Service Dog & Support Animal Guide
Guía de Perros de Servicio y Animales de Apoyo
Plain-English education about the different types of assistance animals, your legal rights, how to qualify, and how to protect yourself from scams.
Educación en lenguaje sencillo sobre tipos de animales de asistencia, sus derechos legales y cómo calificar.
Types of Assistance Animals
Tipos de Animales de Asistencia
Not all assistance animals are the same. Here’s how they differ — and why it matters.
No todos los animales de asistencia son iguales.
Service Dog
Perro de Servicio
A dog individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Allowed in all public places, housing, and air travel. Can be any breed, any size.
Un perro entrenado individualmente para realizar tareas específicas. Protegido por la ADA. Permitido en todos los lugares públicos.
Psychiatric Service Dog
Perro de Servicio Psiquiátrico
A specific type of service dog trained to assist someone with a mental health condition like PTSD, anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. Has the same full ADA protections as any other service dog.
Un tipo específico de perro de servicio entrenado para asistir con condiciones de salud mental. Tiene las mismas protecciones ADA.
Support Animal
Animal de Apoyo
An animal that provides emotional comfort through companionship. Does not need specific task training. Protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) for housing — your landlord cannot deny you housing or charge pet fees.
Un animal que proporciona confort emocional. No necesita entrenamiento de tareas. Protegido por la FHA para vivienda.
Therapy Dog
Perro de Terapia
A dog trained to provide comfort to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas. Unlike service dogs and support animals, therapy dogs do not have individual legal protections for their owners.
Un perro entrenado para proporcionar confort en hospitales, asilos y escuelas. Sin protecciones legales individuales.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Comparación
| Feature | Característica | Service Dog | Perro de Servicio | Psychiatric Service Dog | P. Servicio Psiquiátrico | Support Animal | Animal de Apoyo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task Training Required? | ¿Requiere Entrenamiento? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | |||
| Public Access (ADA) | Acceso Público (ADA) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | |||
| Housing (FHA) | Vivienda (FHA) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | |||
| No Pet Fees | Sin Tarifas de Mascotas | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | |||
| Any Breed? | ¿Cualquier Raza? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | |||
| Documentation Needed? | ¿Documentación Necesaria? | Recommended | Recomendada | Recommended | Recomendada | Required for Housing | Requerida |
Know Your Rights
Conozca Sus Derechos
Federal laws protect you. Here’s what you need to know.
Las leyes federales lo protegen.
🏠 Fair Housing Act (FHA)
🏠 Ley de Vivienda Justa
Landlords must allow service dogs AND support animals — even in “no pets” buildings. They cannot charge pet deposits or pet rent. They can only request documentation from a licensed healthcare provider. They cannot ask about your specific diagnosis or demand details about your disability.
Los propietarios deben permitir perros de servicio Y animales de apoyo — incluso en edificios “sin mascotas”. No pueden cobrar depósitos de mascotas.
🏪 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
🏪 Ley ADA
Service dogs (including psychiatric service dogs) are allowed in all public places — restaurants, stores, hotels, hospitals. Businesses can only ask two questions: (1) Is this a service animal required because of a disability? (2) What task has the dog been trained to perform? They cannot ask for documentation or demand a demonstration.
Los perros de servicio están permitidos en todos los lugares públicos. Los negocios solo pueden hacer dos preguntas sobre la discapacidad y la tarea entrenada.
✈️ Air Travel (ACAA)
✈️ Viaje Aéreo
Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines must accommodate trained psychiatric service dogs in the cabin at no extra charge. Airlines may require a DOT service animal form completed in advance. Support animals are no longer guaranteed cabin access under federal rules, though some airlines may allow them.
Las aerolíneas deben acomodar perros de servicio psiquiátrico entrenados en la cabina sin cargo adicional.
How Do I Qualify?
¿Cómo Califico?
You may qualify for service dog or support animal documentation if you have a mental or emotional health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Common qualifying conditions include anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic disorder, phobias, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and insomnia — among many others.
Puede calificar si tiene una condición de salud mental o emocional que limita sustancialmente una o más actividades importantes de la vida.
You do not need a prior diagnosis. Our licensed clinical doctors will evaluate your situation through a confidential screening and determine if documentation is appropriate for you. Not everyone qualifies — and that’s okay. Our process is designed to be honest and thorough, not a rubber stamp.
No necesita un diagnóstico previo. Nuestros doctores clínicos licenciados evaluarán su situación.
The Process Is Simple
El Proceso Es Simple
Free 3-minute screening → Instant doctor review → Same-day documentation
Evaluación gratis de 3 min → Revisión del doctor → Documentación el mismo día
Start Your Free ScreeningComenzar Evaluación GratisCan I Train My Own Service Dog?
¿Puedo Entrenar Mi Propio Perro?
Yes. Under the ADA, you are absolutely allowed to train your own service dog. There is no requirement to use a professional trainer, no mandatory certification program, and no government registry. Your dog must be trained to perform at least one specific task related to your disability, and must behave appropriately in public settings.
Sí. Bajo la ADA, tiene todo el derecho de entrenar su propio perro de servicio. No hay requisito de usar un entrenador profesional.
TheraPetic® offers a Service Dog Training Certification program that provides structured guidance for self-training, along with documentation of completed training milestones. This is optional — the ADA does not require certification — but many of our clients find it helpful for their own confidence and for interactions with businesses and landlords.
TheraPetic® ofrece un programa de Certificación de Entrenamiento que proporciona guía estructurada. Es opcional pero útil.
How to Spot a Scam
Cómo Detectar Estafas
The service dog industry is full of scammers. Here’s what to watch out for.
La industria está llena de estafadores.
“Instant Certification”
“Certificación Instantánea”
There is no government certification or registry. Anyone selling you an “official certificate” without a clinical evaluation is a scam.
No existe certificación gubernamental. Cualquiera que venda un “certificado oficial” sin evaluación es una estafa.
“No Doctor Required”
“Sin Doctor”
Legitimate documentation requires evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional. If they skip this step, it’s not legitimate.
La documentación legítima requiere evaluación por un profesional licenciado.
“100% Guaranteed Approval”
“Aprobación Garantizada”
No legitimate provider guarantees approval. Clinical evaluations must be honest. If they guarantee you’ll qualify before evaluating you, run.
Ningún proveedor legítimo garantiza aprobación.
No Nonprofit or BBB Status
Sin Estatus Verificable
Look for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, BBB accreditation, and real reviews on independent platforms. TheraPetic® has all three.
Busque estatus 501(c)(3), acreditación BBB y reseñas reales.
Quick Questions
Preguntas Rápidas
No. The ADA does not require service dogs to wear vests, tags, or identifying gear. However, many handlers choose to use them to reduce public confrontations and make access easier.
No. La ADA no requiere chalecos ni identificación. Sin embargo, muchos los usan para facilitar el acceso.
No. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot charge pet deposits, pet rent, or any pet-related fees for service dogs or support animals. You are still responsible for any damage your animal causes.
No. Los propietarios no pueden cobrar depósitos ni tarifas por animales de servicio o apoyo. Usted es responsable de daños.
Yes. The ADA does not restrict service dogs by breed, size, or weight. Any dog that is individually trained to perform tasks related to a disability can be a service dog.
Sí. La ADA no restringe por raza, tamaño o peso.
TheraPetic® documentation is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. We send renewal reminders 45 days before expiration so you’re never caught off guard.
La documentación es válida por 365 días. Enviamos recordatorios 45 días antes del vencimiento.