms, my husband calling my name, someone knocking on the door (house, RV, hotel) oven timers, cell phone alerts for incoming text messages and reminders and the alarm clock. More recently we have added the warning alarms that go off when the refrigerator and safe doors are not securely shut. 

In pubic spaces her specific duties may change but her purpose, helping me be aware of sounds in my environment, does not. Because I know that Cher can hear and identify the directions of sounds I keep  an eye on her. If she turns her head I look too. She may have heard a car backing out of a parking space, a shopping cart whipping around the corner of a grocery aisle or someone behind trying to get around us. Having her has greatly reduced the frequency of being startled by the seemingly sudden appearance of something or someone. You probably are familiar with the phrase "never saw it coming", well before Cherelle I never heard it coming! I still don't "hear it coming" but I am now able to be aware.

Where can a service dog go?

*"State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go."

Here are some specific places that Cher has been or could go.  Public transportation including taxis and commercial airlines, hospitals (few exceptions), doctors' offices and clinics, restaurants, except in food prep areas unless those areas are open to the general public. A person with a service dog cannot be refused housing in "no pets allowed" apartments or condos. Cherelle and I have been to a RV park that had a "no pets weighing more than 40 lbs allowed". Cher weighs around 58 pounds but because she is a service dog the RV park could not refuse us access.

So after reading this you now have passed Service Animals 101. Congratulations!

More later.....warmest regards from me with tail wags from Cherelle (aka Cher)