What is the difference between an emotional support animal, a therapy animal, and a service animal?

Differentiating between emotional support animals, therapy animals, and service animals is not a matter of splitting hairs or political correctness.  Each of these animals has a very different job from the others. The terms are not interchangeable.  

While the invaluable role that therapy animals play in specific settings is clearly recognized and the crucial impact that emotional support animals have on the lives of their owners with mental health difficulties is obvious, it’s very important to recognize that service animals are held to a much higher standard and definition of need because of their allowance to be just about anywhere with their service animal. These animals must be able to perform a necessary task for the well-being of the handler that the handler is unable to perform independently. The task need not be tangible, but could be. Such tasks might include predicting seizures, turning off light switches, detecting low blood sugar, close snuggling with a person with night terrors or sleep paralysis, predicting panic attacks, notifying a doorbell ring or phone chime, etc. I believe we are yet to understand the capability of our animals.

Currently, in the United States, only a dog or a miniature horse is given the status of service animal, despite the training, intuition, or proven performance of any other animal. Originally, only dogs could be service animals. Miniature horses were added primarily because they possess a similar capacity to bond with their owner, have a desire to please, and learn new skills easily, but also because they can live to be well into their 30s; whereas dogs seldom live past their early teen years. Thus, one trained miniature horse might help do the work of 3 trained dogs consecutively, but only require the training of one animal.

I hope to reduce the prevalent confusion about the differences between these three roles.

Service Dogs/Service Miniature Horses

Service Dogs are individually trained to perform tasks and do work that mitigate their partner’s disabilities.  Service dogs are much more than highly trained companions. Working as part of a team with their partner, service dogs help their partner attain the safety and independence that might otherwise not be attainable.  

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals in public places such as businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, etc.  Additional acts of law, like the DOT’s (Department of Transportation) Air Carrier Access Act, DOJ/HUD (Department of Justice/Housing and Urban Development) Fair Housing Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act protect the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals under a wide variety of circumstances. Emotional support animals are not protected by these Acts.

Therapy Dogs

Therapy Dogs also receive extensive training but have a completely different type of job from service dogs. Their responsibilities are to provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers; who are usually their owners.  These dogs have stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personalities. Typically, they visit various institutions like hospitals, schools, hospices, psychotherapy offices, nursing homes and more.  Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are encouraged to socialize and interact with a variety of people while they’re on-duty. 

Somewhat similar to service dogs, therapy dogs can have a variety of jobs.  While most people are familiar with therapy dogs who visit places like hospitals, nursing homes and hospices to provide emotional therapy, these are not the only environments in which therapy dogs can be beneficial.  Therapy dogs may also visit schools, day cares, group homes and rehabilitation centers.  Their roles vary, from dogs who give learning disabled children the confidence to read out loud to actively participating in physical rehabilitation therapy. In some cases, a therapy dog will work in a particular establishment exclusively, like a psychotherapy practice.  

Therapy dogs may be trained by just about anyone, but must meet the standards set by a particular organization to be certified and actively participate within the respective organization.  They are usually handled by their owners, but in some cases of Animal Assisted Therapy, the therapy dog may be handled by a trained professional.

It is important to note that, despite thorough training, certification and the therapeutic benefits therapy dogs provide, they do not have the same jobs or legal designation as service dogs.  While some institutions offer therapy dogs access on a case by case for the benefit of patients, guests, customers or clientele, the handlers or owners of therapy dogs do not have the same rights to be accompanied by these dogs in places where pets are not permitted. 

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals are not required to undergo specialized training.  Their primary roles are to provide their disabled owners with emotional comfort.  Emotional support animals can benefit a disabled individual, psychologically, tremendously.  The seemingly basic gift of companionship and unconditional affection can be just the right therapy to counter a condition like debilitating depression.

While the ADA does not grant owners of emotional support animals the right to be accompanied by these animals in establishments that do not permit pets, the DOJ/HUD’s Fair Housing Act does allow for disabled owners of emotional support animals to reside in housing that has a “No Pets” policy, as a reasonable accommodation.  The DOT’s Air Carrier Access Act also allows those with proof of a disability the accommodation of being accompanied by an emotional support animal.