While emotional support animals don’t need certification, commercial airlines and housing providers may require evidence of your need for your animal. In this case, you need to obtain a medical professional’s note. In this Q&A, we will show you how to obtain a support letter.

Here’s the answer:

Have a candid conversation with your doctor or therapist about the medical note. Explain why it is needed and how you will be using it. Take note that not all medical professionals may understand how their note will help you. That is why explaining helps.

(In our online course series, we offer a template that you can use prepared by an attorney, and your doctor can simply sign it. This will save you time since doctors are busy people!)

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Some establishments welcome our furry friends, while others frown upon them. But what if you have a service animal and you’re about to enter an establishment with a “no pets allowed” signage? Are you still allowed to enter?

Here’s the answer:

According to the ADA, a service animal must be permitted to accompany an individual with a disability wherever customers are allowed to go. Furthermore, the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals. As a service animal owner, you should not be segregated from other customers. The ADA requires establishments to modify their “no pets policy” to welcome service animals.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Therapy dog owners can get confused about where they should take their furry friend. Before we answer the question, Can you take your therapy dog anywhere? first, you should know that therapy animals are not covered by the ADA, FHAA, and federal transportation regulations.

So here’s the answer:

Therapy dogs can go to places where pet dogs are allowed and locations that allow therapy dogs. These locations include schools, libraries, hospitals, and other health care facilities. However, note that each location must agree to have the therapy animal visit, but it is not obliged to grant access.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet today. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Unfortunately, not everyone understands laws about assistance animals. In this Q&A, learn how you can respond to a violation of your rights:

If someone violates your rights out of ignorance of the law, you can solve the issue by briefly educating the person about your service animal. You may also carry handouts that you can give to these people.

However, if a person tries to harass you or threaten your peace of mind, you can give that person a signed Notice of Violation and report him/her to the right government agency.

(To gain access to printable handouts and the Notice of Violation, check out our resources below.)

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

People with emotional support animals may be wondering if a housing provider should ask detailed questions about their condition and even call their medical practitioner to obtain more information.

Here’s the answer:

While a housing provider may require a medical professional’s letter, asking detailed medical questions about your condition would be an invasion of privacy rights. This also means that the housing provider isn’t allowed to call the medical practitioner. 

(Take note that any medical professional can write your ESA letter. For example, a psychiatrist, orthopedic surgeon, or licensed counselor.)

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Today’s question and answer is about service dog registration. A lot of people are wondering if they should get their dog registered to explain their animal’s status.

Answer: Service dog registration is not required by law in the United States. Yet, many owners find that registration helps their rights to be respected by businesses, landlords, and people in general. While people cannot demand registration paperwork from you, many will still demand it, even if it’s not legally required.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

In today’s Q&A, we answer the question, “Should you get an emotional support hamster?”

Answer: There is no such thing as the perfect emotional support animal. However, there are some animals that may appeal more to you. Having a hamster as an emotional support animal is a great idea for many reasons. They’re affordable to buy, require very little space, and easy to care for. Kids love them too!

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Answer: Yes, having an emotional support animal in college ensures that you have a trustworthy friend who can help you deal with stress and academic demands. But while ESAs are beneficial, they are a huge responsibility too. The nature of college life can limit your ability to care for your animal, so you need to carefully consider if having one is right for you. 

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

Do you or someone you know have an animal that is not just a Therapy animal, but also a Service animal and Emotional Support animal? If so, you might be wondering about the animal’s rights.

Here’s the answer: If an animal is more than one type of assistance animal, then the animal has a combination of rights.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.

The truth is, a lot of people are confused between service dogs and therapy dogs. Therapy dogs may wear vests and help people with emotional challenges, but that does not mean that they enjoy the same rights that service dogs enjoy.

So, to answer the question, therapy dogs have no rights to public places. Yes, a location may allow a therapy dog to visit. This can be a school, hospital, or any location. However, each location can impose rules and requirements as it sees fit.

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.