Fake service dogs are a real thing. Here’s what Ohio law says about service animals

Service dogs are helpful and provide safety for those with illnesses and disabilities, while also detecting dangerous allergens and assisting with travel. But some people bring in totally fake service dogs, challenging the credibility of actual service dogs, according to USA TODAY, and those with disabilities who need them.

Does Ohio have laws for service animals and their owners? Let’s take a closer look.

What qualifies as a service animal in Ohio?

According to Ohio Law, a service animal can be a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform duties to help an individual with a disability. These disabilities can include:

• Physical
• Sensory
• Psychiatric
• Intellectual
• Other mental disabilities

When these requirements are met and the help is directly related to the individual’s disability, the animal fits the definition of a “service animal” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Where are service animals allowed in Ohio?

Per Ohio law, universities and government buildings generally allow service animals in the following areas:

• Buildings
• Classrooms
• Residence halls
• Meetings
• Dining areas
• Recreational facilities
• Events

The service animal must be accompanied by the individual with the disability. Service animals may not be permitted if the animal poses a substantial and direct threat to others or if the animal comprises a fundamental alteration to the nature of the program or service.

Rules for service animal handlers in Ohio

The person with the disability, or the handler, who owns the service animal, also has responsibilities in looking after it.

• Handlers are responsible for any injuries or damage caused by their animals and must take appropriate precautions to prevent it.
• Service animals should (1) be on a leash when they’re not providing a needed service, (2) be controlled by the handler, and should respond to voice or hand commands at all times, (3) be unobtrusive, and (4) be identified as a service animal
• The handler is responsible for cleaning up after their service animal.

How do service animals help those with disabilities?

Service animals aid in a disabled person’s daily tasks. According to Ohio Law, these tasks include but are not limited to:

• Helping individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and various tasks.
• Cautioning individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds.
• Providing nonviolent protection or rescue work.
• Pulling a wheelchair.
• Assisting an individual during a seizure.
• Informing individuals about the presence of allergens.
• Retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone.
• Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities.
• Helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by deterring or interrupting impulsive or dangerous behaviors.

Why are people using fake service animals?

Service animals can provide real and vital support for people with disabilities, but some people employ fake service animals, which poses a problem, according to USA TODAY.

Fake service dogs aren’t properly trained or are untrained animals that people use to gain access to certain benefits or areas. Some stores now prohibit all animals, legitimate service dogs or otherwise, from entering because of incidents where fraudulent service animals have “urinated on expensive furnishings, contaminated food, bitten staff, and driven away paying customers,” according to Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit service dog organization headquartered in Santa Rosa, California.

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