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Why register my Service Dog?
Will you sell or give out my information?
How does Registration identify my Service Dog?
How do I register my Service Dog?
What is a Service Dog?
What is The United States Service Dog Registry and The Service Dog Census Project?
We need your help!

Why register my Service Dog?
There are many reasons why you should register your Service Dog. While it isn’t required by law that your dog be registered or certified, registering with the United States Service Dog Registry and the Service Dog Census Project has many valuable benefits.

Identification Registering with United States Service Dog Registry identifies you and your dog as service dog and handler eligible for protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Acceptance When traveling, proper documentation for your Service Dog can speed along check-in to hotels, entry into restaurants, theatres, and other establishments.

Emergencies and Disasters In the case of a disaster, pets are not always admitted into shelters, but Service Dogs are. Registering here can help officially authenticate you and your dog.

Advocacy When you register your dog, all of the information (except your private details like your name and address and phone number) are shared with The Service Dog Census Project. The Project is a national database that will help provide an accurate count of how many Service Dogs are active in the United States. The information it collects will help organizations who work with Service Dogs provide better support. This census information, once complete, can be used by organizations such as state departments of agriculture, the United States Department of Justice, service dog training organizations, universities, other service dog advocacy groups and disaster relief organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Department of Homeland Security and more.

Public Awareness Many people in the general public do not understand the ADA protection afforded to service animals or the many ways they assist. The United States Service Dog Registry offers a registration process and documentation materials which can be used to educate the public as you are out and about with your dog. The unique registration look-up feature is a simple way to provide others with an official third-party validation of you and your dog.

Inclusion The United States Service Dog Registry welcomes all Assistance Dogs and handlers regardless of certification levels, training methods or other affiliations. We provide free Service Dog registration, which is really the only fair way to make this service available to everyone.

Free There is absolutely no charge to register with United States Service Dog Registry.

Will you sell or give out my information?
No. Our privacy policy is simple: we will never sell or share private information without your permission. Period. The data that the Service Dog Census Project collects is on an aggregate level only, meaning only general statistical information is available. The United States Service Dog Registry and The Service Dog Census Project are built on integrity. When you register, you’ll notice that you are immediately transferred to a secure server using the latest data encryption technology. Once your information is collected it is stored securely.

How does a USSDR registration identify my Service Dog?
Many Service Dogs are not easily identified as such, and in some cases their owners prefer it that way. Not all disabilities, like epilepsy, are outwardly visible. Registering your Service Dog is an easy way to provide an easily accessible and secure third-party validation for you and your animal. By providing each dog with a unique code, a visitor can enter that code into this website and retrieve information on that handler and dog team. Even if your canine does not wear a vest or harness, you can still be validated through your unique ID code.

What is a Service Dog?
The United States Department of Justice defines a Service Animal through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a Service Animal regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. However, we do recommend programs that voluntarily certify dogs. We support the Delta Society and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. They are both excellent sources of information.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. Guide dogs, used by some individuals who are blind, are the most well known type of Service Dog. Other specific terms for specialized service dogs include Signal Dogs for the deaf or hearing impaired, Mobility Assistance Dogs, Seizure Response Dogs, and Psychiatric Service Dogs. The terms “Service Dog,” “Service Animal” and “Assistance Dog” all mean the same.

Service Dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with many diagnoses, including:
• Arthritis
• Ataxia (poor balance)
• Autism
• Blindness
• Deafness or Impaired Hearing
• Diabetes
• Cardio/Pulmonary Disease
• Cerebral Palsy
• Loss of physical mobility due to injury
• Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.)
• Psychiatric Disabilities
• Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy)
• Spina Bifida
• Spinal Cord/Head Trauma
• Stroke

In short, any person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity might be a candidate for a Service Dog. Please note that Therapy Dogs, Search & Rescue Dogs, Forensic Dogs, Police K-9's, Military Working Dogs and other types of working dogs are NOT Service Dogs and under no circumstances may be registered with the US Service Dog Registry.

How do I register my Service Dog?
Registering your Service Dog is an easy process that only takes a few minutes. We’ll ask a few questions on our secure server about you and your dog. You’ll even be able to upload a photo of you and your dog if you wish. When you are all done you will be assigned a 10 digit ID number that you can give out to whomever you choose so your registration can be verified. For your privacy, the only way for anyone to view your profile is by inputting your ID number.

What is The United States Service Dog Registry and The Service Dog Census Project?
The United States Service Dog Registry’s mission is to provide safe and secure validation for Service Dog owners through a free online registry. The United States Service Dog Registry also produces official identification materials such as certificates, patches, dog tags, business cards and shirts. Through identification materials and a free on-line registry we hope to help with the acceptance of Service Dogs in public places as provided for by the ADA.

The database that powers this website is called the Service Dog Census Project. It was created as a central source of information on the number and types of Service Dogs working in the United States. An accurate count will help organizations who work with Service Dogs provide better support. This census information, once complete, can be used by organizations such as state departments of agriculture, the United States Department of Justice, service dog training organizations, universities, other service dog advocacy groups and disaster relief organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Department of Homeland Security and more. The Service Dog Census Project can also function as a Service Dog advocacy tool to help spread awareness for Service Dogs and their owners.

We need your help!
In order for the Service Dog Census Project to compile its count we need to reach out to the Service Dog community every way we can. That includes online advertising, direct mail campaigns, pamphlets, point-of-purchase displays and posters in breeder's and trainer's offices and even grassroots efforts by individuals and groups. Your purchase of an Archival Documentation Package helps cover the significant costs associated with collecting important information about Service Dogs and their owners. It is a great way to help support the Service Dog community as a whole.

For more information on how to support or partner with the Service Dog Census Project please click here to visit censusproject.org