About Service Dogs

Service Dogs are TRAINED to aid in activities of daily living to mitigate a disability for a single person, and must be allowed full access under the ADA (Americans for Disabilities Act); in Florida, a Service Dog in Training is allowed full access as well.  

The two questions you may legally ask a person who has a dog with him/her in public, vested or not, since the law does NOT required any type of identification:  

1.  Is this a Service Dog?

2.  What task does this dog perform for you?  (If, for example, the person answers, “He is my diabetic alert dog,” that’s insufficient; “He alerts me to my changing blood sugar,” is a better answer).  

 Additionally, there is NO certification for Service Dogs.  Do not be taken in by internet scams or fraud.  A well-trained dog will be expensive, but a reputable trainer will be able to offer you references, a contract, and walk you through the process.  

 Therapy Animals provide comfort and are only allowed access within facilities with which their group has a contract.  TMH Animal Therapy has contracts with many Tallahassee and Big Bend facilities in order to promote area wellness.

Emotional Support Animals are allowed for public housing with a doctor’s note, but there are no other allowances for public access as there is no required training.  These are not the same as PTSD Service Dogs as these are dogs are trained to do a specific task for their handlers.

If you are interested in a Service Dog for yourself or a loved one, please email Barbara to set up a conference call or meeting.