Leave nothing but an excellent impression

Owning and using a Service or Assistance Dog is a privilege, covered under the law, for disabled individuals who use a dog to help them complete specific tasks or work they would otherwise have difficulty performing on their own. It also comes with great responsibility.

Service and Assistance Dogs teams have been granted their rights based on their excellent behavior, politeness, public conduct and the necessary, beneficial and functional tasks the dogs perform for their disabled owners. 

You and your Service Dog must be on your best behavior and display excellent social skills at all times.

1. No aggressive behavior toward people or other animals; no biting, no snapping, no growling, no mounting, no lunging and/or barking;
2. No begging for food, eating table scraps, or petting from other people;
3. No sniffing merchandise or people who pass by;
4. No overly excited or hyper behavior;
5. No urinating or defecating in public unless given a command/signal to eliminate in an appropriate place.

Service Animals must be under control
Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls.

A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or (2) the dog is not housebroken. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff must offer the person with the disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence. (Source: ADA 2010 Revised Requirements)

Your Service Dog’s appearance
Your dog should appear clean and well groomed at all times. Some Service Dog handlers feel that a vest or I.D. is very helpful, even though it is not required by law. It is extremely important to look professional at all times.

If we receive proof you or your animal are not behaving up to our standards, we reserve the right to remove you from this Registry at any time.

It is a harsh, and perhaps unfortunate, truth that you need to be prepared for people to watch — and judge — you and your Service Dog while you are in public. Please make sure the opinion they form of you will make access easier for the next Service Dog team they meet.

I'm not ready yet.

I understand and choose to continue.