Service Dogs
- What They Do: Service dogs perform tasks for someone with a disability (one handler) to make their life easier.
- What You Need: A letter from a health care professional stating that you have a disability and then a certification from a certified trainer of service dogs. Service dogs are allowed in ALL public places that humans go.
- Federal law: Dogs or mini-horses (Cats are for ESA’s only.) No reptiles, birds or other mammals allowed.
- South Dakota law: Only dogs and miniature horses are considered to be Service Animals.
Therapy Dogs
- What They Do: Therapy dogs work with a specific handler to provide comfort and emotional support for people in public places (nursing homes, businesses, hospices, hospitals, schools, etc.)
- What You Need: (Same as a service dog) A letter from a health care professional and certification from a certified trainer. Therapy dogs are allowed to go to public places where they comfort people.
- Federal law: Dogs or mini-horses (Cats are for ESA’s only.) No reptiles, birds or other mammals allowed.
- South Dakota law: Only dogs and miniature horses are considered to be Service Animals.
Emotional Support Dogs
- What They Do: Emotional support dogs provide comfort and emotional support for their handler.
- What You Need: A letter from a health care professional and certification from a certified trainer. ESA dogs are allowed to live anywhere their handler lives, even in places that do not allow pets. The other public place that ESAs are allowed is on airplanes. Although they do not need as much training as therapy/service dogs, I highly recommend that they do it. One of the most difficult, scary places to take a dog is on a commercial airplane.
- Federal Law and South Dakota law: Cats, dogs, or miniature horses can be considered emotional support animals, Cats are only used for ESAs.
