Service Animal Rights: Access To Public Places & Other Settings

Service animals help make the world accessible to people with disabilities. While traditionally the term "service animal" referred to seeing-eye dogs, service animals are increasingly being used to assist people with hearing impairments, seizure disorders, and motor impairments, among other uses. Additionally, emotional support animals are being used to help alleviate certain mental health conditions. The proliferation in the use of service animals raises important issues regarding rights to use service animals in public places and other settings. Different federal, state, and local laws govern the use of service animals in different settings with different definitions of what constitutes a service animal.