There are laws that have been created in order to ensure that handler's and their service dogs get the proper assistance and accommodations they need.

It is not required that dogs be certified or registered to be a service animal. However, many people do this to help notify others that their dog is a service animal.

• If the city requires all dogs to be licensed and registered, then the service dog must comply.

  • Staff cannot ask for documentation of this when interacting with a service animal.

People that own certain animals have certain rights when bringing their animal out into a public setting. Service dogs that are properly trained and are legally allowed to accompany handlers in public settings.

When interacting with animals in a public setting, there are certain things that you can and cannot ask the person with the animal.

• Staff cannot ask about the person's disability.

• Staff cannot ask for documentation.

• Staff cannot ask the dog to demonstrate its ability to do the task.

Understand that service animals are working when they are in public with their handler. You should not distract it by petting it, talking to it, crowding it, whistling at it, etc., because their handler's life is in their paws.