Laws that protect the rights of people with disabilities 
who have service animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, Title III, 28 CFR 36.104) defines a service animal as any animal that is individually trained to perform tasks to assist a person with a disability.  The specific nature of the person’s disability may not be obvious to the casual observer.  Service animals can do mobility, hearing, guide, medical alert/response, and other types of work to assist a person with a disability.  A service animal is not a pet.  Most service animals are dogs, and can be of any size or breed (or mixture of breeds).  Service animals are not legally required to wear special equipment or tags.  Federal law prohibits requiring proof of disability or “certification” of the service dog’s training, or inquiring about the nature of the person’s disability.

Federal (e.g., ADA 28 CFR 38.302) and state laws protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their trained service animals in taxis, buses, trains, airports, airplanes, stores, restaurants, doctors’ offices and hospitals, schools, courthouses, polling places, government buildings, parks, zoos, housing and other public places.   
		Federal laws which protect individuals with disabilities include the ADA; the Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988); Sect. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), the Air Carrier Access Act (1986/90), and other regulations.

Missouri State laws which protect individuals with disabilities include:  RSMo 209.150, 209.160

If federal and state or local law conflict, the law which is less restrictive for the individual with the disability will prevail.  

The person who is accompanied by the service animal is responsible for its stewardship (behavior, care and well-being), must obey animal welfare laws (such as leash, cruelty or other similar regulations), and is liable for any damage done by the service animal.

About service dogs, contact the Delta Society National Service Dog Center at 425-226-7357

About the ADA, contact the US Department of Justice ADA Information Line 800-514-0301 (V); 800-514-0383 (TDD)

About Missouri laws, contact the Missouri Attorney General’s Office (573) 751-3321

			
Thank you for not distracting my service dog by petting or talking to him or offering him food.
My well-being depends upon his ability to concentrate so that he can predict medical crises and assist me.
Yes, he does get treats, playtime, lots of love, and a chance to be a “regular” dog, at home, when he is off duty.		Service animals may be dogs or other animals and may be of any size, breed, or mixture of breeds.  My service dog is a German Shepherd.
Service animals are specially trained to assist persons with disabilities such as blindness or deafness, or with mobility issues related to disability, or medical disabilities such as epilepsy, diabetes, or psychiatric disorders.  Service animals are individually trained for their specific handler and may do one or more of the following:  open doors, turn on lights, predict medical crises, get help, dial a phone, pick up dropped items, help a person who has fallen get back on their feet, signal when they hear a smoke alarm or baby crying, guide a person who is blind and much more.
Learn more about service animals at the Delta Society’s National Service Dog Center  (425) 226-7357  www.deltasociety.org	
			
LAWS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES USING SERVICE ANIMALS
Federal Laws:  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, Title III, 28 CFR§38.302), The Fair Housing Amendments Act (1988), Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), The Air Carrier Access Act (1986/90)
Missouri State Laws:  MoRS 209.140 (impersonation), MoRS 209.150 (access), MoRS 209.152 (trainer), MoRS 209.160 (enforcement), MoRS 209.162 (employment)

		HOTLINES
DOJ ADA Info Line 1-800-514-0301(V); 1-800-514-0383 (TDD)
Delta Society ® National Service Dog Center™ 1-425-226-7357
Service Dogs Today 1-573-632-2042 (Jefferson City)
MCHR Discrimination Toll Free Hotline 1-877-781-4236
MO Attorney General’s office (573) 751-3321
Project Sentinel (888) 324-7468 (housing)

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section - NYAV
Washington, D.C. 20530
ADA Information Line:   800-514-0301

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS
28 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 36
§ 36.104 Definitions.
Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.
		§ 36.302 Modifications in policies, practices, or procedures.
(a) General. A public accommodation shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to afford goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations to individuals with disabilities unless the public accommodation can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations.
(c) Service animals.
(1) Areas open to the general public. A Public accommodation shall modify policies practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability in any area open to the general public. 
(2) Areas not open to the general public. In areas not open to the general public, a public accommodation shall modify policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability. If the modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodation, offered or provided by the public accommodation, or if the policies, practices, or procedures are necessary for safe operation, the use of a service animal may be denied.
(3) Care or supervision of service animals. Nothing in this part requires a public accommodation to supervise or care for a service animal.