Emotional Support Dogs
An Emotional Support Dog can gain access to housing that typically doesn’t allow pets, or be allowed on airlines in the cabin with its owner, with a statement from a qualified doctor or therapist. Public housing and airlines can deny access if they feel the dog will be a nuisance to other tenants/customers. Public housing can evict tenants with Emotional Support Dogs if the dog is disruptive or destructive. They have no other public access rights.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes, children’s homes, etc. in order to give comfort to the patients. Therapy Dogs are now being used in schools, court houses, and also therapy offices. They have no public access rights other than to enter an establishment to do their job.
Service Dogs
Service Dogs are trained to do a task for their handler. They have public access rights but they can be asked to leave if they are disruptive, if they urinate or defecate, or if they disturb other customers. Service Dogs should be on the ground at all times unless the task they were trained to do for their handler requires otherwise.