How Is a Therapy Dog Different from a Service Dog?

How Is a Therapy Dog Different from a Service Dog?

[brianking]

The video isn't completely clear on the real differences between the two. The biggest difference is that "Service Dog handlers" are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, "Therapy Dog handlers" are not. The dogs aren't protected under the law, the handlers are. "Service Dogs" can be "Therapy Dogs" but not always. 

Differences between a Service Dog and a Therapy Dog

The differences between Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs are very noticeable from the perspectives of services provided and legal perspectives. The terms, 'Service Dog, ' and, 'Therapy Dog, ' are not meant to used as equivalents and should not be used to mean the same thing; they are not. According to Federal Law, a Service Animal is not a pet. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that a Service Animal is any animal that has been individually trained to provide assistance or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits one or more of the person's major life functions. In addition, a number of states in America have laws following Federal Law in greater detail.

A Therapy Dog is one that is trained to provide comfort and affection to people in long-term care, hospitals, retirement homes, schools, mental health institutions, and other stressful situations to include disaster areas. Therapy Dogs provide people with animal contact; people who may or may not have a form of disability. Therapy Dogs work in animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy. The dog is commonly owned by the person handling it, who considers the dog to be a personal pet.

Therapy Dogs often work with their handler during sessions. The Therapy Dog and its handler make visits to others in a number of settings and are the most common source of Therapy Dogs. Handlers of these dogs might be health care professionals who are members of the staff of a particular facility, or volunteers.

Service Dogs and Rights

It is very important to remember that Therapy Dogs do not have the same rights as handlers of Service Dogs. Handlers of Service Dogs are protected under the ADA because of the disability the handler experiences. The distinction is highly-important, and there should be no misunderstanding that it is the Person with a Disability who is the handler of the Service Dog that has rights under the ADA; not the dog. The Service Dog is allowed access based upon the rights of the person with a disability.

For example; in the State of Colorado, a person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by an assistance dog that is specially trained for the person without being required to pay an extra charge for the assistance dog. This is true in relation to housing as well, such as places that are for rent, lease, or other compensation within the state.

In Colorado, a person with a disability is exempt from any state or local licensing fees or charges that might apply in other instances in relation to the ownership of an assistance dog. Anyone who wrongfully obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a dog guide or service animal with the intent to deprive the dog guide or service animal user of their service animal is guilty of first degree theft in Colorado. Your state may have similar laws in place that support the ADA rights you have as the owner of a Service Dog.

[OzzysWorld]

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Learn more about how therapy dogs are different from service dogs

[albynromanii]

Easy answer... TRAINING!

ESA and Therapy animals don’t do anything except be their natural cute, cuddly selves or are minimally trained to be safe, THEY ARE NOT TRAINED TO SPECIFICALLY HELP WITH A DISABILITY - a service animal IS!

...and... When you have an untrained animal in a public place, it is a liability to everyone present...