Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs

Therapy Dogs: 

Therapy dogs don’t qualify as Service Dogs.  That’s because they are not Service Dogs.  Therapy dogs provide comfort and affection to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, people in stressful situations.

Emotional Support Dogs:

Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.  They are sometimes referred to as “comfort animals”.   However, they can sometimes be afforded protection under United States federal law, if a person meets the federal definition of disability.  They must have a note from a physician or other medical professional stating that the person has that disability and that the emotional support animal provides a benefit for the individual with the disability.