Service Animal Handlers

A handler may be:

• A person with a disability who uses a service animal, 
• A personal care attendant assisting a person with a disability with the service animal, or
• An individual training a service animal.

Handlers are required to:

• Maintain care and control of their service animal (using a harness, leash, tether, voice commands, signals, or other effective methods).
• Ensure the animal is housebroken.
• Ensure the service animal does not disrupt academic, residential, or workplace settings.
• Provide for the animal’s care, well-being, and expenses.
• Ensure emergency planning and back-up care for the animal.

There are only two questions that a person may ask a handler about a service animal or service animal in training:

1. Is this dog (or mini horse) a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog (or mini horse) been trained to perform (Only if necessary following the first inquiry).

Dos and Don’ts

• Do address the individual, not the service animal.
• Do treat the handler with respect.
• Don’t ask to pet or engage with the service animal/ service animal in training.
• Don’t ask about the handler’s disability.
• Don’t ask the handler to demonstrate the tasks the service animal is trained to perform.