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Service Animals in Public Places

Service Animals in Public Places

Individuals with disabilities may use service animals to assist with daily activities. Businesses and other places open to the public must generally allow individuals with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals.

Under federal and Indiana civil rights laws, service animals are permitted in many public places, including businesses that serve the public.

These protections help ensure that individuals with disabilities can access goods, services, and public spaces.

What Is a Service Animal?

A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability.

The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Examples of service animal tasks may include:

  • Guiding individuals who are blind or have low vision
  • Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Pulling a wheelchair
  • Alerting a person to a medical condition such as a seizure
  • Assisting with mobility or balance

Service animals are considered working animals and are not treated as pets under the law.

Where Service Animals are Allowed:

Service animals are generally allowed in places that are open to the public.

Examples of public places may include:

  • Restaurants and cafes
  • Hotels and lodging establishments
  • Retail stores and shopping centers
  • Theaters and entertainment venues
  • Hospitals and medical offices
  • Public transportation services
  • Government buildings

Businesses that serve the public typically must allow service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in areas where customers are normally allowed.

What Businesses May Ask:

If it is not obvious that a dog is a service animal, staff may ask two questions:

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

These questions help businesses determine whether the animal qualifies as a service animal.

What Businesses May Not Require:

Businesses generally may not:

  • Ask for documentation or certification for a service animal
  • Require a service animal to wear a vest or identification tag
  • Ask about the person’s disability
  • Charge additional fees because a person has a service animal

Service animals should be allowed to accompany individuals with disabilities without unnecessary barriers.

When a Service Animal May Be Removed:

A service animal may be asked to leave a public place if:

* The animal is out of control and the handler does not take action to control it

* The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others

If a service animal must be removed, the individual with the disability should still be offered the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal present.

If You Believe Your Rights Were Violated

If you believe a business or public place refused access because of a service animal or treated you unfairly because of a disability, you may be able to file a discrimination complaint.

The Indiana Civil Rights Commission investigates complaints involving discrimination in public accommodations, employment, housing, education, and credit.

To learn more about filing a complaint, visit the How to File a Discrimination Complaint page.