You’ve probably seen people out and about with dogs and wondered if they were service animals. It’s easy to confuse service dogs and therapy dogs. Let’s clear up the difference.

Service Dogs: Your Reliable Assistant

Service dogs are specially trained to assist individuals with disabilities. They can perform tasks like:

• Guiding people who are blind or visually impaired
• Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds
• Assisting people with mobility issues
• Providing support to people with seizures or diabetes

These dogs are legally protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can accompany their handlers anywhere the public is allowed to go.

Therapy Dogs: Spreading Joy and Comfort

Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support and comfort to people in various settings, like hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas. They’re friendly and calm but don’t perform specific tasks like service dogs. Their main job is to bring joy and reduce stress.

While therapy dogs are wonderful, they don’t have the same legal protections as service dogs. They may need permission to enter certain places.

Remember: It’s important to respect both service dogs and therapy dogs. Service dogs are working animals, and therapy dogs are providing valuable emotional support.