Service Dogs in America: Legal Issues

A Short Primer on Access, Task and Owner Training

De: J.D. Everhard

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Based upon legal training and over a decade of service dog husbandry including mulitple lawsuits to uphold the rights of service dog access, this must-have book offers a unique perspective on two critical aspects of service dog ownership: training and legal compliance for public access. Dry legal concepts come to life through vivid dramatizations and real llife epidsodes. It provides a window into real-world successful case studies in upholding service dog rights through owner-training and negotiating techniques to stand up for the rights of service dog access to public spaces.

Contrary to common misconceptions, a service dog doesn’t need to perform complex tasks to qualify for public access under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Basic interactions that mitigate the effects of a qualifying disability can meet ADA standards.

This book advocates a novel approach to training dogs for invisible disabilities: conditions such as posttraumatic stress syndrome and social anxiety. Simply training the dog to assist with social interaction can qualify as trained work to ameliorate the effects of a disability. This does not require exotic training methods such as are required for medical alert dogs and most owner trainers can teach their dog enough to meet a reasonable standard.

This book dispels unrealistic expectations surrounding service dog abilities, such as detecting panic attacks or seizures, and emphasizes the practical realities of service dog training.

Jeff Everhard, draws from his extensive legal experience and deep love for animals to provide insights into navigating legal complexities and advocating for service dog rights.

While this book does not offer case-specific legal advice, it highlights available resources for legal assistance and emphasizes the importance of advocating for disability rights and equal access. It advocates for changes in legislation to provide greater public access for emotional support animals while maintaining the integrity of service dog designation.

Ultimately, this book serves as an inspirational self-help motivator for individuals engaged in owner-training. It emphasizes the transformative impact of service dog partnerships in enhancing independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Through a blend of legal expertise and practical insights, it underscores the vital role service dogs play in promoting equality and access for individuals with disabilities.

A key factor is the love and respect that dogs, as sentient creatures, deserve and the almost mystical power of the bond between humans and animals. Ultimately, the benefits of a service dog go far beyond mere robotic work, and operating on a spiritual level with real tangible benefits.

Scope: A vast array of issues are outlined including

• concerns associated with bringing assistance animals along to fly on major airlines,
• psychiatric service animals, distinguishing them from emotional support animals (ESA’s) or mere “comfort animals”
• , protection training,
• Canine Good Conduct,
• public access testing and self-certification,
• potential use of capuchin monkeys for quadriplegic circumstancesalthough not yet legal in the US
• canine disease and infection contro
• biting or so-called “dangerous dogs”
• breed-specific legislation (BSL)
• pro se lawsuit opportunities
• civil rights and
• how to get legal aid the help if it is necessary to sue in civil court to uphold rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act

Cover photo: LilliDog (Wolfgang Amadeus Lillihammer) at Yosemite, where pet dogs are restricted. She sports her favorite bright orange vest, overlooking Half Dome. Read about two encounters with rangers, one of whom was woefully misinformed about the law!