Service Animals And Emotional Support Animals Are Considered The Same Among The Law
Department of Transportation the Department or DOT announced it final rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals on December 2 2020.
Service animals and emotional support animals are considered the same among the law. While an emotional support animal isnt the same as a service animal both types of assistance animals have some similar legal protections. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individuals disability. Emotional support animalsalso called therapy or comfort animalshave not been trained to perform work or tasks.
These new laws clarify how residents of Florida can properly qualify for an emotional support animal and affirm the special rights ESA owners have. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact that would qualify as a service animal. Emotional support animals do not have the same.
Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD an emotional support animal is any animal that provides emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a persons disability. Understanding the Difference Between Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. Because of this emotional support animals often make the news because people have succeeded in bringing in surprising or exotic creatures such as ducks goats and even a kangaroo onboard airplanes as emotional support.
Animals that provide a sense of safety companionship and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional disabilities or conditions. Emotional Support Animals are NOT considered service animals by the ADA or Washington State Law and are not protected by the laws outlined for service animals. Florida recently passed new laws governing emotional support animals ESA which go into effect on July 1 2020.
Service animals are companions which help their owner to perform daily tasks that they could not otherwise. That being said the Fair Housing Act does specifically refer to emotional support animals. This guide covers the relevant laws that protect emotional support animals and their owners.
Unlike in some other nations such as the United States in the UK Emotional Support Animals do not receive the same kind of legal recognition. These laws including how to file a complaint are listed in the last section of this publication. Emotional support animals are considered pets not service animals by US Department of Transportation.