Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, ESAs: Do You Know the Difference?

As an individual who divides their time between dog training and mental health advocacy, they frequently encounter inquiries about the distinctions among service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals (ESAs). Each category of dog serves a distinct purpose, leading to the implication that each type is subject to varying regulations or laws.

Unfortunately, many people are a little fuzzy on the difference, especially when it comes to mental illness-related disabilities.

Though not possessing legal expertise, we thought it would be helpful to jump on here and share some of the things that separate these different types of dogs. This article is not a definitive guide to all the laws around service dogs, etc., so please consult the Americans with Disabilities Act and your local laws for additional information.

Also note that laws regarding service dogs and ESAs have changed a lot over the last couple years and may change again in the near future. If you are going to use your dog as an ESA or service animal, please double check the current laws and regulations rather than relying solely on this article.

Emotional Support Animals ESA’s

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) provide exactly that: emotional support to people with mental-illness related disabilities like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar. (Note: Not all mental illness qualifies as a disability.)

ESAs do not need any special training and may be allowed in no-pet housing and sometimes even the workplace. Landlords are also prohibited from charging a pet fee for ESAs.

Most places will require a letter from a mental health professional stating that you need an ESA for a disability. California has a new law that requires the therapist providing the letter to meet certain criteria, including having a 30-day clinical relationship with the client.

It can be hard to find a therapist who is willing to provide a letter. At this time, Integrity Counseling Group does not provide letters for clients needing ESAs. If someone has a disability severe enough that they are looking into ESAs, they likely also see a psychiatrist or other professional with a doctorate-level degree. We believe that these professionals should be the ones to assess the need for an ESA and write a letter if needed.

ESAs are no longer allowed on planes as of 2021. However, if your ESA is small enough to fit in an airline-approved carrier under the seat, you can bring your dog or cat as a pet for a fee.

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are trained to visit places like nursing homes, schools, and medical facilities. As therapy dogs, they bring joy and comfort to people other than their owner/handler. A therapy dog might cuddle a nursing home patient, sit quietly while a child with a learning disability reads out loud to them, or provide stress relief to college students during finals week.

Therapy dogs need permission to access the places they work, and most will belong to a therapy dog non profit like Love on a Leash. https://www.loveonaleash.org/

These organizations screen volunteers and their dogs to make sure they have the right personality and manners to succeed in a therapy dog setting.

Unlike ESAs and service dogs, therapy dog handlers do not have any legal rights or protections. Therapy dogs are not allowed in restaurants, no-pet housing, or other areas that are closed to pets. They will be treated like a pet when flying.

You do not need a letter from a medical professional for your dog to do therapy work, because the dog's therapy work is not for your benefit. However, many organizations have their own certification program and require their volunteer dogs to wear a vest when they are visiting a facility.

“A therapy dog should exhibit calm behavior in unfamiliar environments and in the presence of other dogs”
— Katheryne Rodriguez

Service Dogs

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to help a handler with a disability. This could be a physical disability like blindness, or it could be a mental illness-related disability like PTSD or severe anxiety.

Examples of psychiatric service dog tasks include:

  • Alerting a panic attack before it happens

  • Deep pressure therapy

  • Calling for help on a canine emergency phone

  • Retrieving medication

  • Maintain space between the handler and other people

  • Check a room or around a corner before a handler approaches

Unlike with ESAs and therapy dogs, a service dog handler can take their dog wherever the public is normally allowed. This includes grocery stores, movie theaters, and medical offices. In some states, service dogs in training can also be taken into these spaces.

A service dog must have excellent manners in public. If the dog is a threat to public health or safety, the handler may be asked to leave. For example, a service dog cannot defecate in inappropriate places or behave aggressively.

Service dogs also need to be calm and focused, so they can perform their tasks even when there are a lot of distractions, like loud noises, new people, and unfamiliar settings.

For all these reasons, service dogs need a specific personality and should receive extensive training in how to behave in public. Most service dog handlers work with a trainer or training organization on some level, because the requirements for service dog work are so demanding.

A service dog handler does not need certification or proof that their dog is a service dog. Just like a person with a wheelchair can't be denied access to a public place because they use a wheelchair, so a service dog handler cannot be denied because they use a dog to help with their disability.

In addition to the laws about service dogs, there are best practices in the service dog community that should be considered, like not sniffing food when walking through a grocery store, and resting under a restaurant table rather than in the aisle.

Depression & AnxietyIntegrity Counseling Groupdepression, anxiety, trauma, therapy, bipolar, panic attacks, mental health, mental illness