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Know
Your Rights
Knowing the current legislation regarding service dogs and knowing where to find it fosters a positive view of service dogs and promotes understanding and respect. Below are resources and the pertinent federal agencies which regulate service dogs.
1. Department of Interior
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Regulates service dogs in all national parks, forests, monuments, and wilderness areas. Closes areas to the use of service animal if it is determined that the service animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of people or wildlife.
​2. Department of Justice
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Enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA document outlines the definition of a service dog, the accommodation laws for public establishments, questioning allowed, identification, and more.
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3. Food and Drug Administration
Limits service dog access to buildings and facilities where food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and more are processed and manufactured.
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​5. Department of Transportation
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Issues and enforces the ADA transportation regulations and is responsible for civil rights compliance and monitoring to ensure nondiscriminatory provision of public transit services.
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​6. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission
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Issues, enforces and provides technical assistance on the ADA Title I employment regulations as well as additional materials on subjects like reasonable accommodation.
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4. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Develops and enforces two housing laws: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Fair Housing Act.
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Service Dogs in Training
Each state can make its own regulations for service dogs in training. To locate each state's laws, you can follow this link:
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​The United States of America
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There are NO legal service dog certifications currently used for civilians in the United States of America.
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