Rabbits as service, therapy, and emotional support animals

A Terry Mossberg writes:

"I have been asked to post some correct information on what constitutes a "Service" animal. I created a meme with quotes taken directly from ADA.gov which is the entity that sets the rules and guidelines and defines ALL 'Service, Therapy and Emotional support' animals. No one is saying anything about Therapy or Emotional Support Animals being wrong or a bad thing. What is being said is that there are distinct differences between these and "Service" animals and people should know the difference so that the system is not abused.

What is meant by abuse is this..... People that think by buying a vest from the numerous sites on the internet and throwing it on there 'Pet' and calling it a 'Service' animal so they they can carry their little purse pet into restaurants and other public places that do not allow animals. two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.They take advantage of the fact that public entities are only allowed to ask.

This 'Abuse' only hurts the truly disabled persons who have actual 'service' animals.

Simply put..... "Service" animals perform specific trained tasks that 'physically' aid the disabled person and are allowed in any and all public areas. "Therapy" animals are any animal that go through very specific training, conditioning and temperament evaluation before being used to visit places, usually clinical, as a form of therapy to 'Others' and are only allowed is such places with written permission by the entities. "Emotional Support Animals" or ESA's are 'personal' PETS that bring comfort and emotional support to those suffering from emotional or mental disorders. ESA's are NOT allowed in public places where animals are not allowed without permission of the entity. Airlines, Hotels and rental housing are the exception WITH a letter from a psychiatrist stating the animals is prescribed for health reasons.

I hope this helps clear up some confusion on the subject. Here are the links to the pages of the site where I obtained my very much so 'Up to Date' information."


 * http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
 * http://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet
 * http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm



Alicia Rae Smith writes:

I've done extensive research on the subject, and want to educate others with what I have learned. The three categories of these animals that can help their human friends are: service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals.

SERVICE animals are either a DOG or MINIATURE HORSE who have been SPECIALLY TRAINED to perform a very specific task for their owner, in order to mitigate a disability. NO OTHER TYPE OF ANIMAL IS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED AS A SERVICE ANIMAL BY THE ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) AND THEREFORE RABBITS CANNOT BE SERVICE ANIMALS. Service animals have the right to be in nearly any public space that their owners can enter, and of course this includes public transportation and housing. (Note that I only know the laws in detail in the United States, so this may be different in other countries.)

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT animals are animals that have NOT BEEN TRAINED TO PERFORM A SPECIFIC TASK, but they have been prescribed as "medication" by a mental health professional, and therefore DO have the right to live with their owners and travel with them in the main cabins of airplanes. ANY ANIMAL CAN BE AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL, INCLUDING RABBITS. These animals DO NOT have the right to be in any public spaces. They are NOT service animals.

THERAPY animals are typically trained to behave and remain calm in all types of situations, either by their owners/handlers or an organization, but every organization is different in their requirements. Technically, ANY ANIMAL can be a therapy animal, but some species are not currently recognized with any organization. There are two organizations I know of that register rabbits: Bunnies in Baskets Therapy Rabbits, and Pet Partners. Therapy animals ARE NOT granted access to any public spaces, only hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, schools, and other facilities that have welcomed to animal inside to help their patients.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCES OF ALL OF THESE TYPES OF ANIMALS. Why? Service and emotional support animals are provided to those who need them in order to alleviate their disabilities. It is incredibly disrespectful and downright dangerous to be either falsely presenting an animal as something it is not, as it makes it difficult for those who actually do have service animals. Many are skeptical in the first place of having animals in public spaces, even if they are legit service animals, and just a simple YouTube search can reveal videos of individuals with disabilities who were discriminated against by people who simply were ignorant of the laws.