Service, emotional support, and therapy animals

Animals can play very important roles assisting people with disabilities and as part of therapeutic activities. An increasing number of animals assist clients with physical or psychological disabilities or participate in animal-assisted activities. Most people are aware of the role of service animals, such as guide dogs, but other types of assistance animals may be less familiar. Service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals are all types of assistance animals.

Some people misrepresent their animals as assistance animals in order to bring them to places where pets are not allowed, to avoid fees, or out of a misunderstanding of the animal's role. It's important for veterinarians to help clients correctly identify their animals, and provide care and advice consistent with each animal's role. Veterinarians are not responsible for designating or assigning assistance animals in any of these categories. But understanding these roles allows us to best address the specific health concerns of these animals.

Service animals (including service dogs)

DESCRIPTION

Dogs, or in extremely rare circumstances, miniature horses.
Assist an individual with a physical or psychological disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Individually trained to perform specific task(s) to assist in the activities of normal living.
Do not need to be licensed or certified, however many are trained through a service animal agency. Some agencies maintain ownership of the animal.
Allowed to accompany the owner at all times when they can be reasonably accommodated.
No federal requirement regarding identification. Agency-trained animals will generally wear a logoed harness.
Recognized under Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, and Air Carrier Access Act.

HEALTH AND CLIENT MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Carefully assess health variables relevant to the task the animal performs, such as ophthalmic exams for guide dogs or orthopedic exams for service dogs trained to propel a wheelchair.
Inspect harness fit and any variables that might affect performance.
Ensure preventive medicine compliance, such as vaccination, infectious disease, health screening and parasite control.
Consider how the effects or side effects of any treatments might affect the ability of the dog to perform its task. Ensure the client is aware so that alternative arrangements can be made if needed.
Maintain records to assist the owner and agency in decisions regarding animal retirement.
When agency-owned, clearly identify the diagnostic and treatment approval process, submission of health reports, and responsibility for payment.
Procure and maintain contact information of the agency that trained and placed the animal. Some have a policy of intervention or investigation on behalf of the animal in case of serious concerns not addressed by the handler.

Emotional support animals

DESCRIPTION

Any animal species
Their use is supported in writing by a qualified physician or mental health professional based upon a disability-related need.
No specific training requirement.
No requirement for licensing or certification.
May accompany the handler in their home when they can reasonably be accommodated.
Recognized under the Fair Housing Act and Rehabilitation Act. No longer recognized as service animals by the regulations under the Air Carrier Access Act and Department of Transportation Guidance Concerning Service Animals in Air Transportation. Airlines may now apply the same rules as pets.

HEALTH AND CLIENT MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Advise on optimal husbandry for the species, including housing, nutrition, and socialization.
Carefully investigate any impairment of appropriate temperament, or sources of stress to determine the cause. Share concerns with the client, and, where appropriate, refer to a trainer or veterinary behaviorist.
Consider USDA/APHIS regulations for traveling with animals, as they are considered pets.
Ensure preventive medicine compliance such as vaccination, infectious disease and health screening, and parasite control.

Therapy animals

DESCRIPTION

Any animal species
Participate in a range of animal-assisted interventions (i.e., activities or therapy).
Typically registered with/certified by an animal-assisted intervention organization after successful training, behavioral, and veterinary evaluation.
Access to facilities where pets are prohibited is at the discretion of management. No federally protected right to access.
No federal requirement regarding identification. Animals will usually wear a bandana, harness, or ID tag.
Not recognized by federal law.

HEALTH AND CLIENT MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Review the protocols of activities in which the animal may participate to ensure compliance with any veterinary medical requirement.
It is recommended that a cooperative wellness plan be developed.
Animal care should be informed by the health status of people in which the animal has contact. Some may require more stringent preventive medicine (e.g., vaccination, infectious disease prevention, health screening, parasite control).
Many organizations prohibit raw food diets.
Maintain records of the certifying organization, as these may suggest specific health requirements.

AVMA policy on the veterinarian’s role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance, and therapy animals

Service, assistance and therapy animals provide valuable help, support, and comfort for people. Once it has been determined that use of a service, assistance, or therapy animal is appropriate, veterinarians have a role in assisting their clients in selecting the right animal for the right task, recommending that the animal receives appropriate training for its intended role, and ensuring that the health and welfare of that animal is addressed.

The AVMA encourages veterinarians to be familiar with the legal status and protections accorded to service, assistance, and therapy animals and their owners, and should discourage inaccurate or misleading descriptions of these animals’ roles (e.g., "emotional support animals" status should be supported by a statement of need from a licensed mental health professional). Veterinarians should work collaboratively with their human health and other human service-provider colleagues in developing and supporting guidance for the appropriate use of animals for therapeutic purposes and to assist people with disabilities.

View this policy

Veterinary resources

The AVMA offers several resources about the veterinarian’s role in the selection and use of assistance animals, as well as tools to help you educate your clients.

Assistance animals: Rights of access and the problem of fraud (Report)
Assistance animals: Counsel clients, prevent fraud (Axon webinar)
Do you have an assistance animal? (Clinic poster)
FAQ: Considering partnership with a service dog (Educational resource)
Service, emotional support, and therapy animals: Definitions (Handout)
Service, therapy, and emotional support animals: The veterinarian's role (Brochure)

If you are an AVMA member and would like to provide information or suggestions to the Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interactions relating to service, emotional support, or therapy animals, please email humananimalbondavma [dot] org or comment directly on the related AVMA policies.

AVMA assistance animal policies

Animal-assisted interventions: Definitions

The veterinarian’s role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance and therapy animals

Emotional support animals

UNDER REVIEW The IAHAIO Geneva Declaration

UNDER REVIEW The IAHAIO Prague Declaration

UNDER REVIEW IAHAIO Rio Declaration on Pets in Schools

UNDER REVIEW The IAHAIO Tokyo Declaration

Nonhuman primates as assistance animals

UNDER REVIEW Service animals

Assistance animals: Counsel clients, prevent fraud

Earn 1 hour of veterinary CE credit with this on-demand webinar that discusses what you need to know about assistance animals to better serve clients and patients, support access to appropriate animals for those with disabilities, and assist in preventing fraud.

Watch now

Assistance animals: Rights of access and the problem of fraud

Fraud can be a vexing issue, and it's important for veterinarians to actively support the appropriate use of assistance animals and anti-fraud initiatives so that undue burden is not placed on people using these animals in their intended roles.

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Service, emotional support, and therapy animals

IN THIS ARTICLE:

Service animals (including service dogs)

Emotional support animals

Therapy animals

AVMA policy on the veterinarian’s role in supporting appropriate selection and use of service, assistance, and therapy animals

Veterinary resources

AVMA assistance animal policies

Assistance animals: Counsel clients, prevent fraud

Assistance animals: Rights of access and the problem of fraud