Service Animal Documentation Pack

SERVICE ANIMAL DOCUMENTATION PACK

IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE

This documentation pack is provided for informational purposes only. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does NOT require service animals to be certified, registered, or documented. No documentation, identification cards, or certifications are legally required for service animals under the ADA.

However, this documentation may be useful for:

• Air travel (DOT requires specific forms)
• Housing accommodations under the Fair Housing Act
• Personal records
• Training documentation
• Voluntary identification

Businesses and public entities may only ask two questions:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

They CANNOT require documentation, proof of certification, or demonstration of tasks.

DOCUMENT 1: HANDLER'S SERVICE ANIMAL ATTESTATION

SERVICE ANIMAL HANDLER ATTESTATION FORM

This form documents the handler's attestation regarding their service animal. It is NOT required by law but may be used for personal records or specific situations like air travel.

SECTION A: HANDLER INFORMATION

SECTION B: SERVICE ANIMAL INFORMATION

Note: Under the ADA, only dogs (and in some cases, miniature horses) qualify as service animals.

SECTION C: DISABILITY-RELATED WORK OR TASKS

Attestation:

I, [HANDLER NAME], attest that I have a disability as defined by the ADA and that my service animal, [ANIMAL NAME], has been individually trained to perform work or tasks directly related to my disability.

The specific work or tasks my service animal has been trained to perform include:

☐ Guiding individuals who are blind or have low vision
☐ Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
☐ Pulling a wheelchair
☐ Alerting and protecting during a seizure
☐ Reminding to take prescribed medications
☐ Calming during anxiety or panic attacks (through trained tasks)
☐ Deep pressure therapy during psychiatric episodes
☐ Retrieving items
☐ Providing balance and stability assistance
☐ Alerting to allergens
☐ Alerting to blood sugar changes (diabetic alert)
☐ Alerting to cardiac episodes
☐ Other trained task(s): [DESCRIBE SPECIFIC TRAINED TASKS]

Description of trained tasks:
[PROVIDE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC WORK OR TASKS THE ANIMAL PERFORMS]

SECTION D: TRAINING INFORMATION

Training Status:

☐ Professionally trained by organization: [ORGANIZATION NAME]
☐ Professionally trained by individual trainer: [TRAINER NAME]
☐ Owner-trained
☐ Combination of professional and owner training

Training Completion Date: [DATE OR "ONGOING"]

SECTION E: HANDLER ATTESTATION

I, the undersigned, hereby attest and affirm that:

☐ I have a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

☐ My service animal is required because of my disability

☐ My service animal has been individually trained to perform specific work or tasks directly related to my disability

☐ The work or tasks performed by my service animal are not solely providing emotional support, comfort, or companionship

☐ I understand the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal

☐ My service animal is under my control at all times

☐ My service animal is housebroken

☐ My service animal has current vaccinations as required by local law

☐ I take full responsibility for the behavior and actions of my service animal

☐ I understand that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal may be illegal in my jurisdiction

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

HANDLER SIGNATURE:

Signature: _________________________________

Printed Name: _________________________________

Date: _________________________________

DOCUMENT 2: HEALTHCARE PROVIDER LETTER TEMPLATE

LICENSED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER LETTER

FOR HOUSING/FAIR HOUSING ACT ACCOMMODATIONS

Note: This optional letter is not a federal certificate or registry document. ADA public entities and public accommodations generally may not require it for public access. Housing information requests are governed separately and require current, case-specific legal review.

[HEALTHCARE PROVIDER LETTERHEAD]

[DATE]

To Whom It May Concern:

I, [HEALTHCARE PROVIDER NAME], am a licensed [HEALTHCARE PROFESSION - e.g., physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, nurse practitioner] in the state of [STATE]. My license number is [LICENSE NUMBER].

I am writing to confirm that [PATIENT NAME], date of birth [DOB], is my patient and is under my professional care.

[PATIENT NAME] has a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act and/or Americans with Disabilities Act. The nature of the disability [☐ is / ☐ is not] readily apparent.

Based on my professional assessment:

☐ [PATIENT NAME] requires a service animal that has been trained to perform specific work or tasks directly related to their disability.

☐ [PATIENT NAME] requests an untrained emotional-support animal based on therapeutic benefit rather than individually trained work or tasks. I understand that HUD's current FHEO enforcement policy does not treat this request as presumptively reasonable.

For Service Animals:
The service animal performs the following trained task(s) that mitigate the effects of [PATIENT NAME]'s disability: [GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASKS - do not disclose specific diagnosis unless patient consents]

For Emotional Support Animals:
The emotional support animal provides disability-related therapeutic benefit to [PATIENT NAME] by [GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF BENEFIT].

In my professional opinion, the requested policy change may be necessary to address the disability-related limitation described above. The housing provider and counsel must determine coverage and reasonableness under current controlling law.

I am available to verify this information if needed. Please contact me at [PHONE] or [EMAIL].

Sincerely,

_________________________________
[HEALTHCARE PROVIDER NAME]
[CREDENTIALS]
[LICENSE NUMBER]
[PRACTICE NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]

PRIVACY NOTICE: This optional letter is designed to avoid a diagnosis, complete medical records, and unrelated health information. The permissible and necessary scope of housing verification depends on current controlling law and the facts of the request.

DOCUMENT 3: SERVICE ANIMAL TRAINING LOG

SERVICE ANIMAL TRAINING DOCUMENTATION

This training log is for personal records and is NOT required by the ADA.

ANIMAL INFORMATION

TRAINING PROVIDER INFORMATION

TASK TRAINING RECORD

PUBLIC ACCESS TRAINING RECORD

PUBLIC ACCESS TEST LOCATIONS

TRAINER CERTIFICATION (OPTIONAL)

I, [TRAINER NAME], certify that I have trained [ANIMAL NAME] in the tasks and skills documented above.

Trainer Signature: _________________________________

Date: _________________________________

DOCUMENT 4: DOT SERVICE ANIMAL AIR TRANSPORTATION FORM

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE ANIMAL AIR TRANSPORTATION FORM

DOT regulations (14 C.F.R. § 382.75) permit airlines to require this form as a condition of transporting a service animal in the cabin; most U.S. carriers do require it, so check with your airline and submit it before travel.

PART 1: SERVICE ANIMAL HANDLER'S ATTESTATION

Instructions: This form is to be completed by the service animal handler (or a person with authority to act on behalf of the handler) and submitted to the airline prior to travel. A separate form is required for each service animal.

SECTION 1: HANDLER INFORMATION

SECTION 2: FLIGHT INFORMATION

SECTION 3: SERVICE ANIMAL INFORMATION

SECTION 4: ATTESTATIONS

I attest to the following (check all that apply):

☐ Status as Service Animal: The animal accompanying me is a service animal that is required to accompany me on the flight because of my disability.

☐ Trained to Perform Tasks: My service animal has been individually trained to do work or perform a task for me that is directly related to my disability.

☐ Trained Behavior: I attest that my service animal has been trained to behave properly in a public setting.

☐ Health and Behavior: My service animal:

• Is in good health
• Will not engage in disruptive behavior
• Will not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others
• Will relieve itself in a sanitary manner or can be relieved in a sanitary manner

☐ Compliance: I will be responsible for my service animal's behavior and will comply with applicable regulations.

SECTION 5: HANDLER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I understand that:

• Federal regulations require me to ensure that my service animal is harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered at all times in the airport and on the aircraft unless the harness, leash, or tether would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks.

• I may be charged for damage caused by my service animal.

• Knowingly providing false information to an airline or the DOT may result in civil or criminal penalties.

SECTION 6: SIGNATURE

I certify that the information I have provided on this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _________________________________

Printed Name: _________________________________

Date: _________________________________

PART 2: SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF ATTESTATION

(For flights 8 hours or longer)

☐ My service animal will not need to relieve itself on the flight, OR

☐ My service animal can relieve itself on the flight in a way that does not create a health or sanitation issue.

Method of relief:
[DESCRIBE HOW ANIMAL WILL RELIEVE ITSELF IN A SANITARY MANNER]

Signature: _________________________________

Date: _________________________________

DOCUMENT 5: ADA RIGHTS INFORMATION CARD

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: SERVICE ANIMALS AND THE ADA

Wallet-Sized Reference Card

WHAT BUSINESSES CAN ASK:

1. Is this a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

WHAT BUSINESSES CANNOT DO:

• Require documentation or proof
• Ask about your disability
• Ask the dog to demonstrate the task
• Charge extra fees for service animals
• Isolate you from other patrons
• Treat you less favorably

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Keep your service animal under control
• Ensure your animal is housebroken
• You are responsible for your animal's behavior

WHEN A BUSINESS MAY ASK YOU TO REMOVE YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL:

• If the animal is out of control and you cannot control it
• If the animal is not housebroken

They must still offer you service without the animal.

FEDERAL LAW REFERENCE:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.
28 CFR Part 35, 36

FOR COMPLAINTS:
U.S. Department of Justice
ADA Information Line: 1-800-514-0301 (voice)
1-833-610-1264 (TTY)
www.ada.gov

DOCUMENT 6: SERVICE ANIMAL EMERGENCY CARD

EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARD

(To be carried with service animal)

SERVICE ANIMAL INFORMATION

HANDLER INFORMATION

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:

MEDICAL INFORMATION:

IF FOUND WITHOUT HANDLER:

Please contact emergency contact above. This is a trained service animal. If handler is incapacitated, this animal may be able to assist or alert to medical conditions.

DOCUMENT 7: VACCINATION AND HEALTH RECORD

SERVICE ANIMAL HEALTH RECORD

Note: While not required for ADA public access, many localities require proof of rabies vaccination. This record is for practical purposes.

ANIMAL INFORMATION

VETERINARY INFORMATION

VACCINATION RECORD

LOCAL LICENSE

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

What IS a Service Animal Under the ADA:

• A dog (or in some cases, miniature horse) that has been individually trained to perform specific work or tasks directly related to a person's disability

What is NOT a Service Animal Under the ADA:

• Emotional support animals (ESAs)
• Therapy animals
• Comfort animals
• Pets
• Animals that only provide comfort by their presence
• Animals that have not been trained to perform specific tasks

State Laws:

Some states have additional protections or requirements. Check your state's laws regarding:

• Service animal fraud penalties
• Service animal-in-training rights
• Broader definitions of service animals
• Additional protections beyond the ADA

This Service Animal Documentation Pack is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific questions about service animal rights and responsibilities, consult with an attorney familiar with disability law or contact the ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301.

Sources:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• U.S. Department of Justice ADA Guidance
• U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Regulations
• Fair Housing Act

Last Updated: [DATE]