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Know
Your Rights
Knowing the current legislation regarding service dogs and knowing where to find it fosters a positive view of service dogs and promotes understanding and respect. Below are resources and the pertinent federal agencies which regulate service dogs.
1. Department of Interior
Regulates service dogs in all national parks, forests, monuments, and wilderness areas. Closes areas to the use of service animal if it is determined that the service animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of people or wildlife.
2. Department of Justice
Enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA document outlines the definition of a service dog, the accommodation laws for public establishments, questioning allowed, identification, and more.
3. Food and Drug Administration
Limits service dog access to buildings and facilities where food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and more are processed and manufactured.
5. Department of Transportation
Issues and enforces the ADA transportation regulations and is responsible for civil rights compliance and monitoring to ensure nondiscriminatory provision of public transit services.
6. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission
Issues, enforces and provides technical assistance on the ADA Title I employment regulations as well as additional materials on subjects like reasonable accommodation.
4. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Develops and enforces two housing laws: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Fair Housing Act.
Service Dogs in Training
Each state can make its own regulations for service dogs in training. To locate each state's laws, you can follow this link:
The United States of America
There are NO legal service dog certifications currently used for civilians in the United States of America.
