Service Animals And Emotional Support Animals Are Considered The Same Among The Law
Florida recently passed new laws governing emotional support animals ESA which go into effect on July 1 2020.
Service animals and emotional support animals are considered the same among the law. That being said the Fair Housing Act does specifically refer to emotional support animals. The difference between an emotional support animal and a service dog that is. This guide covers the relevant laws that protect emotional support animals and their owners.
Emotional support animalsalso called therapy or comfort animalshave not been trained to perform work or tasks. Emotional support therapy comfort or companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA. Neither the ADA nor Louisianas service animal law includes therapy dogs or what some people call emotional support animals.
The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individuals disability. Other species of animals whether wild or domestic trained or untrained are not considered service animals either. Emotional support animals do not have the same.
While emotional support animals are used as part of some treatment plans for mental health they are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Under Title III of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act ADA and virtually all state laws a service animal is an animal that has been trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.
These new laws clarify how residents of Florida can properly qualify for an emotional support animal and affirm the special rights ESA owners have. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. The Complete Guide to Emotional Support Animal Laws Psychiatric Service Animal Laws.
Above all it is important to understand that emotional support animal housing laws are not the same as those relating to pets or service animals. These laws including how to file a complaint are listed in the last section of this publication. First of all to understand the differences in the laws get to know the difference in these animals.