Therapy dog vs Service dog vs Emotional Support Animal

[Justin Wallman]

Can someone help with the meanings on these three terms? What can you not discriminate towards?  Tenants and prospective tenants throw these terms around and it gets quite confusing on what exactly we should and can say.  Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide.  

[Marcia Maynard]

Three animal categories:

• Pets
• Service Animals
• Assistance Animals (ESAs and the like).

Pets - No disability requirement. No restriction on the type of animal. No requirement for training.

Service Animals - Disability requirement. Restricted to dogs. (There is now a separate provision for miniature horses.) The dog must be trained to perform a specific service. Training can be done by a professional organization, professional animal trainer, by the owner of the animal, or by someone else. Common terms for these animals: Guide Dog or Seeing Eye Dog, Hearing Dog or Signal Dog, Psychiatric Service Dog, Seizure Response Dog, SSigDog (Sensory Signal Dog or Social Signal Dog). Most dogs in this category do have formal training and documentation, but proof of this is not required. Federal Law: Americans with Disabilities Act, enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), covers places of public accommodation. See: https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Assistance Animals - Disability requirement. No restriction on the type of animal. Animal does not require training. The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks, so these animals are not considered service animals. Common terms for these animals: Emotional Support Animal (ESA), Comfort Animal, Companion Animal, Therapy Animal. Tenants are entitled to the full use and enjoyment of their housing, which includes having guests visit, so this covers the assistance animals of guests too. Federal Law: Fair Housing Act, enforced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), covers places of private accommodation related to housing.