Please read this before going any further:
https://www.wideopenpets.com/fake-se...-a-real-issue/
Then please read this before going any further:
https://www.wideopenpets.com/clearin...rvice-animals/
Optional - the ADA itself.
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
They are simple..it's the social media & people that think they know, but, are really just guessing and spreading false or misleading information.The service dog and emotional support animal laws need to be clarified to eliminate the abuse.
Not true...Worse yet, government regulations have the clarity of mud.
As a landlord & as a member of a professional landlords association - LELA (Lake Erie Landlords Association), we stay very current on federal, state and local laws concerning this subject because - - the fines for violation can and do run into the tens of thousands of dollars for even the smallest violation. One woman was fined $30,000.00 two years ago because she answered a government ADA checker in an incorrect manner.
The law for legitimate service animals is extremely well defined. You are allowed to ask two questions and only two questions:
1.) Is that a service dog?
2.) What specific service does this dog provide.
(note - only dogs are legitimate service animals under the ADA)
The dog must be trained to provide a specific service to a disabled person.
Support animals, therapy animals, etc, do NOT qualify under the ADA. They are NOT permitted into a store, on a plane, in an apartment with a "No Pets" policy.
Only legitimate Service Animals are allowed that.
Prior to the rise of "social media", this was never really a problem. Now, it's become epidemic & the sheer amount of wrong and disinformation is staggering. Not a day goes by that I don't read some clown posting somewhere that all you need to do is put a "Support Animal" jacket on Fido or Fluffy the cat & you can tell a landlord to pound salt.
The association attorney has advised any member of LELA to immediately evict any tenant that tries to claim their "Therapy animal" is exempt from the "No Pets" policy. Several members have done so, charged the violators back rent for having a pet in violation of the lease and billed the violators for the remainder of the lease - if applicable. Cruel? No, not really. These people are making it very difficult for honest & legitimate service animals to function & their charges to find decent housing.
As a P.S. - the above applies to Ohio and the counties of Summit and Lorain and the Ohio cities of Munroe Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow and Lorain.
Check your own state and local laws for what applies there.