[yorkiemini]

ADA gives people with disability dogs access to public places. Emotional supports dogs utiilized by many with and without disabilities are not considered speially trained to perform specific tasks directly related to a psychiatric disability. Emotional support and CGC or therapy dogs are not deemed service dogs.

The distinction between a support dog and a psychiatric dog seems confusion to some, but the law ssays the distinction is that a psychiatric dog performs a psychiatric service related specifically to the psychiatric disorder/diagnosis. The dog must be trained to recognize and address specific needs of the handler.

In contrast an emtoional support dog is a pet who provides simply a sense of well-being, safety or calm from the dog's companionship or physical presence.

The psychiatric dog tasks are very specific - esample:
* providing safety checks or room searches for PTSD
*blocking persons in dissociative episodes from wondering into danger
*preventing or interrupting impulsive imipuslsive or destructive behaviors such as self mutilation.

These are just few examples.

The ACAA act allows emotional support dogs on commerical airlines and housing, however, unlike service dogs, those emotional support dogs must have a special letter from a license mental health professional documenting the individual's need for an emtional support dog. They are not allowed in restaurants or theaters.

If you need to know more just PM me. This may be more than anyone wanted to know. Finding a good trainer can be a challenge depending upon where you live and is quite expensive without a grant.