Service Dogs & Therapy Animals

Did you know that service animals are not always dogs. They can include monkeys, cats, and small horses!

JAN, the Job Accommodation Network (part of ODEP, the US Office of Disability Employment Policy), provides a brief explanation about this:

There is not a comprehensive list of what types of animals can be service animals. Animals, like people, have different temperaments, limitations, skills, and abilities. Thus, different types and breeds of animals may be trained to perform specific tasks. Matching a particular animal’s skills and abilities to the tasks that need to be performed can be an important factor for a person with a disability when selecting a
service animal.

Often, phrases are coined to describe the type of impairment or task a particular animal is assisting with-such as “signal dog,” “hearing cat,” “assistance monkey,” “guide horse,” and “seizure response dog.”

Traveling with service animals?

• Dog Friendly – Get tips and specifics for your travel destination. They also recommend parks and animal-friendly hotels.
• International travel tips for guide and service animals from MIUSA Mobility International
• National Federation of the Blind – National Association of Guide Dog Users (US-based)
• Service animal resources from CATEA.org – Links about traveling with service animals, as well as other links such as having a service animal in the workplace. From CATEA (Georgia Tech College of Architecture, Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access).
• TSA service animal travel recommendations – Recommendations about service animals when traveling from the US Transport Security Administration.

Additional links about service animals

• Adaptive Riding
• Assistance Dogs International, Inc.. Standards:
  • Ethical Use Standards for an Assistance Dog
  • Ethics Regarding Clients
  • Minimum Standards for Assistance Dogs in Public
  • Minimum Standards for Assistance Dog Partners
  • Minimum Standards for Training Guide Dogs
  • Minimum Standards for Training Hearing Dogs
  • Minimum Standards for Training Service Dogs
• Assistive Horses: Hippotherapy
• Assistive Pooches: Service Dogs
• Canadian Guide Dogs For The Blind / Chiens Guides Canadiens Pour Aveugles
• Delta Society: Companion Dogs, Service Animals, Therapy Animals the human – animal health connection
• Epilepsy Ontario Service Dogs [Canada]
• Facts You Should Know About Service Dogs
  • Facts You Should Know About Service Dogs (48.9 KB .pdf)
• Guide Dogs list of links [United Kingdom]
• Guide Dogs of America
• Kansas Specialty Dog Service, Inc.
• National Service Dog Center (NSDC)
• WorkingDogs article archives—Service Dogs from Working Dogs Cyberzine

(This post was updated with travel information, as well as introductory text, 22 February 2009.)