There are a variety of animals that are recognized as service animals by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These animals help Veterans with a wide range of disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, physical disabilities, and more.
The most common service animal is the dog. Dogs can be trained to perform a wide range of tasks that assist Veterans with disabilities. For example, service dogs can be trained to:
-Pick up dropped items
-Retrieve items that are out of reach
-Provide physical support
-Brace for balance
-Provide deep pressure therapy
-Alert to sounds
-Calm anxiety
-And more!
In addition to dogs, other animals that can be recognized as service animals by the VA include cats, horses, pigs, and monkeys. These animals can be trained to perform similar tasks as dogs, depending on the Veteran’s individual needs.
The VA does not have a specific list of animals that are recognized as service animals. Rather, the decision is made on a case-by-case basis. If you are a Veteran with a disability that you believe could be helped by a service animal, you should talk to your doctor or a VA disability benefits counselor to see if this is an option for you.
What is a service animal?
A service animal is a dog or other animal that is trained to help a person with a disability. Service animals are not pets.
Service animals are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are allowed to go almost anywhere the person they assist goes. This includes public places like restaurants, stores, hotels, movie theaters, and more.
Service animals perform many important tasks for people with disabilities, such as providing:
- emotional support - stability during panic attacks or anxiety attacks - help with tasks like opening doors or picking up things - protection from strangers
Service animals are different from emotional support animals (ESAs). ESAs provide companionship and emotional support but do not perform specific tasks for their owners. For example, an ESA might help a person with depression feel less alone, but would not be trained to alert the person to an upcoming seizure.
The ADA does not require service animals to be registered or certified, but some people choose to do this anyway. Service animals must be well-behaved and under the control of their owners at all times.
There are some people who try to pass their pets off as service animals in order to take them into places where pets are not allowed. This is not only unfair to businesses and other patrons, but it takes away from the important work that genuine service animals do.
If you are not sure if an animal is a service animal, you can ask the animal’s owner if it is a service animal and what tasks it is trained to perform. You cannot ask about the person’s disability, and you cannot require proof of certification or registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals are not considered service animals?
Some animals, such as cows, pigs, and horses are not considered service animals because they are not specifically trained to do work or tasks related to an individual’s disability.
What is a service animal under the ADA?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are specifically designated working animals and must be individually trained to do work or perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Examples of work or tasks that may be performed by a service animal include providing assistance in handling required medications, picking up items, pulling a wheelchair, assisting in locating objects, providing basic alerting signals (e.g., barking or growling to warn of intrusion) and assisting people with disabilities who are deaf or have limited vision.
What kind of questions can I ask about a service animal?
You can ask the person who owns or is using the animal what type of service animal he or she is. You cannot, however, ask personal questions about the individual's disability or how he or she receives service animal assistance.
What makes a dog a service animal?
Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
What makes a service dog not a service animal?
If a dog is not primarily engaged in providing physical assistance or support to a person with a disability, the dog is not a service animal. A service animal must be individually trained to do work or tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Service animals may provide assistance such as helping with walking, retrieving items, guiding people with impaired vision, calming individuals with mental illness and serving as comfort animals for people undergoing medical procedures.
