[upbeat music]
NARRATOR: Do you have a service animal?
Or are you thinking about getting one?
Know your rights!
You have a right to call your animal a service animal
if it's properly trained.
In Washington State, any animal
that is specifically trained to help a
person with a disability is a service animal.
These are usually dogs, but they can be
any animals, so long as they're trained.
As a service animal owner,
you have a right to bring your animal
just about everywhere.
That means you have a right to bring your animal
into government buildings and
places of public accommodation,
like stores, restaurants, theaters, and hotels.
You also have the right to ask your boss
or your landlord
for a reasonable accommodation to use your animal
at work or in your home.
Any no 'pet policies' do not apply to service animals.
Your service animal has to behave!
Your service animal needs to be under control
either on a leash or by voice control.
No uncontrolled barking,
jumping on customers,
growing or posing a threat to the
health or safety of others.
If that happens the business can ask you
to take your animal outside,
but only the animal.
Your right to stay there stays the same.
In a place of public accommodation,
you can only be asked two questions about your
service animal.
Is your animal required because of a disability? and
What task or service has this animal been trained to do?
You cannot be asked
What is your disability?
That is confidential and you do not have to answer.
Do you have documentation or proof that the animal is
licensed as a service animal?
You're not required to have
documentation or proof. Also,
you don't need to have any special signage
such as vests or tags for your service animal.
Many web sites and companies sell these
kinds of items, and
you can choose to use them, but remember
that putting on a vest does not make it a
service animal,
only the specialized training does.
If your animal is not trained
then it's not a service animal,
but it might be a companion animal.
Companion animals, also known as
emotional support animals, comfort animals
or therapy animals
provide support simply by being a companion.
They can alleviate symptoms of a
mental or psychiatric disability.
Companion animals are typically dogs and cats,
but they may include other animals like
lizards, snakes and small rodents.
If you use a companion animal,
you have the right to ask your boss or your landlord
for a reasonable accommodation to use your animal
at work or in your home.
However, you do not have the right to
bring your companion animal into
government buildings
or places of public accommodation.
You should check individually with these
businesses to see if they allow your animal,
because several local, state and federal laws
address the rights of animal owners,
there are specific cases where these rules might
be different.
Rules for service and companion animals
might be more restrictive in certain situations.
For example, when an animal is misbehaving
or is exhibiting threatening behavior.
Rules may also be more restrictive in specific places,
like stores that sell food and at hospitals.
Check out the resources listed at the
end of this video for more information on
owning a service or companion animal,
getting a service animal trained,
what to do if you believe you have been
discriminated against because of your animal.
Remember,
service and companion animals are not pets.
People with disabilities have a
right to use them almost
everywhere they go.