Not everyone understands assistance animal laws. Even if you are very clear with others and take all the suggested actions to communicate your needs and requests for accommodation, it is possible for your rights to be ignored or violated by other people and businesses such as:
- Landlords, Property Managers, or Hotels
- Airlines or Public Ground Transit Providers
- Staff at Restaurants, Movie Theaters, Parks, and Shops
You have a lot of choices in how you respond to a person violating your rights. Not all people understand their obligations or your rights. Some violations are out of ignorance, not spite or ill will. Other violations might be out of anger or intentional. You can probably guess or sense which it is and can react accordingly.
If the person violating your rights is doing so out of ignorance about the law, brief education can sometimes solve the issue.
If the person violating your rights is doing so out of anger, or harasses you, or repeatedly violates your rights, or is threatening your peace of mind, you can take more serious action such as:
- Giving the person a signed Notice of Violation.
- Reporting the person to the appropriate agency.
- Seeking legal assistance from a free “pro bono” attorney services organization such as Legal Aid.
- Hiring a private attorney to help you sue the violator for your damages, such as emotional distress and any loss you suffered.
Are you an owner of an assistance animal?
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 text or image below.
