05/30/2026
What are the requirements for a service animal?
I see the public make comments on a regular basis about what they think a service animal should wear or how they should act, and those expectations often have no legal basis. So let’s talk about what IS expected of service animals under the ADA:
-Service animals can be dogs or mini horses
-their handler must be disabled
-they must be trained to perform at least one task that mitigates that disability (emotional support and comfort are not tasks)
-they must be under control
-they must be house trained
-they must wear a leash, harness or other tether (exception: if the handler’s disability interferes with the leash or if the leash interferes with the task)
That’s it. That’s literally all the ADA requires of service animals.
They do not have to:
-walk in a heel position
-visually “check in” or maintain eye contact with the handler
-wear a vest, harness, or other identifying markings
-be a certain breed or size of dog
-be trained by a professional
-have any form identification, certification, or ID
Did you know there are reasons many service animals don’t walk in a heel position? A guide animal must walk ahead of the handler to do their job. A mobility animal usually also has to walk a bit ahead of a heel position. A PTSD animal may walk ahead a little to keep an eye out for triggers. These are just a few examples. By the same token, there are reasons a dog may not visibly “check in” with or keep an obvious focus on the handler. Again, PTSD animals are often looking for triggers in the environment. Guide dogs are busy watching where they and their handlers are going. Mini horses have an approximately 340° field of vision and can watch their handlers without turning their head or visibly focusing on them. Again, these are just a few examples.
The majority of handlers do hold their animals to higher standards than what the ADA sets. For example, I expect Flirty to maintain a heel (unless doing mobility work), walk on a hands free leash, start and stop fluidly when I do, stand for extended periods of time, and more. Having higher standards is always excellent and something I encourage. However, judging a team to not be legitimate because they aren't heeling/visibly focusing/wearing a vest/etc. is not okay and is very harmful. This kind of policing leads to handlers being inappropriately denied access or being hassled by businesses.
Next time you see a service animal team in public and the animal is under control and following the ADA's other guidelines, please remember not to judge their legitimacy based on your own prejudice or expectations that are not reflected in the law.
[Image: Flirty, a grey mini horse, stands in an open area in a grocery store. She is wearing a purple halter with bronze bling, black harness with rainbow trim, rainbow vest, and black hoof boots.]
