Nowadays many dogs have important jobs. One might be a service dog, another a therapy dog, while another might be an emotional support animal (ESA).
But what’s the difference, you’re probably wondering. Well, I’m so glad you asked. Let me share with you a few of the differences between these 3 classes of working dogs.
Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog: What’s the Difference?
1. Service Dogs
- Can be taken into public establishments
- May live with their disabled owner even if a “no pet” policy exists
- Need to tolerate a wide variety of people, experiences, and environments
- Are specifically trained to assist just one person
2. Therapy Dogs
- Primary function is to provide emotional support through companionship
- Need to tolerate a wide variety of people, experiences, and environments
- Provide emotional support and comfort to many people
3. Emotional Support Animals
- Primary function is to provide emotional support through companionship
- May live with their disabled owner even if a “no pet” policy exists
- Need to tolerate a wide variety of people, experiences, and environments
As you can see, dogs can play many different roles in the lives of their humans and while each role is very important, they do have their limits.
For example, although your dog may be qualified as an ESA (emotional support animal), she is still not allowed to accompany you to establishments where dogs are not welcome such as the grocery store or a restaurant.
However, a service dog is allowed in these places, as established by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Check out the super helpful infographic from CertaPet below to see the difference between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals.
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CertaPet.com is an online tele-health platform that improves access to mental health care in the US with a focus on providing clinical services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment planning.
It is run by licensed medical professionals and is 100 percent compliant with state and federal laws.
Of course, you can see your personal physician to discuss getting approval for an emotional support animal, but what I like about CertaPro is that they take all the legwork out of it by handling everything for you. And they do it quickly, which is just an added bonus.
There are some online services offering ESA registration that don’t provide the high level of personalized customer service you’ll receive from CertaPet. Do your research before deciding who you want to work with on this important task.
Check out this blog post for 4 jobs for dogs that really make an impact.
Do you have a working dog?
If you live with a service dog, therapy dog, or an emotional support animal, I’d love to hear about your experience. Leave a comment below or stop by my private Facebook group for dog moms and join in the conversation there!
I own an ESA dog. These dogs r required by law:
The Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)
In order to be receive protections under these two Emotional Support Animal Laws, you must first qualify for an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. These letters are FREE from ur Psychiatrist. Among other doctors u may have. U directed ur readers to ceta.com who charge an outrageous fee of 149+. As do many sneaky organizations on the web. I was taken back by ur article as a result. People need to be told this and not referred to places that requires them to a service which is entirely free. Very disappointed.
I’m not sure where you’re located, but in the US it is not free to see a doctor. My family doctor charges a $75 office call every time I see her, and a specialist like a psychiatrist usually charges upwards of $175 for a visit. If you have insurance, part of these charges will typically be paid by them, leaving you with only a portion out of pocket.
However, for the millions of Americans who don’t have health insurance, $149 for a consultation with a licensed professional to get their dog certified as an ESA is not sneaky. It is a service that many have used and are grateful for.
I understand that using an organization like CERTAPET might not be for you, but it’s a real blessing for people who don’t have any other option.