Service dogs are more than just pets. They are highly trained working members of the community aiding those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.

Deb Tack, Executive Director of Susquehanna Service Dogs was a guest on The Spark to talk about the difference between emotional support and service dogs.

“A service dog is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That means that it is trained at least one. And for our program, we do three specialized tasks to assist an individual who has a documented disability. An emotional support animal is an absolutely fantastic pet, be it either it doesn't even need to be a dog, it could even be a cat or another type of animal. And what that is, is that animal is providing emotional support for its owner. It doesn't mean that it has the rights to go out into public spaces, but it does mean that for an individual who lives in housing that is rented, that they are able to provide documentation to their landlord from a medical professional saying that they need that animal for that emotional support within their home, “said Tack.

In Pennsylvania, if you’re disabled, state law and the federal Americans with Disabilities (ADA) protect your right to bring your service animal to all public accommodations, as well as restaurants and bars, and hotels.

“If I were to have my service dog and I were to say go to the restaurant, and the person wasn't sure about my dog, they could ask me, is this a service dog trained to assist with a disability? If the answer to that is yes, then they can ask what task or task has it been trained to perform? “said Tack.

Under the Americans with Disabilities At, there is not a registry for service dogs. As a result, there’s a growing market for counterfeit service dog certifications, vests, and ID’s making it easier for pet owners to claim their dog as a service dog.  According to Tack, the consequences could be dangerous.

“I think it puts everyone in and it can put people in harm's way. So again, I think people really need to know the temperament of a dog because there are lots of pet friendly places too. But I think just before you take your dog out in public, make sure it's something that they enjoy and make sure that if you are taking a dog in public who has a pet, that you are going places that are pet friendly, there are lots of places that only allow service dogs. And I feel that, saying that the dog that you have is a service dog when it is not, is. It's just not right, “said Tack.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Susquehanna Service Dogs.