service animals

Service Animals and the Law

“No pets – service animals only.” We see variations of these words on signs everywhere. They sound pretty straightforward, but sometimes there’s confusion over exactly what they mean. In the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets the rules for service animals, their owners, and the people who deal with them. This law says, among other things:
  • A “service animal” is defined as any “animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability”. They don’t have to be officially licensed or certified – so business owners can’t ask for proof that they’re really service animals. They can’t ask...

    Read More »

Allergies in the Air

There are disabilities that make a person need the help of an animal – and disabilities that require a person to stay away from animals. At least, that will be true if the Canadian Transportation Agency decides to count allergies as a disability. The question has come up because of Air Canada’s and WestJet’s recent decisions to allow small pets in the cabins of its planes. The CTA is looking into complaints against the two airlines and may end up ordering them to put all animals except service animals back in the cargo bay. Read More »