E-mail: therapyanimals@yahoo.com
What is TAAP?
Therapy Animal Assisting People (TAAP) provides trained and registered service animals to persons with disabilities/psychiatric conditions. These service animals provide a reassuring, calming effect and distraction to their human parents during times of crisis.
Do special laws apply to service dogs?
Yes, people with disabilities that have service animals have civil rights protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
What kind of protection is guaranteed under the ADA?
The ADA requires businesses and places of public accommodation to admit people with disabilities who have service animals to their premises. People with service animals have access to nearly every place where the general public is welcomed. For example, service animals are permitted to ride in taxicabs, buses, and trains. They may enter restaurants, theaters, hotels, and public schools.
There are some rare situations where access to people with service dogs can be denied. An example would be admission to a sterile surgical setting.
How can I identify if an animal is a service animal and not just a pet?
The simple answer is to ask the handler, "Is this a service animal?" You may also ask what tasks the animal has been trained to do for the handler. A service animal can be any breed or size.
Does the animal have to wear a vest or tag to identify it as a service animal?
No, there is no Federal requirement that the service animal wear any special gear or identification. Also, there is no requirement that the handler carry any certification papers showing that the animal has been trained as a service animal. You may not ask the person about the nature or extent of his or her disability.
How do local health and safety laws apply to service animals?
Remember that service dogs are not pets. Therefore, local laws that restrict pets from restaurants, housing, and theaters, for example, are not applicable to service dogs. A good rule of thumb is that the ADA is the law that governs matters related to access to public places and businesses for people with disabilities accompanied by their service dogs. But, handlers of service dogs must obey local leash and vaccine laws and must have their dogs under control at all times.
What if employees or patrons don't like animals, have allergies or are afraid?
If you operate a business open to the public you must still permit a person with a service animal to have access. Plan ahead so that employees who are not fearful of animals handle interactions with customers and clients with service animals can so they can answer questions from patrons/clients.