Cómo registrar a su perro como perro de terapia o animal de servicio

¿Quiere que su mascota se convierta en un animal de servicio o de terapia en EE. UU.? Este blog lo ayudará a comprender las necesidades, la capacitación y los requisitos.

tabla de contenidos

• Ayudar a su mascota a convertirse en un animal de terapia o de servicio
• La diferencia entre animales de servicio y animales de terapia y apoyo emocional
• Capacitar y registrar su animal de servicio o de apoyo
• ¿Qué sigue?
• preguntas frecuentes

Ayudar a su mascota a convertirse en un animal de terapia o de servicio

Many of us have been spending more time at home due to the coronavirus, COVID-19, and Stay-at-Home orders in many states. Even though our fur babies don’t understand why, they are delighted that we can spend more time with them, get more exercise together and perhaps spend more time on the couch together.

If you’ve ever been curious, now could be the perfect time to learn more about what it takes for your pet become a therapy or service animal. I’ve put together this list of information, links and resources to help you investigate whether certifying your pet as a service or therapy animal is right for you.

Las cuestiones son complejas y controvertidas. Por un lado, hay pautas y existen leyes relacionadas con los animales de servicio. Some are suggested best practices while others are punishable under the law if you don’t follow them.

There are also several groups that regulate or have a vested interest. The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) represents the people who really need these animals and so they are active in ensuring the rights of disabled people to own and use them. But businesses are often frustrated and confused about the laws. Do they have to let any dog (or cat or lizard) in as an emotional support animal?

El Departamento de Justicia de EE. UU. ha emitido y retirado pautas para animales de servicio. Cada estado también dicta sus propias leyes sobre los animales de servicio. Puede volverse pegajoso dependiendo de dónde viva.

No importa dónde viva, probablemente sea mejor trabajar con una agencia o capítulo en su estado de origen para asegurarse de tener la información más actualizada y relevante.

Más sobre eso a continuación. Pero primero, ¿cuál es la diferencia entre un animal de servicio (según lo define la ley) y un animal de apoyo emocional o de terapia?

La diferencia entre animales de servicio y animales de terapia y apoyo emocional

As described by the Washington State Service Dog Association (WSSDA), service animals are used in many different ways by people with a variety of disabilities. Service animals may lead blind people or serve as the ears of a deaf person. They may carry and pick up items, be used for balance, and provide warnings of impending seizures or low blood sugar. Service animals may allow people with anxiety disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other emotional illnesses to function in society, by alerting their handlers to avoid anxiety triggers, by recognizing and blocking behaviors, or by stimulating the person to “snap back” to a conscious state. Service animals can remind handlers that it is time to take medication and can summon help in the case of fainting or a seizure.

The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.

As you can see, the human must have a diagnosed disability for their animal to qualify as a service animal. So while some animals provide emotional support for anxiety or PTSD for example, they do not become a service animal until the human is diagnosed with a disability. So unless you have a disability, or you are training your animal to be given away or sold to someone with a disability, your pet is not a “service animal.”

La forma en que las personas con discapacidad utilizan animales de servicio continúa creciendo y evolucionando. En la actualidad, en algunos estados sólo los perros y los caballos miniatura se consideran animales de servicio. Muchas organizaciones desalientan o prohíben el uso de primates, vida silvestre y animales exóticos como animales de servicio.

Aunque cumplen una función muy importante, los animales que no son de servicio, que incluyen animales de apoyo emocional, animales de confort y animales de terapia, técnicamente no son animales de servicio según algunas leyes estatales. Otras especies de animales, ya sean salvajes o domésticos, entrenados o no, tampoco se consideran animales de servicio.

La diferencia clave también es la formación. La Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) permite que el guía de un perro de servicio acceda a espacios públicos con ese perro. Por ejemplo, la ley del estado de Washington no exige que un perro de servicio esté certificado, registrado o identificado como tal. Sin embargo, la ley del estado de Washington exige que un perro de servicio esté debidamente entrenado para este trabajo.

Under the ADA, a handler simply needs to state that the dog is a service animal, and access should be granted. Many handlers prefer the convenience of having a dog registered–an identification tag, vest or cape is often provided to show the dog is a registered service animal. This can save the handler from having to disclose details of their disability. It does not matter if a person has a note from a doctor that states that the person has a disability and needs to have the animal for emotional support. A doctor’s letter does not turn an animal into a service animal. Training does.

Por lo tanto, cualquiera puede llamar a cualquier animal un animal de apoyo emocional o de terapia. Pero según la ley, los restaurantes, negocios y edificios públicos no tienen que permitir que una persona lleve un animal de apoyo a los espacios públicos. Sólo los animales de servicio entrenados están protegidos por esta ley.

It’s an important distinction because the law protects people who need a service animal as an accommodation for their disability, while the law does not protect emotional or therapy animal accommodations. You need to understand the difference. As of January 1, 2019, police can fine a person up to $500 for misrepresenting their emotional support or therapy animal as a service animal.

So if you’d like your pet to become an emotional support animal, therapy animal or comfort animal, no training or registration is required by law. However, we highly recommend you use positive reinforcement training with help from online resources or with a professional. If you’d like to give your pet the job of cheering people up in a nursing home, airport or other public space someday, you want your pet to be a ‘good citizen’ and behave well with others. Many of those private and public places only allow service animals so its important to understand and communicate clearly before bringing your animal with you.

Capacitar y registrar su animal de servicio o de apoyo

El primer paso es encontrar una fuente adecuada de formación. A menos que sea un adiestrador de perros profesional, debería considerar trabajar con uno. Consulte el directorio de organizaciones de servicios de animales de terapia como el Consejo de certificación para adiestradores de perros profesionales para encontrar un adiestrador de perros profesional certificado cerca de usted. Muchos le proporcionarán un certificado de finalización cuando su perro haya alcanzado un nivel adecuado de entrenamiento.

Por ejemplo, Bellingham’s Embarking Dogs awards a Canine Good Citizen certificación al completar cinco niveles de entrenamiento de obediencia para cachorros o un nivel de habilidad específico para perros mayores. Esta certificación le permitiría tener la confianza de ofrecer a su perro como perro de terapia en un asilo de ancianos dispuesto, pero aún así no califica como animal de servicio según la ley.

If you’d like to pursue true service animal status, perhaps the best approach is to choose a registry that can recommend a professional trainer and give you step by step guidance on how to achieve it. Registries include Service Animal Registry of America, the National Service Animal Registry and the United States Service Dog Registry. Some registries are free while others charge a fee. Each can walk you through the steps required to become registered. It is not a quick process, but now is an excellent time to invest in the process so you’ll be ready when public spaces open again.

If you aren’t training the dog to be given away or sold to a person with a disability, and instead you would just like to give your pet the job of bringing emotional joy to others, then you might check out organizations like Pet Partners. Nonprofit organizations like this one have Therapy Animal Programs that train and organize handlers and their animals. Each program has program requirements that you can work toward now from home. These requirements include things like adequate house training, minimum age and length of ownership to ensure the safety of those in the public. Many offer a free webinar that can be completed at home as a first step. You can even search by zip code to see if there are other volunteers in your area.

¿Qué sigue?

Once you have some information, your pet has achieved an adequate level of obedience and you’re sure you’d like to make it official, you’re ready for the next steps.

Dependiendo de la organización que elija, es probable que deba completar una serie de pasos que pueden incluir:

• Realizar un curso de handler. Luckily, some offer online courses that could be completed now while we’re staying at home.
• Detección de salud animal. You’ll need to demonstrate that your pet has all required vaccinations through a medical screening that is signed by your veterinarian.
• Pasar una evaluación. Most organizations require that you meet with an evaluator in person, often a volunteer in your area. The evaluator will take your pet through a simulated visit to ensure you’re both ready for a nursing home or school. There may or may not be a fee, depending on the organization. This step might need to wait until Stay-At-Home orders have been lifted.
• Complete una solicitud. This step helps you become officially registered and often requires a background check of the human. Fees vary. Once complete, you’ll likely receive a certificate that can be presented to managers as proof that you’re ready. You’ll also likely get tags or a vest that will help identify your pet as a therapy animal.

It is important to understand that in many states, that the handler of a service or therapy dog is responsible for the animal’s behavior and care while in any public place or private business. Additionally, a service (or therapy) animal can be refused entry to a state business or building if the dog initiates unwanted contact with members of the public. For example, a dog who jumps up on other people while working can be excluded from that space.

So even if you’re excited, take your time in each step of the process to be sure you and your animal are ready. But once you get there, you and your animal will have the chance to bring smiles and perhaps assistance to others. That truly is a wonderful thing.

Le deseamos suerte y una conexión más profunda con su mascota durante este viaje. Manténgase seguro y saludable.

preguntas frecuentes