Archive for the ‘Public Access’ Category
In New York, service dogs can go to many places that pets can’t. Service dogs are allowed in almost all public areas in New York, including:
Restaurants and cafes Hotels and motels Public transportation (such as buses, subways, Ubers, and taxis) Theaters and cinemas Museums and art galleries Stores and shopping malls Hospitals and medical offices Parks and recreational areasThis means if you’re a resident of New York City, your service dog is welcome in places like the L Train, the MOMA, your favorite cafe in Brooklyn, and clothing shops in SoHo.
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Service dogs also have housing rights in residential buildings that don’t allow pets in New York. That includes rental complexes, co-ops, government-assisted housing, and condominiums.
There are, of course, some limitations. Places where the general public is not allowed for safety or health considerations are still off-limits to service dogs. For example, in a hospital, a service dog would be allowed in an examination room or lobby but not in an operating room or other sterile environments.
What gives service dogs public access rights in New York?
Service dogs are protected by both federal and state law in New York. Service dogs are an accommodation for people with physical and mental health disabilities. Service dogs used for mental illnesses are called psychiatric service dogs.
Under these laws, public establishments and landlords must allow service dogs to enter, even if there is a policy banning pets. They must also do so without charging any fees. That means a service dog is allowed to live in a no-pet residential building without having to pay a pet fee or deposit.
How can establishments verify a service dog in New York?
Stores, restaurants, and other public venues in New York are allowed to verify a service dog before allowing it to enter. And this can only be done with verbal confirmation.
Staff are allowed to ask service dog handlers two questions (and only if the handler’s disability is not obvious): 1. Is the dog a service dog required for a disability? and 2. What work or task has the service dog been trained to perform?
In New York, staff members and landlords cannot ask for documentation or require a service dog to wear a vest or ID tag. Most service dog owners, however, voluntarily use accessories like vets, tags, ID cards, or certificates to visually designate their service dog as a working animal.
These items make it convenient for service dog owners to convey to others that their dog is required for a medical or psychiatric condition. That can be especially helpful in areas where normal pets aren’t typically welcome.
Service dogs are not just for the visually or hearing impaired individual. Service dogs have lent a helping paw to individuals with a broader range of physical and psychological conditions.
But what if you are a student and need a service dog? Will colleges allow dogs on campus and into the classroom?
Read on for some important information to answer the question, “can I take my service dog to college?”
Service Dogs Are NOT Emotional Support AnimalsThere is a difference between a Service Dog and an Emotional Support Animal, which will make a difference when you seek to bring your dog to college.
The service dog is a canine specially trained to perform a task for its handler with a physical or mental health disability. This may include leading the person with a visual or hearing impairment, mobility support, or alerting to a drop in blood sugar or an oncoming seizure and helping to overcome certain psychiatric disabilities.
The emotional support animal, on the other hand, is not trained for a task but instead provides emotional comfort and help to improve the symptoms of certain psychological disorders.
Even though the Fair Housing Act covers both — service animals and emotional support animals — in housing areas and dormitories, the laws governing where a task-trained service dog is permitted go far beyond.
The Disability Laws and the Service Dog in CollegeThe Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federally protected law that supersedes all local and state laws regarding the use of service dogs in schools and colleges.
According to the ADA, a student is permitted to bring a service dog to college when the dog helps to expand their independence. Although the school must provide appropriate access for both the student and the service dog to classrooms and housing, they do not have to provide care, food, or relief areas for the canine. The Disabilities Education Improvement Act requires school districts to allow a service dog to accompany a student with a disability to school.
Colleges must make reasonable accommodations for service dogs, meaning they must allow the service dog into areas like classrooms, lecture halls, and cafeteria, as long as it doesn’t create an undue hardship on the facility.
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According to the ADA, a fear of dogs or allergies are not reasons to ban the service dog from the college. If one of these situations presents itself, then accommodation for both the student with the service dog and the allergic or fearful person must be given (for example, by moving the dog and the affected person to opposite sides of the classroom).
College students with a fully trained service dog are allowed to go to college together. Service Dog CertificationAlthough it is not a legal requirement, getting your service dog registered and having service dog accessories may make things easier when it comes to accessing a college dorm or the classroom. Again, these items do not confer service dog status and are never substitutes for properly qualifying for a service dog.
To have a service dog, you must have a qualifying disability and your dog must be fully trained to perform a job or task relating to that disability. If and only when you are fully qualified, then you can consider things like registration, ID cards and vests.
To have a fully registered service dog for college, follow these steps:
Find the right service dogBe sure your service dog is of the right age and breed for the tasks you will need it to perform. Also, ensure your potential service dog has the right characteristics and temperament to fulfill its duty under any circumstance it may encounter while on a college campus.
Know what tasks your service dog needs to perform for youLocate a reputable service dog breeder or trainer, or prepare for the training yourself. You may want to talk to a therapist to fully understand how your service dog can help you.
Train the service dog for the tasksPut in the time to properly train the dog for service. Training a service dog can take up to several months and years, depending on the difficulty of the tasks or the trainability of the dog.
Pass a Public Access TestThe dog will have to pass the Public Access Test. While the test is self-certified, there are several points to conclude in order for the dog to behave properly on a daily basis.
Register your service dogRegister the fully trained service dog, and equip it with the proper harness and service dog vest or identification. This step is optional, but a majority of service dog owners find it reassuring to have identification when they face the public.
Get your service dog registered below. The Service Dog and CollegesIf you need a service dog and want to attend college, know that you are allowed to do so under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law supersedes “no-pets” policies in dormitories, classrooms, and the college campus. Although not legally necessary, having service dog paraphernalia may make the process of taking your service dog to college more accessible and less stressful.
Despite this protection, make sure to let the college know that you will be attending with a service dog so that they can make the necessary reasonable accommodation for your educational needs and you can turn in any paperwork they might request on time.
Your service dog can go with you almost anywhere, and this includes the open seas! Bringing your service dog on a cruise ship allows you to enjoy your vacation safely and comfortably, without extra worry about your health. Want to bring your service dog on a cruise ship? Keep reading to find out how you can have a cruise ship vacation with your service dog.
Service Dogs on Your VacationA service dog is there to give you more options for living your life safely with your disability — including on vacation. You deserve to have the vacation you want. And you can have the vacation you’re dreaming of because you have a service dog.
Traveling on vacation with your service dog takes some planning ahead. You’ll have to consider the needs of your service dog, opportunities for play, and keep in mind the environment you need for your service dog to be comfortable. Also, remember that, like on an airplane, physical space (especially within the cabins) is exceptionally limited. Practical issues like whether the size of an animal can be physically accommodated must factor into your vacation plans.
Show everyone that the rights of your service dog should be respected. Get your service dog registered below. Going On a Cruise With Your Service DogMost cruise ships are not pet-friendly. However, exceptions are made for service dogs, because a service dog is not a pet. Service dogs assist people who have a disability; therefore, most cruise ships make exceptions for service dogs.
Cruise ships are a convenient way to travel with your service dog, as long as you plan. Because cruise ships have smaller rooms than hotels, you may need to factor the size of your service dog into your travel plan. It’s best to contact the cruise line before purchasing a ticket to inquire about their accommodations for people with disabilities and their service dogs.
Before booking tickets for your vacation on a cruise ship with your service dog, make sure to check all requirements. Our FAQs below can help you prepare.Not surprisingly, first-timers on cruises with their service dogs often have a lot of questions. Here are the most common questions about going on a cruise with service dogs:
Where do service dogs relieve themselves on a cruise ship?themselves. After all, cruise ships don’t have vast swaths of grassy areas made for dogs! Fortunately, most cruise lines have areas designated as service dog “relief boxes.” The service dog owner can request a service dog relief “box.” This box is typically filled with mulch, sod, wood shavings, or faux grass and kept in a private service area.
Can a service dog go anywhere passengers go on a cruise ship?A service dog may accompany their owner anywhere other passengers have access. However, some cruise ships may prevent service dogs from entering areas where their presence might pose a health hazard, like the medical bay or swimming pool area. For the most part, service dogs can accompany their owner to the cruise’s shops, restaurants, and onboard ship activities.
Will the staff watch my service dog for me?As much as anyone would love to spend time with an adorable service dog, cruise ship staff are not obligated to watch a service dog. Furthermore, many cruise ships don’t allow owners to leave their service dogs unattended, even in their cabins or staterooms.
Cruise ships often stop at various ports, and passengers disembark for land activities. If a service dog owner disembarks, they must either take the service dog with them or make arrangements for the dog to be cared for. Grooming, walking, and relieving the service dog are also not the responsibility of the cruise ship staff.
Does my service dog have to be registered or certified?The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require documentation for a canine to be a service dog. However, doing so can make traveling less stressful and much more enjoyable. A readily available document can enable a service dog owner to avoid misunderstandings.
Under the ADA, third parties can ask two questions to verify a service dog:1. Is the service dog required due to a disability? and2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
While documents like registrations, service dog certificates, ID cards, tags, and vests are not required, you probably have seen many service dog owners carry these items. That is because they can be incredibly helpful in indicating to others that a dog accompanies you due to your disability.
It can be especially helpful on a cruise ship to have service dog accessories, so other passengers understand why a dog was allowed to board.
Does the cruise ship offer dog food for my service dog?The cruise ship does not carry dog food, so service dog owners must bring enough food for their dogs to last the duration of the trip. Even all-inclusive cruise ships do not offer food for service dogs.
Does owning a service dog require a letter from a doctor?Owning a service dog does not require a letter from a healthcare professional. Although a healthcare professional may be necessary to determine whether you have a qualifying disability. For that reason, some owners of psychiatric service dogs do obtain PSD letters.
A PSD letter is from a doctor or therapist who has determined whether a person has a qualifying mental health disability for the purpose of owning a psychiatric service dog.
Other Factors to Consider When Going On a Cruise with a Service DogThe same concerns that come up when traveling with your service dog also apply to cruise ships. These are a few other factors you may need to comfortably travel with your service dog.
1. Your Service Dog’s BehaviorAlthough the ADA protects your rights as a service dog owner, the cruise ship can still ask you to keep your service dog out of common areas if your trained service dog does the following:
Growls or barks excessively Bites guests or crew members Relieves themselves in areas other than the designated relief station Aggressively lunges at guests or crewCruise ship guests may have to “tender” to get on or off the cruise ship. A tender is a smaller boat used to reach a larger ship. These tenders have limited space and may be shaky and unsteady. This experience can be unsettling for a canine, so be aware of your service dog’s emotional state.
2. Vaccinations and Yearly PhysicalCruise ships may ask for your trained service dog’s vaccination papers and last check-up. To simplify the process, ensure you keep up-to-date with your dog’s vaccinations and veterinary appointments.
3. International or Interstate DocumentationService dog owners are responsible for gathering all mandatory documents for the animal, and this includes documents to depart the ship in ports of call and at the ship’s final destination.
For more information on document requirements for a few destinations, visit:
Hawaii Department of Agriculture UK Department of Environment (Food and Rural Affairs) U.S. Department of Agriculture Cruise Ships with Your Service DogRoyal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, and Disney Cruise ships allow legally defined and trained service dogs. Each cruise line has parameters regarding booking and registration for service dog owners.
For example, Norwegian asks its guests with special accommodation requests to complete a Guest Special Needs Request form at registration and must book two weeks in advance. Traveling with your service dog is your right, but make sure you complete the appropriate procedures with your particular cruise line.
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