Beginning on March 15, 2011, under Titles II and III of the ADA, the definition of a service animal is: “A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to the person’s disability.” 

Examples of service animal tasks include:

• Guiding a person who is blind.
• Pulling a wheelchair.
• Alerting a person who has a seizure disorder.
• Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability.
• Assisting persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors
• Providing a safety check or a room search for a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

An animal that provides only emotional support, comfort, therapy, or crime prevention is not considered a service animal under the ADA. A service animal is a working animal; not a pet. Laws similar to the ADA, as well as local states; counties; and cities, may have different and more broad definitions of “service animal.” Check with your local ADA Center.